The Offence of the Cross

Harbours no distinctions

Third in a series by AERON MORGAN

REACHING the Word of God faithfully and uncompromisingly is not always easy! So often the message we are required to proclaim is "offensive", for it's demands cut across the flesh, and the cost attached to obeying it is more than what many are prepared for.

Like Mark Twain, who once said, "It's not the things in the Bible that I DON'T understand that bothers me; it is that which I DO understand, but can't stomach!"

When George Whitfield was preaching one day, there was a noble woman in the crowd, who listened to him intently—but in disgust. She left in a rage. To someone who inquired why she was so angry she explained, "It is perfectly intolerable that ladies like me should be spoken to like a creature from the streets!" She was right—it WAS intolerable. THAT IS `THE OFFENCE OF THE CROSS' (Gal 5:11).

In our examination of this Scripture, we have noted two reasons WHY the Cross is a `scandal'. And here is the third _ it removes every kind of distinction. The apostle Paul endured so much persecution of the Jews. Why? Because they could not `stomach' his preaching of Jesus Christ and the all-sufficiency of His work on the Cross.

To Paul the terms of salvation as revealed in the Gospel were non-negotiable. Whatever the cost of being true to that revelation, he knew he dared not strip away "the offence of the Cross" to accommodate any Jewish notion which distorted the gospel by requiring Gentiles to become Jews by an external rite of circumcision before they could become Christians. Thus does he say (5:6), "In Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." This was part of `the offence of the Cross' — that there was NO distinction.

We ALL come to a knowledge of God's salvation in precisely the same way and on precisely the same terms. The Cross bursts through all the barriers of nationality. Paul, in the face of those well-defined distinctions of his society, demonstrated how the Gospel of Jesus Christ destroyed such arrogance.

In Christ there is no racial, social or sexual discrimination. Thus, Paul says that with those who are justified by faith, "There is neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile), there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ" (Gal 3:28).

There is no difference in standing before the Lord, no special privileges for anyone, since we have all come the same way, the ONLY way to God — through Christ crucified. Gentiles are "fellow-heirs and of the same body, and partakers (together) of His promise in Christ by the gospel" (Eph 3:6 —see also Titus 3:7). So Paul says, in effect, "I dare not compromise this God-given revelation" —c.f. Gal 1:8 & 1 Cor 9:16.

How different things are today! There is a changed attitude toward the Cross. It is somewhat subtle, for many would not dare to raise a voice in contradiction of our traditional evangelical persuasion. However, the `silence' on this primal New Testament theme is significantly `deafening'.

It is either that preachers (hence people) are ignorant of the `theology' of the Cross, or they do not wish to preach it with its radical and revolutionary implications which apply to ALL without distinction.

The Cross appears to be alright in poetry and hymnody — as long as it does not encroach on our personal lives with its ignominy, shame and smell of death. After all, our message must be of LIFE not death, of merriment not mortification! So goes the soft approach!

The true, unmodified, unyielding message of the Cross will always be an offence. Naaman was greatly offended when the prophet required him to wash in the Jordan in order to be cleansed from his leprosy — and in "wrath" came up with his own and more acceptable proposition (2 Kings 5:9-14). However offensive it was to him, he could only be healed by rendering total obedience to the `word of the Lord' through the prophet. Whoever we are, we can only be saved in meeting with God's requirements, as Peter declared to the Jews on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:38) and Paul likewise declared to the pagan idolaters in Athens (Acts 17:30).

God commands ALL MEN EVERYWHERE TO REPENT, and "to believe the gospel" —which was the message of Jesus Himself (Mark 1:15). What GOOD NEWS this is, that without any kind of distinction, God will save those who come to Him through His Son, glorying not in human merit and self-worth — indeed in nothing "save in the CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST… for in HIM neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, BUT A NEW CREATURE" (Gal 6:14-15). The old life cannot be `repaired' or `remodelled', because there is nothing good in weak, sinful flesh on which to build.

You can, however, become a brand new person, whoever you are, by the power of God—Romans 1:16-17 & 2 Cor 5:17. Don't let the Cross offend you—let its glorious and powerful message CHANGE YOU.

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Appeared in Issue 6 -- June 1999
"...contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" -- Jude v3