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The Kingdom that Turned the World Upside Down  /  Chapter 23, Was God Changing the Rules  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 7
Herod respected John as “a just and holy man” yet “wasn’t willing to carry his cross”; how does the chapter distinguish between admiring Christianity and obeying Christ, and where might modern Christianity settle for admiration from the world rather than cross-bearing?
Another way to ask: How is admiring Christianity different from obeying Jesus and “carrying your cross”? Where might churches today settle for being liked by the world instead of following Jesus at a cost?

Direct Answer Bercot distinguishes admiration from obedience by showing Herod could esteem John’s holiness while refusing the costly repentance God required. Modern Christianity can similarly accept being respected and spoken well of while avoiding the cross-shaped demands Jesus gives.

Support from Transcript:

  • Herod “viewed John as a genuine prophet of God” and “feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man.”
  • Yet when confronted with sin, Herod did not repent; Bercot says “Herod wasn’t willing to carry his cross.”
  • The outcome proves admiration isn’t discipleship: “in the end, he became the unwilling murderer of John.”
  • Bercot warns against measuring faithfulness by popularity: “It’s human nature to feel we’re on the right track when we are popular.”
  • Jesus’ warning flips the metric: “Woe to you when all men speak well of you.”
  • Fourth-century Christians “totally forgotten Jesus’ warning,” implying they accepted approval as a sign of being right.
Discussion Follow-ups What forms of “respect” from the world do Christians crave (professional, political, cultural)? How might the desire to be well-spoken-of keep us from costly obedience?

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