The controversy over the cross at William and Mary College
Pbritti, CC BY 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
WE CAN'T OFFEND ANYONE!!!
This is an older story but back in 2006, the president of this college decided that he wanted this Anglican Christian chapel more open and available to secular people and people of other faiths - that is, people who don't believe that Jesus deserves to be worshiped as God.
Initially, he decided that the cross would be put back in storage unless the chapel was being used for Christian activities.
He didn't want to offend outsiders. It was okay to offend Christians who know the cross represents the greatest act of God's grace that ever occurred.
He didn't want people who despise the Christian faith and Jesus Christ to feel like "outsiders."
After all, who knows what kind of mental damage might occur if people went to a Christian chapel and saw a CROSS!
After the uproar, he finally relented and put the cross back into the chapel - not on the altar but in a glass case.
Would the cross possibly offend someone who doesn't believe? - YES.
Would the cross possibly make God-haters feel like outsiders? - YES.
Should Christians care? - NO!
The cross has always been a dividing point in this world. The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:18,
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
What is the message of the cross?
What is the message of the cross?
It teaches us several things that we don't necessarily like. It tells us that we have a SIN problem. You and I are sinners who can't make it into heaven on our own.
The doctrine of totally depravity is one of the greatest safeguards we have in our life.
The doctrine of totally depravity is one of the greatest safeguards we have in our life.
It keeps us from relying on our own goodness and strength when we are battling temptations and tests and keeps us relying on the power of the Holy Spirit. The Bible tells us, "Be careful when you think you're standing - lest you fall!"
The message of the cross tells us that there are consequences to our sin.
The message of the cross tells us that there are consequences to our sin.
Sin is not just a minor imperfection, something we can brush aside. Many people think that what we need to do is get rid of guilt. After all, we're only human. But the Bible tells us that we're fallen humans. Our sin has made a barrier between us and God and condemned us to a godless eternity.
The message of the cross tells us that God is not some kind of divine watchmaker.
The message of the cross tells us that God is not some kind of divine watchmaker.
He didn't wind up the world and then go off to do His own thing. God is actively involved in this world. Miracles happen. The Holy Spirit speaks to you. God is intently aware of everything that occurs in your life.
The message of the cross tells us that there is right and wrong - and God gets to decide.
The message of the cross tells us that there is right and wrong - and God gets to decide.
Moral relativism may be popular today. "It's only sin if you think it's sin" is a lie from the devil.
But my favorite message of the cross is that God stepped into this world to redeem it, to pay the penalty for my sins and to open the doors of heaven, that if I have faith in Jesus Christ, I can spend eternity in His presence. The message of the cross tells me that one day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!
The world is always going to hate the cross. But we know who's going to ultimately win.
1 Corinthians 1:21-25 says,
But my favorite message of the cross is that God stepped into this world to redeem it, to pay the penalty for my sins and to open the doors of heaven, that if I have faith in Jesus Christ, I can spend eternity in His presence. The message of the cross tells me that one day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord!
The world is always going to hate the cross. But we know who's going to ultimately win.
1 Corinthians 1:21-25 says,
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
In the cross of Christ, I glory!
Pastor John
In the cross of Christ, I glory!
Pastor John
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