The Centrality of the Cross

There are many in this day and age who are ashamed of the cross of Christ. Churches in America tare down the image of Christ's suffering in their sanctuaries, steeples, and place instead contemporary designs that are ambiguous and ambivalent. While some of these who have forsaken the cross argue that Early Christians used the Ichythus (Fish), Lamb, and more secretive symbols, I must protest and say that the Apostle Paul, who under Holy Spirit's direction wrote most of the New Testament, did not hide the importance 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), "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," (Phillippians 3:18), "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," (1 Corinthians 1:18), "but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to us who believe the power and wisdom of God" (1 Corinthians 1:23-24), and, "For I decided to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified," (1 Corinthians 2:2). The Apostle Paul who threw off the shackles of the Law, and showed us through his pen how Jesus Christ alone saves us from sin, death, and hades made the point of the cross ring loud. While some glossed over how Jesus died, the Apostle Paul made it central to the Gospel, for it was a fulfillment of prophecy, "Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet," (Psalm 22:16) and "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5). When King David wrote that Pslam crucifixion did not exist, and when the Prophet Isiah foretold the Messiah and God Incarnate would die for our sins he used the word "pierced" which is crucifixion "fixed to crucis or cross".

The Centrality of the Cross in the Gospel is not to undermine the Resurrection, both are part of the Christ who is God's salvation of mankind. The Cross rather than the Tomb becomes the sign of salvation because the Gospel (Good News of Salvation) happens on the cross when Jesus died for our sins, breaking the curse, and that His words proclaim the end of sin and death's power over us, "It is Finished." (John 19:30). Beyond that Jesus Christ himself emphasized cross bearing for believers, something that often is glossed over in churches in America. Our Lord and Savior said, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24). It is important to contextualize Christ's words, for one this was taboo and even shocking language. We must remember Jesus comes from line of David (Matthew 1, Luke 1) and all His disciples were Jews at the time, and finally the culture and society was Jewish. At this time crucifixion and the cross were a horror to Jews. The Roman Empire had invented this form of torturous death where a person was fixed to a wooden cross beam, his or her hands nailed into it and that beam raised on a pole of wood. The victim of crucifixion actually dies from gravity and suffocation, as the weight of their body pulls on their lungs. For Jews this form of death was horrid on two accounts, it was the typical death for those who were not citizens of Rome, a sign of Roman tyranny and dominion, and finally the Jews feared the Scripture, "cursed is the man who hangs on a tree." (Deuteronomy 21:23, Paul however shows us this cursed has another meaning in Galatians 3:13). The Romans equally despised crucifixion and crosses, the Roman historian and philosopher Cicero said, "May the horrid and terrible word of cross not even be on lips of Roman citizens." For Jesus to say, "pick up your cross," and say you must to be His disciple would have more than alarmed the crowds and His closest Disciples. Christ however goes further in calling us to the cross, "And whoever does not carry his cross and follow Me cannot be My disciple," (Luke 14:27) and, "Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:36). Our God and Savior makes the cross central to being a disciple. Now does he mean literally? Well for many Apostles it was literal in how they died, but Christ is actually using the cross as spiritual message, that we must bear with suffering for Christ and His namesake, "So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin," (1 Peter 4:1), "You will be hated by everyone on account of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved," (Matthew 10:22) and "Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory." (2 Timothy 2:10). There is multilayer of messages there about suffering for Christ, bearing our crosses, Peter tells us to means we have finished with sin if we choose to suffer for Christ, Jesus Christ himself says it is perseverance and if we continue to carry our cross to the end of this life we shall receive salvation from Him which He already has freely bestowed on us but we bear a cross not for our sins but rather we endure suffering tell we receive paradise, and finally Paul mentions suffering can be also so others may believe in Christ.

The cross is crucial (cross word, pun intended) to Christianity. For Jesus tells us it is part of our daily discipleship with him, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23). Our Lord even says, "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven." (Matthew 10:32). This I am certain includes our cross, that we announcing we follower Christ receive ridicule and attacks, and even if we wear a cross pendant get cruel glances and unkind words. Contrary to the Seeker Friendly and crossless church message and iconography in American churches, the cross is central to Christianity. The cross is not an object of worship, but the symbol of Christ's sacrifice, torment, and death that set us free from sin. It is Christ and His Passion the cross directs our attention, and as aforementioned Christ and the Apostles urge us to pick up our cross and suffer for Christ, following His example. The Cross is a treasure, the sign to us that Christ has saved us, and a symbol that the curse is reversed and that death has lost its sting, "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

Addendum:

"For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him." (Phillippians 1:29)

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." (1 Peter 2:21)