Deathblow to Religious Pride

by Aeron Morgan

There is a need for THE CROSS to be restored to its rightful place in the teaching and life of the Church. Paul affirmed the Cross alone was his glory (Gal.6:14). Its truth he refused to compromise knowing mans only hope of salvation was in that Cross. And on this WE must not yield. George Morrison , the old Scottish preacher (1866-1928) would certainly be out of step with the modern pragmatic pulpiteers if he were around today. He said, "It were better to empty a Church and preach the Cross, than to fill it by keeping silent like a coward. It were better to fail as Paul failed with the Jews, than to succeed by being a traitor to the Cross." He further said, "Religion can never be a pleasant entertainment. WHEN THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS CEASES IT IS LOST."

This central New Testament theme is one of the missing notes today. And little wonder, for if there is any meaning in Calvary at all, many things deemed precious to religious people are in effect valueless and we must not get their backs up!! Paul deals with this in Galatians. The Gospel that had been revealed to him (1:12) was under attack. So he challenges the Judaizers who, whilst they accepted the Messiahship of Jesus, added another requirement to that of faith in Christ: accepting of the Jewish obedience, particularly as symbolized in circumcision and the keeping of the ceremonial law. To Paul this was not just a different emphasis; it was a different gospel (1:6-9), so he protests that at the very heart of this perversion was "THE SCANDAL OF THE CROSS".

Continuing from the last issue, the second thing that answers our question as to WHY the Cross is a stumbling block is this: because it always deals a deathblow to every element of mans religious pride. The Cross demands we come to God as we are, humbly and empty-handed. The Judaizers were full of religious pride, so Paul reminds them of his own past racial and religious standing and egoism, a life centred in law and tradition, the means by which he formerly believed righteousness was obtainable to secure favour with God. (Phil.3:1-6). How futile he found it all to be, sincere though he had been. God had intervened in his life, and he came to believe that the reality and divine power resident in the Gospel of Christ ALONE could smash that deep-seated pride in the acceptance of unmerited love, and forgiveness, and justifying grace. Salvation is not of works, lest we should boast. (Eph.2:8). Paul had great concern for these Galatians who were in danger of "falling from grace". The Judaizers, desiring to make "a proud display in the flesh", recognized the offense of the Cross and shunned the stigma attached to it. (Gal.5:7-8. 6:12-13.) Nothing has changed! The Cross will ever be revolting to the flesh. Yet salvation is only here (6:14-16).

Theres something else that arises from this. It is the evil of RELIGIOUS EXTERNALISM, a grave error of our time, and another form of the peril that affected the Galatians. This is one of the reasons why we have little true exposition of THE CROSS today, for the Cross deals a deathblow to this. Lets admit it: we are impatient of inward, invisible heart-work; we are intolerant of anything not outwardly demonstrated. We appear more interested in what is FELT than in what is WROUGHT! If there IS an emotional experience, we think there must have been a spiritual work! That is NOT always the case. Or, if there is NOT something of an emotional stir, then NOTHING is taking place. How wrong we can be! And this is especially grievous because, without exception, externalism always tends to sinful, God-offending pride.

We may as well face it, THE OFFENSE OF THE CROSS WILL NEVER CEASE. We have to be bold to declare its true message, even though it crushes into the dust everything proud flesh holds dear and precious. But thank God, when the Cross brings the old life to an end God raises up the believer and a new life begins one that is full and free, rejoicing in Christ alone. Rom.6:3-4. Gal.2:20. Phil.3:3-9.

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Appeared in Issue 5 -- February 1999
"...contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" -- Jude v3