I used to find the message of the cross totally off-putting. The idea that God would suffer and die for me was bizarre enough, but far scarier was the implication that I was called to imitate Jesus’ suffering and death. It’s one thing to be nice to other people, but loving my enemies and blessing those who curse me? What kind of crazy religion is that?
During his three years of public ministry, Jesus pointed out time and again that most would not be able to handle his message. In the end, even his closest friends deserted him rather than suffer his fate. They had expected a victorious Messiah-King, not a resolute prophetic witness who bore all the hatred and violence that the system could muster.
The resurrection changed everything, of course. Suddenly, the once reluctant disciples were filled with boldness. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, they began to share the good news of Jesus throughout the ancient world, and many more became disciples. Yet, even in these early years of growth, the message about Jesus and his cross was still a stumbling block for many. The apostle Paul explains that the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are wise by human standards. It’s always a hard sell to invite others to come and die.
The truth about the gospel is challenging enough, but today we also face countless other stumbling blocks to faith: Emotionally abusive religious communities have made untold millions afraid to approach God. National leaders make war in the name of Christianity. Historical atrocities justified by religion – such as the Crusades – are remembered vividly and held out as evidence that Christianity is a religion of death rather than life. In many cases, Jesus has been deeply discredited by those who claim to follow him.
The message of the cross is hard enough to accept on its own terms without my own failings providing an additional reason to disregard it. With so many factors pushing my friends and neighbors away from the good news, I feel a responsibility to examine myself closely: Does my life radiate the kind of love and joy that makes others curious? Do my speech, body language and lifestyle communicate openness, acceptance and hospitality? I can’t control how others react to me, of course – but am I doing everything I can to reflect the love and mercy of Jesus? With God’s help, I know I can do better.
Hi Micah, I hope you don’t mind that I posted this on The First Day Facebook page today. I am one of those people whose body goes on alert when “Jesus” gets mentioned, but thanks to my Quaker faith, I have been able to move past some of those more negative associations and understand the deeper meaning of divine love.
Glad you were able to get something out of this post, Jana! Hopefully I didn’t raise any more red flags than necessary.
Not at all–I’ve totally made friends with Jesus now. We hang. He’s cool.
It sounds like your next, and the first in a long (could be endless) series of essays will be on absorbing from the that part of Scripture that Christians most avoid — that with the instructions from Jesus. and learning to implement them and also to emulate HIs conduct.
While we must be on guard against being a stumbling block because of our beliefs we must remember that “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”. No matter how we try to be loving we are going to offend someone sometime but let’s pray it’s more about them than it is about us.
I think there isn’t anything I can do w/out god. It took all my years to get here now and relax in the moment where I no longer feel a multitude hanging on my every word and action. I stop now when something triggers my inner bully and contemplate the fact that I have been thoroughly indoctrination by a toxic religious/social/materialistic colonial system since childhood. I’m in recovery b/c of the grace of god. All I do now is be grateful I survived and be still & in peace I’ve never known. If others are arriving at the same time to this state then I hope we can validate each other’s experiencing of it and wait for more instruction from the holy spirit. The temptation I resist everyday is to not slip into releasing by seeking to control ppl places & things like I used to try to do!
constant contact w/ my friend Jesus is having an effect of peace and the ‘conversation’ of the holy spirit is for my guidance & evolution into a more loving relationship w/my neighbor I think. I could not do this before I was completely broken. My religiosity was driving me crazy! I was all ego and had an inflated impossible expectation of myself that I could be another George fox to my generation. That is what broke in me & I was depressed b/c what goes up must come down. I truly didn’t know how high i had driven myself until I was a total psychotic hot mess!