The Christian faith is coming under increasing pressure from every angle. For those that read and believe the Bible, this is no surprise as it is to be expected, but that doesn’t make it any easier. It’s difficult to be proud of the cross when decisions are made with the intention of trying to appease non-Christians groups with their animosity to the Christian faith.
For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10)
Many may remember Real Madrid football club removing the cross from their official crest “to appease new sponsors” in the United Arab Emirates. This was a tiny cross at the top of the crest so it’s amazing how this can cause problems – it’s bizarre that the cross is seen as so offensive and makes people very uncomfortable in our secular society.
The cross is at the heart of the Gospel message as it symbolizes the risen Christ – without it, there is no salvation and no forgiveness, which is why there is real power in the cross. Where there is true power there will also be spiritual opposition intent on removing the cross from sight by all means possible.
However, the most worrying trend is that those who are often removing the cross are usually organisations with Christian roots that felt compelled to display the cross in the first place. Previously, the cross was a defiant symbol of salvation through Christ which connects people around the world with the Christian message of salvation.
It’s sad to see many try to appease those around us them and cave in to demands to remove Christian symbols as opposed to boldly holding fast to the gospel and symbols of Christianity. It may be understandable for some organisations where new owners don’t hold the same beliefs but you wouldn’t expect a Church of England school to do this? Well, it looks like Oak CE Primary School has done just that. The school is in a “diverse area with a high Muslim population” so it appears the cross has been removed to be less offensive. For a Church-of-England school to remove the cross is a sign of the times, unfortunately, this trend is likely to increase as our country is de-Christianised. It will take courage to stand with the cross, but this is what Christians are told to do. The apostle Paul didn’t want to glory is anything else:
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. (Galatians 6:14)
The cross is nothing to be embarrassed about, it’s a symbol and reminder of the price Christ paid for everyone one of us. It’s offensive to people because it tells the world that they are sinners and they need to repent, but it also offers the ultimate hope in Jesus Christ. It’s a message that will get harder to proclaim in these end times, it’s a message that needs to be heard! This is not the time to pull down the shutters and remove anything that could be seen to point to Christ. We pray more can be proud of the cross no matter what the cost is.
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)
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