For many, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things.
What makes someone an enemy of the cross of Christ? This is not just confined to people who do not go to church.
- We might be attending church services but still be motivated by selfish desires for power or respect, with our minds set on earthly things.
- We could be praying regularly but trying to use God to satisfy the "god" of our belly, wanting Him to meet our desires for a career, or a wife, or obedient kids.
- We might have built up knowledge about the Bible, but be proud and self-righteousness, thinking that God is pleased with our moral efforts, when actually we are glorying in our shame
This is walking as an enemy of the cross of Christ. At the cross we can find life instead of destruction. At the cross we see that, while we were worshipping the god of our belly, the God of the universe loved us so much that he died in our place. At the cross we see the depths of our shame and the heights of His glory. When we look at the cross, we see someone far greater than those "earthly things" that occupied our minds.