Take Up Thy Cross ...!?!

What's Going On?!
What's The Meaning Of All These Wooden Crosses?!
Since When Do You Wear A Silver Cross?!

I Have A Gold One!

What Is This?!

Pastor Said That Everybody Must Bear Their Cross!

What!?!

He Asked The Question:

Must Jesus Bear The Cross Alone  ...?!

... And You All Believed He Meant Bearing
Wearing
A Literal Cross!?!

Sure!

He Plain As Day Said:

Now Is The Appointed Time!

Now Is The Day Of Salvation!

Take Up Your Cross

Your Burden

And Faithfully Follow 

Follow After The Lord Jesus Christ!

What's Wrong With You People?!

What Do You Mean?!

Do Any Of You Ever Crack Open A Bible?!
I Quote:

You Obviously
Are Not 
RIGHTLY DIVIDING 
The Word!
AND
You All Ought To Be Ashamed Of Yourselves!

Ashamed For What?!
I Didn't Kill Anybody!

Come On!
What Are You Talking About?!

Didn't Your Pastor Explain What
Taking Up Your Cross And Following Christ Means?!

Sure! That's Why We Are Carrying These Crosses!

Lord, Make Peace!
Let Me Ask You A Question:

What Kind Of Life Did Jesus Live?!

A Life Of Self-Abnegation
Caring For Others
Teaching Others
Healing Others
And Ultimately Dying For Others!

Excuse Me?!
What Is Self-Abegnation?!

Self-Ab-Ne-Ga-Tion!

Jesus Christ
In Self-Abnegation
AND
As Written In Scripture
Was
Meek And Lowly ... Of Heart
Not Proud
Submissive ... In Giving His Will
To His Father
AND
Obedient ... Unto Death
On The Physical Cross!

Jesus Set Aside His Self
AND
In Despising The Shame We Placed Upon Him
Died On The Cross
For Us
Whom He Was Not Ashamed To Call Brethren!

Self-Abnegation Is The Cross 
That Man Should Bear
IF
We Will To Be Like Christ!

This Pile Of Wood 
That You All Are Toting Around Means Nothing!
Those Gold And Silver Crosses You're Wearing
Are ... Are ... Just Decorations
Meaningless
Useless
Good For Nothing But Getting Jewelers Rich!

Whose Character Are You Wearing!
Can The World See Christ In You!
Are You Selfless!
Or Are You
- True To Human Nature -
Totally Selfish?!

Well, Ahhh ...

Ummm ...

Exactly!

Outward Adorning!
White Washed Tombs
Filled With Dead Men's Bones!

You Don't Have To Be So Cruel!

I Am Not Being Cruel!
Somebody Has To Tell You All The Truth!
Who Are You Really Serving?!

Pastor Says ...!

Oh, Lord, In Heaven
Save Us From
Another "Pastor Says!"

Can The Pastor Save You?!

No! Of Course Not!

Then Who Can Save You?!

Jesus Saves!

So What Does Jesus Say?!

To Obey Is Better Than To Sacrifice!

The Meek Shall Inherit The Earth!

Wisdom Is The Principal Thing!

Let No Man Steal Your Crown!

In All Your Getting, Get Understanding!

If You Know All That
What's With This Pastor Say That And That?!

Chagrined, They Held Their Heads Down.

One Voice
Speaking To Their Shame, Said:

I Guess We're Just Lazy Thinkers!

Another Voice:

Brethren,
We Really Should Be Ashamed Of Ourselves!

We Are The Hearers And Not The Doers Of The Word!

Ohhhh!
If I Had My Way
I Would Beat All Of You At The Bottom Of Your Feet!

How Mean!
That Would Really Hurt!

Yes!
But I'd Never Have To Teach You
The Same Lesson Again!

You Do Have A Point!

Lazy Thinking In A Christian
Is A Vile And Abhorrent Thing!
Let's Not Have This Conversation Again, Okay?!

For Real!

Wow! I Feel Better!

I Feel As Though A Burden Has Been Lifted!

It Was!
No More Toting Around This Fire Wood!

AMEN!

Time To Set Aside Self!

Oh, Dear!
THAT, My Friend
Is Hard Work!

Lord, Help Us!

He Will, My Friend! 
You Can Trust Him!