“The
message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who
are being saved it is the power of The Lord. For it is written, ‘I will
destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the
prudent”
(1 Corinthians 1:18-19).
As
we continue our Holy Week journey on the pathway of the Cross, we must accept
the reality of common “myth” – especially as it relates to how Christians are
perceived in the world today. While we may attend our Holy Week worship
services here and there, we typically keep our devotion relatively low key and
in house.
We
are aware that our culture will only accept our Christian faith as long as we
continue to keep it low key and out of sight. That is, “those who
are perishing” may be offended by the very presence of a church
building, but they acknowledge the church’s right to exist. What these
“perishing ones” will not acknowledge or accept or respect is the Church’s duty
to not be low key, to not be silent, to not be ‘set apart’
from the dominant culture. As we see more and more in the public arena,
the culture is demanding that the Church “get with the times”.
We
cannot. We must not “get with the times”, for the time in which we live
is a passing time with a very short life (and attention!) span. This is
not necessarily to insert some apocalyptic warning about the End of Days,
though there is that. It is more to acknowledge so many passing “fads”
that fade with time when people lose interest in favor of something newer,
shinier, and with a little more excitement. What is for now is good for
now, but it will not last. This is the reality of history.
The
world understands “myth”. There is the myth of Bigfoot, the myth of Loch
Ness to name only two. Yet these myths do not serve humanity nor do such
myths speak to the human condition (unless that condition is “gullible”).
The “myth” of the Cross, however, goes far beyond some legendary story that
serves no useful purpose. This “myth” breaks into reality when the
faithful live as though it is true. The Story of Christ is “myth” only
because discipleship has lost its substance. This is not the fault of
those who do not believe. It is the failure of those who claim to believe
but choose instead to live as though it is only a “myth”; a story that may be
interesting but does not require anything of us.
The
Cross becomes reality only when the Faithful live as though it is real.
It is not a Story which can be read from a safe distance; it is THE Story that
defines life and living, every facet of our being and our doing. The
world which is “perishing” cannot understand what they do not see, and perhaps
it is the failure of the Church that has become so enamored with social media
that real (rather than virtual) relationships no longer
exist. Just post a “Jesus thing” on Facebook, and call it a day.
This
is not who we are called to be. If we are the Body of Christ Himself in
the world today, there has to be more. Yes, Jesus would probably use
social media if He were walking with us today, but His message would be more
like, “Meet Me in the Garden, and we’ll talk … but you need to show up”.
For Christ Jesus, in order to be the Great Shepherd and the Savior of the
world, must be experienced face-to-face.
This
is why the Church exists. Myths and legends have their place in American
lore, but our Shepherd is very real. He cannot be followed “virtually”,
for this is what makes Him a “myth” in the minds of a “perishing” world.
When He is experienced first-hand through the power and the fellowship of the
Church, He becomes the New Reality for those were once “perishing” but are soon
“being saved” from the brink of the abyss.
This
is our journey. This is our Reality. This indeed is our Life.
Blessings,
Michael
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