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The Message Of The Cross

             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. (I Corinthians 1:18)

                You’ve seen the movies or read the book. Someone (usually a scientist) comes forward with some warning about a disaster, and “everyone” laughs. Then it happens. The boy cries “Wolf!” repeatedly, and then he cries “Wolf!” because there really is a wolf. The cliché of “a wise man raises an alarm and is called a fool” is alive and well and thriving in our culture. I suspect it is in every culture and always has.

                This is just reality. Last week, I mentioned schismogenesis, and it comes into play again. We can warn everyone, and we’ll be ridiculed and worse, because they have a choice between their worldview, which makes them feel good, and a different worldview that doesn’t bolster their egos. The thing is, we who are being saved can have precisely the same attitude toward those who think the message of the cross is foolishness. We can be just as condescending, condemning, mocking, and every bit as hateful as they are. And when we behave as they behave, we show ourselves to be no better than they are. In fact, we might be worse, because we are not following the example of Christ, but theirs. Jesus told us to love our enemies.

                I suspect none of us contemplate the message of the cross as we should. 

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