"At noon Elijah mocked them, (the prophets of Baal) saying,
"Cry aloud, for he is a god; either he is musing,
or he has gone aside, or he is on a journey, or
perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened."
1 Kings 18:27
or reconcile these "trinkets" with true Christianity?
the further away they are from spiritual reality.
It's true, they've got crosses, but they are trying
to replace the real cross of Christ.
Those who wear crosses ought to be carrying them!
Instead of crucifying their wills, their crosses
have become mere jewelry without meaning.
So, the cross is their "sign" that does nothing
but tell the world that they are
"Christian" in some vague sense.
or other "sacred" jewelry)
Such may appear to the world that way,
but in reality they have strayed far
from the main message of Christ's cross,
that is, self-denial!
Man does what he wants, not what is pleasing to God.
The true disciple of Christ is not trying to do his own will
but the will of the heavenly Father!
The cross-symbol is the kind of cross
that flesh and blood can carry
because human beings invented it,
but it is not the real cross of Christ,
which deals with crucifying our will.
Thousands of these wooden crosses
have no more virtue than a single wood chip!
They are poor, empty shadows
that do not reflect the image of the true cross.
Some people carry their little crosses as good-luck charms.
They are like expensive gems, the spoils of superstition,
in the people's pockets or purses.
But those objects never repel even one sin!
Their owners still commit sin
while they have them on their person.
Though they may clutch them to their bosoms,
their beloved lusts lie there too.
All this, without the least twinge in their consciences.
These crucifixes are as mute
as the fake gods that Elijah exposed.
There's no life or power in them.
And how could those material things,
whose likeness and workmanship
are traceable to the labor of worldly artists,
be effective?
Do these crosses mend their makers? Surely not!
These crosses and crucifixes are yokes
without restraint that never contradict us.
A whole cart-load of them would never
lead one person to repentance.
People may as well knock their brains out with them;
they won't solve sins!
I fear that too many people who use them
know the difference in their consciences.
Indeed, they regard them with "adoration".
This can only happen to false crosses.
These worshipers are so proud of them.
But the true cross allows for no false pride
whenever it is truly carried.
As their religion is, so are their crosses-
garish and pretentious.
But what do they signify?
These venerated idols are often made
of earthly treasures such as precious metals.
Instead of teaching the people
who wear those crosses
to deny themselves,
these manufactured crosses
are respected for their finery!
An expensive cross will attract many admirers,
but ordinary ones are overlooked.
I could argue with these adherents
that such a cross is superstitious,
not like the blessed cross of Jesus
which takes away our sins.
The cross of Christ
was never meant to be
a "medal of honor" to show off!
The cross of Christ is of an entirely different nature.
A true Christian truly overcomes
the world and leads a life of purity
in the face of its allurements.
Those who carry it
are not chained up for fear
that they might bite somebody!
Nor are they locked up
lest they might be stolen away.
No, they receive power directly from Christ,
"the Captain of their salvation"
to resist the Devil
and to do what is good
in the sight of God;
to despise the world
and to love its reproach
above its praise;
and not only not to offend others,
but to love those who oppose them
and not hate them.
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