Sunday, January 17, 2021

Crosses And Crucifixes

 

"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


William Penn
(1644-1718)
 Quaker nobleman, writer, and founder
 of the colony of Pennsylvania


     Why have they erected so many crosses?  

How can we hope to justify the proliferation of crucifixes
 or reconcile these "trinkets" with true Christianity? 

The closer the sculpted images are to being life-like,
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.


Some people think that, 
if they wear so-called, "holy" objects, 
(such as a crucifix around one's neck
 or other "sacred" jewelry)
 or they practice formal liturgies
 and display the appropriate outward signs in worship,
 then they are "lovers" of the cross of Christ.  

Do we need more church spires?

 Do these things make people more like Christ?

     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
.


From the book,
"No Cross, No Crown"
(1682)
By William Penn


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