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At cross purposes
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Penn State University recently received complaints -- the Anti-Defamation League even got in on it -- because a t-shirt designed to boost school spirit bore a logo resembling a cross.
(Supposedly the likeness was a coincidence, because who in their right mind would do that on purpose?)
A cross decorating a WWI memorial in the Mojave desert has been sheathed in plywood for months. A Catholic man has sued to have the cross removed entirely because the National Park Service refuses to place a statue of Buddha near the cross.
At a hospital in Sydney, Australia, all crucifixes, Bibles, and other Christian symbols have been removed from the chapel so as not to offend Muslims, Hindus and the like.
Before President Obama would deliver a speech at Georgetown University earlier this year, the White House insisted that a cross behind him be blacked out.
Hundreds of Unification churches removed the cross from their sanctuaries over Easter weekend in 2003. The cross was deemed a "gruesome" and inappropriate symbol. An "image of bloodshed" wholly unacceptable for the eyes of men.
Indeed.
For a symbol simultaneously compassionate and contemptible, it is impossible to surpass the cross of Christ.
Because not only did Jesus Christ submit to an excruciating death in the penultimate act of propitiation. He surrendered to crucifixion -- the most shameful and degrading form of execution in the world at that time.
Even those criminals who were crucified with Him saw fit to revile Him. (Mark 15:32)
And no amount of plywood or black cloth or dark and dusty storage space in the universe will ever change the fact that man is a sinner, in desperate need of a Savior, and that Jesus Christ is that Savior.
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross. (Colossians 2:13-14)
When the books are opened at the great white throne judgment, it is difficult to imagine the chagrin and remorse of those who in life not only rejected salvation in Christ, but who also attempted to obliterate all earthly reminders of His cross.
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. (Revelation 20:11)
And then there will be the sorrow of those Christians who, having made a profession of faith, were ashamed to take up their cross and follow Him.
And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. (Luke 14:27)
Oh that those for whom Christ died would turn from their sin today, and toward Him, and behold His majesty and His righteousness, and accept His precious blood as the only atonement provided for their transgression against God.
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. (Isaiah 53:3-5)
Because even if they refuse to acknowledge His cross, He still looks straight into their sin-darkened hearts. He still sees their terrible need, and He still demands an answer.
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. (Hebrews 4:13)
All Scripture quoted and referenced in this article is from the King James Version.
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The Old Rugged Cross
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