There is a phobia spreading across churches. This phobia is "crucisphobia" (Jeffrey Gassler, 1/28/2016, 6:10pm). Crucisphobia is a fear and phobia of the cross. Many churches today avoid the image of the crucifixion, and instead appear more like warehouses and coffee shops than sanctuaries. Beyond the building, many Christians, particularly Evangelicals are avoiding the cross. An association has been made that those who wear crosses or crucifixes, are Catholic, Eastern Orthodox Church, and in particular clergy of the High Liturgical churches. But I want to bring something up to my Evangelical and modern brothers and sisters, "But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven," (Matthew 10:33), "Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels," (Luke 9:25), and "But whoever disowns me before others will be disowned before the angels of God." (Luke 12:9). Is not wearing a cross or crucifix just proclaiming Jesus without speaking? Is not a cross in sanctuary or place of believers, like a home announcing the Gospel in symbolic form?
The Apostle Paul said of the cross, "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). Paul boasts in cross of Jesus Christ! The Apostle of the Gentiles loves the cross, but also has cross words for those who hate the cross, "For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ." (Philippians 3:18). Paul speaks of his self crucifixion and how we must all crucify our flesh in many verses in the Epistles (Galatians 2:20, Romans 6:6,, Romans 8:10, and many more), but he also chose to only know Christ and Him crucified: "For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified," (1 Corinthians 2:2), and "but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles." (1 Corinthians 1:23). The Apostle does not deny Resurrection of Christ, or that He is Risen, Paul affirms the full Gospel of Crucified and Risen Christ. But Paul focuses on this important piece of the Gospel, the Crucifixion and the cross.
If the apostle cannot convince you that the cross is to be embraced, then listen to Jesus Christ's own words, "Then Jesus said to his disciples, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24). To be Christ's disciples we must pick up our cross, and here is what Jesus says if we don't, "Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:38). There you have it, if you will not take up your cross, you are not worthy of Jesus Christ! So to be ashamed, to hide, and to downplay the cross is shameful! It is upon the cross that Jesus Christ bought our salvation: "He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed," (1 Peter 2:24), "For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body, but made alive in the spirit," (1 Peter 3:18), "But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation-," (Colossians 1:22), "Otherwise Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But he has appeared once for all at the culmination of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself," (Hebrews 9:26), and, "so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him," (Hebrews 9:28). It is on cross that Jesus became the sacrifice, suffered, and died for our sins once for all! It is on cross that Jesus saved us Christians! Why then would the Church avoid the symbol of Christ's sacrifice and love? The apostle Paul says when we take Communion (Eucharist), "For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes." (1 Corinthians 11:26). Interestingly, save for in High liturgical churches, communion and Lord's Supper is becoming scarce, celebrated usually only once a month.
This is not an ode to High Churches or liturgy. There are many infectious errors entering High Churches as errors eating away at the Evangelical, Charismatic, and all other denominations. My concern is that the cross, and Christ crucified is becoming avoided by Christians! How can you avoid the cross? It is to avoid Christ himself! For He was crucified, buried, descended into hell, and rose from the dead! To hide the cross is to hide the Gospel! It is to hide Christ who bears the wounds of the crucifixion, "Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." (John 20:27). The Risen Christ bears the marks of His crucifixion, and when He Returns they shall be upon Him. Any who are ashamed of cross, are ashamed of Christ Jesus. For the cross is a fixed reminder of what Christ accomplished for us through the shedding of His blood, and death.
The cross is a banner, it is the shape and symbol of our faith. Some wear the crucifix, proclaiming as Paul did, "I preach Christ and Him Crucified, (while also proclaiming the Resurrection)" (1 Corinthians 1:23); while others have the plain cross proclaiming "He is Risen, and He died for your sins, but has been raised from the dead." (Matthew 28:6) The cross is a badge of honor, and we all are called to carry our very own cross (Luke 14:27). What contemporary churches remove, could very well lead to this rebuke and danger: "But I have this against you, you have forgotten your first love. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.." (Revelation 2:4-5). If a believer and Christian is ashamed, or "enemies of the cross," (Phillippians 3:18) they are then enemies of Christ. Choose today to proclaim the full Gospel with the Blood Stained cross and Empty Tomb. Amen.
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