Will Christians Receive Crowns in Heaven?

Will Christians receive crowns in heaven? What does the Bible say about spiritual rewards? The answer may be different than you think.

Will There Be Any Stars?

Growing up in a Baptist church, I heard lots of talk about receiving a crown in heaven. We even sang “Will There Be Any Stars?” by E.E. Hewitt. I imagined a literal crown full of stars as I sang the lyrics:

1 I am thinking today of that beautiful land
I shall reach when the sun goeth down;
When through wonderful grace by my Saviour I stand,
Will there be any stars in my crown?

Refrain:
Will there be any stars, any stars in my crown
When at evening the sun goeth down?
When I wake with the blest in the mansions of rest,
Will there be any stars in my crown?

2 In the strength of the Lord let me labor and pray,
Let me watch as a winner of souls;
That bright stars may be mine in the glorious day,
When His praise like the sea-billow rolls. (Refrain)

3 Oh, what joy it will be when His face I behold,
Living gems at His feet to lay down;
It would sweeten my bliss in the city of gold,
Should there be any stars in my crown. (Refrain)

I was sure that followers of Jesus would receive sparkly diadems bedecked with jewels as a reward for meritorious service. Salvation, we were told, was free—but if you wanted a crown you had to work for it.

Prize-Winning Christianity

Several scriptures that mention heavenly rewards contribute to a fascination with prize-winning Christianity. Here’s a sampling. Click on the hyperlinks for context. (Unless otherwise noted, verses are from the NRSVUE)

• James 1.12 – Blessed is anyone who endures temptation. Such a one has stood the test and will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
• Matthew 16.27 – For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done.
• Matthew 5.12 – Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
• 2 Timothy 4.8 – From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
• 1 Peter 5.4 – And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
• Revelation 2.10 – Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Beware, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison so that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have affliction. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.
• 1 Thessalonians 2.19-20 – For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? Yes, you are our glory and joy!
• Revelation 3.11 – I am coming soon; hold fast to what you have, so that no one takes away your crown.

Crowns and Garlands

All this talk of crowns and rewards makes one start to believe that Christianity is about prize-winning. In some of these verses about crowns, the reader is reminded of royalty. After all, Christians are called “kings and priests (Revelation 1.6; 5.9-10 KJV).” These crowns are marks of dignity and noble birth. Other verses recall the Greco-Roman laurel garlands placed on the heads of victorious warriors and athletes. These were prizes for success. Either way, these crowns make a person stand out above the rest. They are cause for pride and honor. They make Christians feel like the life of faith is about trying to please God and win prizes.

What is the Crown, Really?

Are these crowns made of precious metal? Do they match the pavement on the streets of gold? Will there be any jewels in them? James 1.12 and Revelation 2.10 say that the garland is a “crown of life.” 2 Timothy 4.8 calls it a “crown of righteousness.” In 1 Thessalonians 2.19, Paul hits it on the head when he says, “For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?” Yes—people are the crown. Some interpret this as saying that every soul you “win” for Jesus—every sinner you lead to salvation—is like a jewel in your crown. This prioritizes personal evangelism to the degree that someone like Billy Graham would be dripping in jewels, while a Mother Theresa who specialized in humanitarian aid would have a humbler headdress in heaven.

This concept of collecting people as jewels in my crown makes me think of Professor Slughorn from J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Dumbledore said about Slughorn, “Horace likes his comfort. He also likes the company of the famous, the successful and the powerful. He enjoys the feeling that he influences these people. He has never wanted to occupy the throne himself. He prefers the backseat; there is more room to spread out.” Slughorn “collected” people. Photos and memorabilia of “slug club” members adorned Slughorn’s home, like trophies he had won. Is this how we see people whom we have “won to Christ,” like prizes or jewels in our crowns?

Great Is Your Reward

In his song, “Thank You for Giving to the Lord,” singer/songwriter Ray Boltz narrates a heavenly dream in which you get to meet all the people whom you impacted in life.

One by one they came
Far as the eyes could see
Each life somehow touched
By your generosity
Little things that you had done
Sacrifices made
Unnoticed on the earth…

In heaven now proclaimed
And I know that up in heaven
You’re not supposed to cry
But I am almost sure
There were tears in your eyes
As Jesus took your hand
And you stood before the Lord
He said, my child look around you…

For great is your reward

This is a beautiful picture. If there’s any truth to it, I like to think that the “crowns” we bear in the hereafter bear a greater resemblance to this song than to Horace Slughorn’s decorated shelves. Rather than an afterlife where we boast the rewards we received for good service or evangelism, the rewards we enjoy will be more personal. Those rewards will be the relationships we forged rather than the salvation medals we collected.

Casting Crowns

This is why John’s vision in Revelation 4.10 says, “The twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne…” For true believers, it isn’t about taking honor from things you’ve done. It isn’t about glorying in all the souls you’ve won (if that’s even possible). Casting crowns before the throne indicates humility before God and enjoyment of the fellowship of the saints. If the elders before the throne recognize that they—and their mutual relationship with each other—are the true treasure and reward, can we “regular Christians” learn the same?

Treating Each Other as Golden

When we internalize this lesson, we will understand the importance of Christian fellowship. Believers aren’t meant to be lone wolves. We are created for community. The Church has no room for hierarchical relationships where one person is another’s possession or reward. Instead, we are all mutual treasures to one another. Treating each other as golden, we will value each other’s friendship and care for each other in times of distress. We’ll be more interested in polishing our neighbor’s crowns than displaying our own. Because when we can help another person shine brightly, this is a reward all its own.

For related reading, please check out my articles:

• What it Looks Like When God Takes a Selfie
• That Saved a WHAT Like Me??? – Church Music and Deconstruction
• Not THAT Kind of Christian!