Praise Is Not a Proxy for God’s Acceptance

We live in an age of relentless self-promotion. Whether on social media or in ministry circles, people feel pressure to showcase their accomplishments—platforms built, books written, churches planted, degrees earned. Christians are not immune to this temptation.

Without realizing it, many of us construct “spiritual resumes,” hoping to gain respect from others—and perhaps even to reassure ourselves of God’s approval. We subtly assume that people’s praise is a proxy for God’s acceptance.

But the gospel calls us to something radically different. God’s acceptance has never been based on our achievements. His grace isn’t a reward for effort; it’s a gift to the unworthy. If we truly grasp this, it’ll reshape how we think about identity, ministry, and honor itself.

1. The Gospel Leaves No Room for a Spiritual Resume

At the heart of the gospel is this truth: we are acceptance from God because we are united with Christ and so, we’re accepted based on Christ’s righteousness, not our own. As Paul says, “It is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” (Eph 2:8–9).

Yet, ironically, even as we preach “justification by faith,” many Christians live as though God’s love must be earned or maintained by ministry success, moral effort, or theological precision.

In Saving God’s Face, I argue that when we reduce the gospel to legal metaphors (focused merely on guilt and forgiveness), we overlook its relational core. The gospel isn’t just a transaction that cancels punishment; it’s the restoration of honor and relationship with God and his family. Faith is not a contract; it’s an invitation into a reconciled relationship.

Paul understood this. That’s why, in Philippians 3, he lists his impressive religious credentials—only to call them “rubbish” compared to knowing Christ (Phil 3:8). His point is clear: no spiritual resume can compare to the honor of being united with Jesus. In fact, clinging to our own achievements can actually block us from fully embracing grace.

2. The Danger of Seeking Honor from People

Why are we tempted to build spiritual resumes? Because we crave honor. In every culture—whether collectivist or individualist, people seek approval–– full stop. In honor-shame cultures, worth is tied to community recognition. But Western Christians are no less vulnerable. Our “platform culture” rewards visibility, influence, and applause.

Yet Jesus warns against this kind of status-seeking: “How can you believe when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?” (John 5:44). Paul echoes this in Galatians 1:10, “If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

When we seek honor from people, we turn faith into performance. And as I’ve argued in Saving God’s Face, this desire to “save face” makes it hard to confess sin, repent, or embrace weakness. Instead of living in the freedom of God’s acceptance, we hide behind polished religious performances—at the cost of real discipleship.

But biblical honor doesn’t work this way. True honor is given by God— often to those the world shames. Jesus says, “The greatest among you will be your servant. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted” (Matt 23:11–12).

3. God Honors the Shamed—Not the Self-Promoters

Throughout Scripture, God lifts up the lowly and humbles the proud. Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and tax collector (Luke 18:9–14) makes this clear. The Pharisee boasts of his spiritual accomplishments; the tax collector simply cries for mercy. Yet it’s the humble, ashamed tax collector—not the polished, religious insider—who goes home justified.

In Reading Romans with Eastern Eyes, I explore how Paul’s message of “righteousness by faith” is deeply tied to honor and shame. God’s righteousness isn’t just a courtroom verdict—it’s his way of restoring relationship and honor to those marginalized and shamed (cf. Rom 9:33; Isa 28:16).

That’s why the cross is the centerpiece of the gospel. Hebrews 12:2 reminds us that Jesus endured the cross, “despising its shame”, to bring us into God’s family of honor. As I argue in One Gospel for All Nations, this message must be communicated in culturally meaningful ways—especially in societies where identity and honor are communal. Sadly, Western gospel presentations often overlook this dimension, focusing instead on private guilt and individual salvation.

4. What This Means for Christian Life and Ministry

If God doesn’t care about our spiritual resumes, what does that mean for everyday life and ministry? Here are a few crucial implications:

• • Freedom from Performance Anxiety

You don’t need to “prove” yourself to God—or anyone else. God’s acceptance is grounded in Christ, not your record. This frees us from the exhausting treadmill of ministry performance.

• • Humility that Frees Us to Serve

If our worth is secure in God, we don’t need to build a name for ourselves. We’re freed to serve others selflessly, following Jesus’ example of humility (Phil 2:3–8).

• • A Community of Mutual Honor

Rather than competing for attention, we can foster a church culture of mutual honor—where people “outdo one another in showing honor” (Rom 12:10). Imagine a church where people don’t need to boast because they’re already honored as God’s beloved family!

• • Resisting Celebrity Culture in the Church

The gospel undermines the cult of celebrity pastors and platform-driven ministries. Christian leaders should model the way of the cross, not the way of self-promotion (Mark 10:42–45). Leadership is about sacrifice, not status.

God Doesn’t Care About Your Spiritual Resume

In the end, life in Christ is not about stacking up spiritual achievements to gain approval. God’s love is not for sale, and His honor is not a prize we earn. It is a gift. To seek human applause as a substitute for God’s acceptance is to miss the heart of the gospel.

As Paul reminds us, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord” (1 Cor 1:31).

In a world obsessed with image and status, the church is called to live differently. Our worth is rooted in God’s unchanging love. Only when we stop building spiritual resumes will we reflect the true beauty of the gospel—a grace that humbles our pride and magnifies God’s mercy.