Stephen Crosby comments

Stephen Crosby

We Want a King

It is in human nature to want a king (anyone except King Jesus), and to want to be a king. Israel wanted a king, even though Samuel promised them that a king would oppress them. It didn't matter. They wanted a king and got a king, who, as promised, oppressed them. (i)

I think there is something beyond basic human nature that is uniquely intensified in the American psyche in regard to king making and hero worship. In spite of all American egalitarian rhetoric, we really want a king, a hero, a big man, a winner. We are always looking for that heroic figure who will embody for us whatever we think our ideals are. When this individual arises, we will give him/her our very souls, because in him/her, we see ourselves as we think we would like to be: successful and the recipient of adulation, acclaim, and worship.

This happens in all arenas of social life: politics, art, music, finance, law, sports, and the church. We celebrate winners-the "successful." We do not esteem the common man, unless he succeeds in abandoning his commonness by becoming great. We achieve a false identity and a false center of consciousness by being associated with, or named by the hero great-man: "I am of Cephas, I am of Apollos . . . "Apostle so and so is my covering," . . . not much has changed in 2,000 years. The American version is just human nature on steroids.

It is my premise that until we repent from these values-and by repent I mean depart from, and stop supporting the beast with our time, talent, and treasure-the tragic train of personal catastrophes will never stop. Oh, we can tweak this system or that system. We can change "how we do church," we can move to a living room instead of a sanctuary, but the problem is, we will be taking ourselves and our corruption into the new venue and eventually it will be just as corrupt as the one preceding it.

Within a theology of success are two elements that must be recognized if we are to effectively separate ourselves from the snare of the golden ephod of success. They are utilitarian pragmatism and celebrityism.

Utilitarian Pragmatism

If it gets results . . . it must be God. If I feel the anointing, it must be God. If I see a miracle, it must be God. If it works, if I feel better, if I am happier, wealthier, and healthier, well then whatever value system has achieved these results . . . must be God.

These are some of the tenets of faith of someone who is, knowingly or not, a utilitarian pragmatist.

I recently heard one of the most famous TV preachers enthusiastically proclaim: "God wants to give you the good life!" That sure ought to be news to the martyrs and suffering around the world. The only place a message like that will play is in a narcissistic and anti-Calvary culture of prosperity, like the USA. There, any spiritual secret that gives me access to a bigger piece of this world's pie is uncritically considered as being from God.

It also explains why these ministries are numerically large and financially successful. They would appeal to this very numerical and financial success as "proof" that their ministries, message, and methods are endorsed by God-all we have to do is look at the results as they supposedly speak for themselves. This is the height of the folly of a pragmatic and utilitarian view of God and the Scriptures. Jesus said popularity is something to be wary of as it puts us in the same category as the false prophets whom Israel loved (Luke 6:26).

Popular preaching promotes this utilitarian pragmatism by presenting God as a public utility. He is our cosmic tool shed. He has all the tools we need for us to get what we want. That is, through the correct apprehension and application of His Word by faith, He is somehow constrained to do what we want Him to do, when we want Him to do it, and how we want Him to do it. We just need to find enough of His promises in His Word and enough faith on our part, or get enough prayer warriors and intercessors together to extort Him into action that He is otherwise not inclined to do. This is fundamentally a self-centered notion. It has flooded the Church in various shapes and sizes.

Simply because something gets results doesn't automatically mean it's of God or that we have permission to do it. Our sonship is supposed to be patterned after The Son, who was privileged, and had access to all the resources of Heaven. Heaven's resources "worked" for Him. However, He only used them in submission to His Father, and never for His own personal benefit. This is the element missing in much popular preaching and teaching. As it's normally taught, the exercise of faith is invariably for our personal benefit to accrue to us the maximum amount of health, wealth, and prosperity. If Jesus thought that way, none of us would be here today to engage in this discussion!

Biblical faith is not a commodity we buy in the marketplace of the metaphysical universe or on the shelves of the religious grocery store. Biblical faith is a relationship to be developed and maintained.