A Symbol — For Shame or Glory?
The cross became the foremost symbol of Christianity. This in itself was a miracle — how could a hangman's noose or a gas chamber become a symbol of the world's largest religion? Yet the cross during that day was just as ghastly a symbol of death as a hangman's noose is today. Yet the cross became a worldwide symbol of Christianity.
However, orthodox Christianity has overdone this reverence for the cross — even to the point of perhaps making a "graven image" out of too many crosses. After all, millions of wooden "slivers of the cross" during the Dark Ages added up to enough wood to build Noah's Ark!
Today, many people "cross themselves" before doing anything imp or t ant. Many wear crosses continually, or kiss the bishop's cross at each mass.
The physical cross is not holy of itself, but the symbolism of what it stands for (the reality of what took place on the cross) is — in a sense — holy. The symbolic meaning is something in which we ought to GLORY. Paul constantly preached the cross — "Jesus Christ and him crucified" — especially to those who looked for a more sophisticated and complicated road to salvation.
To the Greeks at Corinth, for instance, it was philosophic foolishness to believe in a cross. Notice what Paul wrote to them: "For Christ sent me not . . . with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it [the cross] is the power of God. . . . For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: but we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling-block, and unto the Greeks foolishness" (I Cor. 1:17-18, 22-23).
To these Corinthians, Paul further wrote: "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified" (I Cor. 2:2). Of course Paul also spoke on other subjects, but he wanted them to realize that the simplicity of the cross was the FOUNDATION of Christianity.
Symbol of Atonement
The "wisdom" which the Greeks sought after was represented by the esoteric philosophy of Socrates, Plato, Aristotle and the great Greek poets and playwrights. To them, atonement by a symbol of death was utter foolishness.
The Jews' stumbling block was the seeking of a "sign" (a Messianic miracle) and the intolerable thought that the Messiah could die so shamefully like a common degenerate criminal!
Many Jews could not understand that all men, all nations and races, were made one by the universal reconciliation of the cross: ". . . That he might reconcile both [Jew and Gentile] unto God in one body by the cross . . ." (Eph. 2:16). "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself . . ." (Col. 1:20).
Yet even the Jewish Christians continually nagged Paul to preach circumcision to the Gentile converts, instead of the cross, as the sign of salvation. To such Judaisers, Paul wrote the book of Galatians, concluding: "And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? then is the offence of the cross ceased" (Gal. 5:11).
The cross was offensive to outsiders, and even to some within the Church. "For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ" (Phil. 3:18).
Are You an "Enemy of the Cross"?
Is it possible for a professing Christian to be an "enemy" of the cross of Christ? There are many ways in which a Christian could be such an enemy. Paul spoke of those who "walked" in a way that marked them as enemies. ("Walk" is a common biblical metaphor for a "way of life.") You can become an enemy of the cross by walking in a different way of life than Jesus walked.
Christians are commanded to follow Christ's example. "For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps" (I Pet. 2:21).
"One of the most beautiful verses of the Bible describes this relationship of Christ's way of life to His cross. Paul wrote: "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20).
It would be easy for a Christian to glory selfishly in human wisdom (as did the Greeks) or in outward signs of obedience (such as circumcision and the Talmudic principles of Judaism), but it is hard to glory selfishly in the symbol of your Savior's sacrificial death, the cross. To the Galatians, Paul wrote: "God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal. 6:14).
Take Up His Cross
To a Christian, the cross is a symbol of patience, endurance and even occasional suffering. When Christ urged each Christian to "take up his cross daily," He referred to this lifelong process of daily endurance.
It is possible to be an enemy of the cross by merely being ashamed of the reproach that it represents. "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach" (Heb. 13:12-13).
Are you afraid to be different in your community, standing up for the cross of Christ and what it represents? There is very little physical persecution of Christians today, but there is a measure of embarrassment and hardship for the Christians who are not ashamed of their calling. Be willing to come out of this world's deception, and then return to that world with the right example.
Don't be an enemy of the cross Instead, take up and bear Christ's cross daily.