There Are No Cheap Crosses

One of the most memorable experiences in my early life was the opportunity to travel to Old Mexico as part of a Missions Survey Class, under the leadership and tutelage of a great man of God and teacher, Dr. Paul Goodwin. Among those things that made a indelible impression was the stark contrast of the poverty of the people of that overwhelmingly Roman Catholic country, and the extreme opulence of the established church. Great ornate cathedrals, richly bedecked and bejewelled with gold and silver and precious stones, graced even the poorest and humblest of villages. Further travels and the accounts of other travellers have confirmed that this is not an unusual phenomenon in such countries.

Set in the midst of all this pretentious opulence, was a plethora of crosses. They seemed to stare at you from shops, steeples, street corners and to be strung around the neck or wrist of every person you met. Crosses constructed of wood, plastic, metal or jewels were to be encountered among the most unlikely items in markets, street stalls and souvenir shops. If such is a measure of Christianity, one would be compelled to say missionaries were wasting their time there. But obviously such was, and is not, the case.

But when you really think about it, such misleading representations of true Christianity can be seen in some strange places and worn by equally unlikely people in our country today. Have you ever thought that some people who like to wear such crosses seem to personify everything else except real Christian committal? Notice if you will, the number of drug promoting rock stars, promiscuous Hollywood personalities, alcohol consuming sports heroes and pretentious politicians, who seem to have an curious affinity for such sad secular symbolism.

But what about crosses? Are we who know the Christ of the Cross supposed to wear them or bear them? Jesus commanded His followers to, "Take up the cross and follow me." And how many of us who profess to possess His salvation really do this? Perhaps we could consider what someone once had to say about the matter, "Have you seen the advertisement in a Christian Bookstore, 'Special, Crosses, Fifty Percent Off'? Too often we Christians shop for a discounted cross rather than take up His cross of self-denial. Some want a vinyl-padded cross that's not too heavy. Others look for a small, flat cross which can be put out of sight when they wish to practice secret discipleship. Still others look for a jewelled cross which can make them part of the fashionable in-crowd. But the cross of authentic discipleship is a plain, rough wooden cross that takes a lot of effort to carry. The type on which our Saviour was crucified. And this is the cross of discipleship which we as His followers are called to carry. But one important difference is that Jesus Himself has promised to stand with us and help us bear the load. He who said, 'Take up your cross,' also declared, 'My yoke is easy, and my burden is light'."