the symbol of weakness, power, and love
Recently, the cross has really become a focus for me in my spiritual journey. In some ways it has become such a common symbol in Christendom that we can learn to ignore it. For some it is as common as George Washington on the one-dollar bill. We are so used to seeing him that no longer look at him – we do not think of the cherry tree story, we do not think of his leading the revolution (or rebellion for our British friends) – he is simply a grim face on paper currency.
Admittedly, the cross in some ways had become this for me. It was a symbol that, as a pastor, I would see often, and it became just that a symbol. It stopped causing me to think about what it meant. Over the last couple of years in I have realized that this may be true for more people that just me.
This first struck me when I was asked by a woman who grew up in the Catholic Tradition, “Why do churches take crosses off their buildings and out of their auditoriums?” I had to tell her that for some churches they believe the cross is an offensive symbol for those who are not a part of a Christian faith community. As I was saying this, I heard my words, “the cross … offensive.”
What was I saying? How had the church allowed the symbol that represents the centrality of our faith to be chased out of our sacred spaces? If the cross had become offensive could it be that it was because of the way we used it (or should I say abused it?) and not because of what it actually is? If the cross was offensive surely it was because we turned the story upside down. Maybe we should bring the cross back to the center and retell the story. As we do we should begin with an apology for the way it has been used.
The cross has been used as a symbol emblazoned on shields, swords, and military outfits for those carrying our campaigns against people. Can we get any more upside down than this? Now some say this is ancient history. This is true. However, today some still try to assert power in unfair ways under the banner of the cross (this is a whole other blog for another day). It is this power over that is offensive, and is the opposite of the cross.
The cross was the primary instrument of the Roman Empire for the maintaining of peace. It was originally used as a symbol of power over. It was a symbol of enforcing the law of Rome. It was punishment, torture, humiliation, and death. For the mighty Romans, the cross was a symbol of ultimate power. It was used to scare the citizens of the Empire into behaving properly and it was used to murder those considered seditious. The cross was a symbol of power.
It was this symbol of power that Jesus went to in a perfect demonstration of weakness to bring peace to the world. In being crucified, Jesus said to the powers “Do your worst.” He used the symbol of power to display weakness. Jesus did not paint a cross on a shield, or on his armor, or on his sword. He put all that down and picked up a cross. When we try to use the cross as a symbol of power we look more like Rome than Jesus.
The cross of Jesus is a paradox. He was nailed to the Roman symbol of power, making it a symbol of weakness, and through this he showed the greatest strength. Maybe it is because what led Jesus to the cross was love. And love is more powerful than anything else. John tells is that “God is love.” This is the essence of God. Could anything else have led Jesus there?
Often, today there are voices around the cross that want to bring in the guilt. People will say, “Jesus had to go to the cross because we had sinned, and he needed to be the sacrifice for humanity to assuage the wrath of God the Father.” I have heard others say, ”Your sin put Jesus there!” I have seen the exercises in which people write their sin on a 3x5 card and nail it to a large cross in the room (by the way, who can fit all their crap on a 3x5 card – my sin would be a novel).
This language brings the guilt. There is some truth to these statements. However, it almost insinuates that humanity put God in a bad spot. We sinned, and he had no other option but to die in our place. God really could have done anything he wanted with humanity. He chose love.
The cross is about God. It is not about us. The cross is about love. It is not about guilt. The cross is a paradox. In that paradox there is hope, peace, and love.
What if the voice around the cross was the voice of God saying, “My love compelled me to come to you.” What if we heard, “In my love I said, ‘I will not let humanity live like this!’” What if we heard God saying, “The cross is my symbol of my love for humanity.”
This understanding is bringing me a new understanding of the Bible. When we read the words of Paul “… while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We are liberated from guilt, and we find ourselves in the midst of a love story. “… while we were still sinners, God loved us.”
Admittedly, the cross in some ways had become this for me. It was a symbol that, as a pastor, I would see often, and it became just that a symbol. It stopped causing me to think about what it meant. Over the last couple of years in I have realized that this may be true for more people that just me.
This first struck me when I was asked by a woman who grew up in the Catholic Tradition, “Why do churches take crosses off their buildings and out of their auditoriums?” I had to tell her that for some churches they believe the cross is an offensive symbol for those who are not a part of a Christian faith community. As I was saying this, I heard my words, “the cross … offensive.”
What was I saying? How had the church allowed the symbol that represents the centrality of our faith to be chased out of our sacred spaces? If the cross had become offensive could it be that it was because of the way we used it (or should I say abused it?) and not because of what it actually is? If the cross was offensive surely it was because we turned the story upside down. Maybe we should bring the cross back to the center and retell the story. As we do we should begin with an apology for the way it has been used.
The cross has been used as a symbol emblazoned on shields, swords, and military outfits for those carrying our campaigns against people. Can we get any more upside down than this? Now some say this is ancient history. This is true. However, today some still try to assert power in unfair ways under the banner of the cross (this is a whole other blog for another day). It is this power over that is offensive, and is the opposite of the cross.
The cross was the primary instrument of the Roman Empire for the maintaining of peace. It was originally used as a symbol of power over. It was a symbol of enforcing the law of Rome. It was punishment, torture, humiliation, and death. For the mighty Romans, the cross was a symbol of ultimate power. It was used to scare the citizens of the Empire into behaving properly and it was used to murder those considered seditious. The cross was a symbol of power.
It was this symbol of power that Jesus went to in a perfect demonstration of weakness to bring peace to the world. In being crucified, Jesus said to the powers “Do your worst.” He used the symbol of power to display weakness. Jesus did not paint a cross on a shield, or on his armor, or on his sword. He put all that down and picked up a cross. When we try to use the cross as a symbol of power we look more like Rome than Jesus.
The cross of Jesus is a paradox. He was nailed to the Roman symbol of power, making it a symbol of weakness, and through this he showed the greatest strength. Maybe it is because what led Jesus to the cross was love. And love is more powerful than anything else. John tells is that “God is love.” This is the essence of God. Could anything else have led Jesus there?
Often, today there are voices around the cross that want to bring in the guilt. People will say, “Jesus had to go to the cross because we had sinned, and he needed to be the sacrifice for humanity to assuage the wrath of God the Father.” I have heard others say, ”Your sin put Jesus there!” I have seen the exercises in which people write their sin on a 3x5 card and nail it to a large cross in the room (by the way, who can fit all their crap on a 3x5 card – my sin would be a novel).
This language brings the guilt. There is some truth to these statements. However, it almost insinuates that humanity put God in a bad spot. We sinned, and he had no other option but to die in our place. God really could have done anything he wanted with humanity. He chose love.
The cross is about God. It is not about us. The cross is about love. It is not about guilt. The cross is a paradox. In that paradox there is hope, peace, and love.
What if the voice around the cross was the voice of God saying, “My love compelled me to come to you.” What if we heard, “In my love I said, ‘I will not let humanity live like this!’” What if we heard God saying, “The cross is my symbol of my love for humanity.”
This understanding is bringing me a new understanding of the Bible. When we read the words of Paul “… while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We are liberated from guilt, and we find ourselves in the midst of a love story. “… while we were still sinners, God loved us.”