What “Dying to Yourself” is Not

Feb 2, 2010 7:03 PM
What “Dying to Yourself” is Not
by makestraight
[updated 10:45pm, 2/2/2010]

Luke 9:23 is one of Gracepoint’s favorite verses to preach on. I think it’s a great verse.

Luke 9
23Then he said to them all: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.

However, this verse is misused and twisted at Gracepoint to mainly influence members to subject themselves to their leaders, rather than really following Jesus. Instead of Jesus, the “me” reference becomes an allusion to Gracepoint or Gracepoint leaders.

Often, what may be preached is “you need to die to yourself”.


This “dying to the self” can then be manipulated into ways not meant by the verse. One clear manner in which this is preached is to try to get members to go along with Gracepoint, even when a member might have valid suspicions and doubts based on what is biblical and what is not.

Instead, such a “doubter” is framed as someone who cannot “surrender” and “die to oneself”, and is an untrusting sinner, who is “missing out” on following Jesus.

This is very twisted and manipulative. Often, Pastor Ed or Kelly Kang will present any doubts people have as “grievances” or “personal hurts” when they are not. People might have valid doubts based on biblical basis but they are quickly framed as people who cannot “die to themselves” or have “petty concerns when there is so much to do for God”.

What’s tragic about all of this is that there are so many people at Gracepoint who in fear want to avoid conflict, be loyal and keep the herd mentality. It doesn’t matter if it’s a biblical issue or not. Disagreement is seen as unspiritual, even if it’s based upon the very word of God!

Gracepoint leaders might even play the “hurt” card and state that they are hurt that you don’t trust them, “after all they’ve done for you”.

But the truth is that God never intended for us to turn off our brains. It says in Romans and in Matthew:

Romans 12
2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Matthew 10
16I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.

Paul says “Be tranformed by the RENEWING of your MIND”, NOT “by TURNING OFF your MIND”.

He also says then you will be able to TEST and APPROVE what God’s will is. You should use your MIND to test and approve God’s will for you.

Jesus also states that we should be SHREWD as snakes, and as innocent as doves!

Furthermore, Jesus says in Mark 12:29-31:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.

The Bible does NOT a paint a picture of a Christ-follower being someone who’s supposed to turn off his mind.

I think the biblical analogy of being “sheep” has been extended too far at times, especially at Gracepoint. Sheep are dumb, don’t know what to do, and always need a shepherd – that shepherd being your leaders of course.

Yes, we need leaders in the church. But SERVANT leaders that teach people how to follow Christ, and not themselves or just their own LOCAL church. A Christian ought to be planted primarily in a local church, but be open to whatever God has in store! Even Paul didn’t stay and settle after one church!

When Jesus was yet a child [12 years old], he was found at the temple listening and asking questions, and even answering among teachers – Luke 2:

46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 4

Paul was often found debating and using his mind to the fullest to prove that Jesus was the Christ. Apollos the same.

Please don’t turn off your brain. You’re supposed to use it in conjunction with the Bible to test and approve God’s will for you.

Dying to yourself does NOT mean turning off your mind.