The Cross or Cash? Come back to Bible!
Daniel JusticeShare
The Cross or the Cash?
The Protestant Playbook: No Pope, No ProblemProtestants don’t have a Vatican hotline. We have one infallible rule: the Bible.
Everything else—creeds, pastors, podcasts—must bow to sola scriptura.
When a movement starts treating the Holy Spirit like a personal ATM, the system’s alarm bells ring.
Here’s how we know, verse by verse;
Jesus Didn’t Die to Make You RichMatthew 8:20
“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” If the atonement guaranteed a private jet, Jesus flunked.
He was born in borrowed barn, rode a borrowed colt, and died owning exactly one tunic—gambled away by Roman soldiers (John 19:23–24).
The cross is the pattern, not the exception.
The Holy Spirit Is Not Your TalismanRomans 8:29
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” The Spirit’s job: make you look like Jesus, not live like Caesar.
His fruit? Love, joy, peace, self-control (Gal 5:22–23)—not gold dust or uncontrollable laughter.
When “anointing” means manifestations instead of holiness, you’ve swapped the third Person of the Trinity for a cosmic slot machine.
Favorite Proof-Texts, Context
The Real Gospel in Four Bullet Points
Direct Warnings to Three Movements
The Protestant Playbook: No Pope, No ProblemProtestants don’t have a Vatican hotline. We have one infallible rule: the Bible.
Everything else—creeds, pastors, podcasts—must bow to sola scriptura.
When a movement starts treating the Holy Spirit like a personal ATM, the system’s alarm bells ring.
Here’s how we know, verse by verse;
Jesus Didn’t Die to Make You RichMatthew 8:20
“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” If the atonement guaranteed a private jet, Jesus flunked.
He was born in borrowed barn, rode a borrowed colt, and died owning exactly one tunic—gambled away by Roman soldiers (John 19:23–24).
The cross is the pattern, not the exception.
The Holy Spirit Is Not Your TalismanRomans 8:29
“For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son.” The Spirit’s job: make you look like Jesus, not live like Caesar.
His fruit? Love, joy, peace, self-control (Gal 5:22–23)—not gold dust or uncontrollable laughter.
When “anointing” means manifestations instead of holiness, you’ve swapped the third Person of the Trinity for a cosmic slot machine.
Favorite Proof-Texts, Context
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Claim
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Verse
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Context
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“You are little gods”
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John 10:34 (“I said, ‘You are gods’”)
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Jesus quotes Psalm 82:6—a rebuke to unjust human judges, not a promotion to deity. Context: “You will die like men” (v. 7).
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“Speak it into existence”
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Mark 11:23 (“Whoever says to this mountain…”)
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Hyperbole for prayer, not a law of physics. Jesus used it once—to curse a fig tree as a judgment symbol, never to buy a chariot.
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“By His stripes you are healed” = no sickness
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1 Peter 2:24
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Primary meaning: healed from sin. Peter quotes Isaiah 53 in a paragraph about suffering unjustly (v. 21). Paul’s “thorn” (2 Cor 12:7–9) proves physical healing isn’t guaranteed.
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“God wants you prosperous”
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3 John 2 (“Beloved, I pray that… you may prosper…”)
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A greeting, not doctrine. Equivalent to “Hope you’re feeling better.”
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The Real Gospel in Four Bullet Points
- You are a sinner (Rom 3:23).
- Christ died for sinners (Rom 5:8).
- Repent and believe (Mark 1:15).
- Suffer, serve, and store treasure in heaven (2 Tim 3:12; Matt 6:20).
Direct Warnings to Three Movements
Word of Faith (WoF)Stop: Teaching that faith is a “force” you wield and words are “containers” of power.
Scripture: Isaiah 44:24—“I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens.” Only God speaks ex nihilo.
Warning: Deuteronomy 18:22—when your “hundredfold return” prophecies fail, the Bible’s verdict is false prophet.
Scripture: Isaiah 44:24—“I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens.” Only God speaks ex nihilo.
Warning: Deuteronomy 18:22—when your “hundredfold return” prophecies fail, the Bible’s verdict is false prophet.
New Apostolic Reformation (NAR)Stop: Restoring “apostles” and “prophets” with new binding revelation equal to Scripture.
Scripture: Hebrews 1:1–2—“In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” The canon is closed.
Warning: Revelation 22:18–19—adding to God’s words invites plagues.
Scripture: Hebrews 1:1–2—“In these last days he has spoken to us by his Son.” The canon is closed.
Warning: Revelation 22:18–19—adding to God’s words invites plagues.
Hyper-Charismatic “Revival” CulturesStop: Staging gold dust, gemstones, and “slain in the Spirit” as proof of God’s favor.
Scripture: Matthew 7:22–23—“Many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy… cast out demons?’… I never knew you.”
Warning: 2 Corinthians 11:14—Satan masquerades as an angel of light. Spectacle ≠ Spirit.
The Protestant Stress-Test in Action
Final Exhortation2 Timothy 2:15
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Read the Bible in context.
Test every spirit (1 John 4:1).
Follow the crucified Christ, not the crowned consumer. The gospel is free.
Following Jesus is costly.
Choose wisely.
Scripture: Matthew 7:22–23—“Many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy… cast out demons?’… I never knew you.”
Warning: 2 Corinthians 11:14—Satan masquerades as an angel of light. Spectacle ≠ Spirit.
The Protestant Stress-Test in Action
- Assemblies of God (classical Pentecostal) officially rejects “little gods” and mandatory prosperity.
- Southern Baptists passed resolutions (2019) condemning the prosperity gospel.
- Reformed voices (MacArthur, Piper) dismantle errors verse-by-verse.
Final Exhortation2 Timothy 2:15
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” Read the Bible in context.
Test every spirit (1 John 4:1).
Follow the crucified Christ, not the crowned consumer. The gospel is free.
Following Jesus is costly.
Choose wisely.