Any who identify with the LORD Jesus Christ, both in His person, and in His work as Substitute, and His doctrine of grace, will most certainly be called upon to bear their cross of adversity, isolation, and hatred of the world, Luke 9:23. If the world did not praise or applaud our LORD or His doctrine, and opposed Him because of it, John 10:33, then if it speaks well of you and your teachings, it is proof that you do not preach Christ, and therefore, are preaching false doctrine. WOE, to any who would pervert the Gospel of Christ, in an effort to extort the praise of their fellowman. The LORD calls such lost and unbelieving, John 5:44. There is no greater condemnation.

Why is seeking the favor of men, rather than the glory of Christ alone so wrong? Consider the following reasons.

1. Woe unto any who put their own honor above the honor of Christ. Christ will have no rivals, and there is no greater treason than to diminish the glory of Christ in order to receive honor and glory for oneself, John 12:43. Luke identifies such as false prophets.

2. Woe unto any who would dare pervert the Gospel of Christ in order to avoid persecution or isolation to win the favor of men. Brother Paul wrote the Galatians, that if he should seek to please men, he could not be the servant of Christ, Galatians 1:10. To change the message, and preach any other than the single, solitary, Christ exalting message of HIM crucified (redemption, justification, sanctification, and glorification in, by, and through His righteous obedience unto death alone), is to be ‘accursed,’ Galatians 1:9.