FROM THE PASTOR
The Offence of the Cross
Offended. That one word says a lot doesn’t it? Give yourself some time to think about this word...
Whatever first things come that come to your mind, I’m not sure, and I won’t try and unpack it here. However, as far as I can remember, it’s a word that has never crossed my path up until the last couple of years; never been an issue. I’ve always associated that word in, and only in, two places: in relation to sport and in relation to the bible. I’ll leave the sport reference out for now as you can work that out for yourselves, and get straight into the biblical reference:
“But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23).
St Paul here speaks, or writes about the offence of the cross; the cross of Christ; an offence; a stumbling block; a message that many, when they bump into, want to kick out of the way. Yes. And sadly, the cross is offensive to some Christians too; I don’t have enough space to delve into too deep here. See the thing is, to our natural human pride, the cross of Christ is terribly offensive, even humiliating, because human pride wants to hear about human potential and ability – even what Jesus brought in – a good example, role model, encourager. Human pride insists we are able to achieve a level of acceptability to God by doing good, or by doing our best.
But the cross, the cross of Christ – clearly announces this road is a dead end. What I like about making the sign of the cross on myself, is that when I do, it’s not an act of piety, but to signify the “I”, or the “Ego” in me is crossed out! Making the sign of the cross is not a Roman Catholic thing, it’s Christian. In the Small Catechism, Luther wrote, “In the morning when you rise, make the sign of the cross and say, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Then pray the Lord’s Prayer...” etc. The cross says all human beings are rebellious against God – with no hope and no way out of saving ourselves – if saving were left up to us, no one stands – the cross says, Christ crucified for our condemnation, is in reality, our only hope for salvation. Our faith and confidence in this:
“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14).
The cross offends human pride because it says we cannot earn our own way to God. The cross saves because it says; salvation is God’s free gift, through faith in Jesus Christ. All thanks and praise be to God:
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride
Isaac Watts (1674 - 1748)
A blessed Easter to you all. In Christ, pastor Mat.
We Pray For:
† A fearless witness to the cross of Christ.
† All who worship over Easter, here and throughout the world.
† The world, that it may receive the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
† Rulers of the world, the courts of our land, judges, magistrates and lawyers.
† All who are in distress, dying or sick, that they may be strengthened by the sufferings of Christ.
† All Christians, that they may follow the way of the cross.
Offended. That one word says a lot doesn’t it? Give yourself some time to think about this word...
Whatever first things come that come to your mind, I’m not sure, and I won’t try and unpack it here. However, as far as I can remember, it’s a word that has never crossed my path up until the last couple of years; never been an issue. I’ve always associated that word in, and only in, two places: in relation to sport and in relation to the bible. I’ll leave the sport reference out for now as you can work that out for yourselves, and get straight into the biblical reference:
“But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23).
St Paul here speaks, or writes about the offence of the cross; the cross of Christ; an offence; a stumbling block; a message that many, when they bump into, want to kick out of the way. Yes. And sadly, the cross is offensive to some Christians too; I don’t have enough space to delve into too deep here. See the thing is, to our natural human pride, the cross of Christ is terribly offensive, even humiliating, because human pride wants to hear about human potential and ability – even what Jesus brought in – a good example, role model, encourager. Human pride insists we are able to achieve a level of acceptability to God by doing good, or by doing our best.
But the cross, the cross of Christ – clearly announces this road is a dead end. What I like about making the sign of the cross on myself, is that when I do, it’s not an act of piety, but to signify the “I”, or the “Ego” in me is crossed out! Making the sign of the cross is not a Roman Catholic thing, it’s Christian. In the Small Catechism, Luther wrote, “In the morning when you rise, make the sign of the cross and say, in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Then pray the Lord’s Prayer...” etc. The cross says all human beings are rebellious against God – with no hope and no way out of saving ourselves – if saving were left up to us, no one stands – the cross says, Christ crucified for our condemnation, is in reality, our only hope for salvation. Our faith and confidence in this:
“May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.” (Galatians 6:14).
The cross offends human pride because it says we cannot earn our own way to God. The cross saves because it says; salvation is God’s free gift, through faith in Jesus Christ. All thanks and praise be to God:
When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride
Isaac Watts (1674 - 1748)
A blessed Easter to you all. In Christ, pastor Mat.
We Pray For:
† A fearless witness to the cross of Christ.
† All who worship over Easter, here and throughout the world.
† The world, that it may receive the one who comes in the name of the Lord.
† Rulers of the world, the courts of our land, judges, magistrates and lawyers.
† All who are in distress, dying or sick, that they may be strengthened by the sufferings of Christ.
† All Christians, that they may follow the way of the cross.