Chapter 9; The Crux of the Matter

     Chapter 9 takes the book's title, letting the reader know that this is what it's all about.  The authors begin by looking at a "fictional" scenario in which two groups in a congregation are pulling for different, and intrinsically opposed, worship programs.  One side doesn't like where things are headed with devotional songs and praise teams, and the other feels as if things aren't moving "forward" fast enough, hoping for a more contemporary and relevant service.  Next the book looks at the early Corinthian church and the struggles it faced, namely power and wisdom.  Power, because there was infighting as to what spiritual gift was greatest, and wisdom, because they were proud of their educational emphasis and no too impressed with Paul.  The church didn't feel comfortable with the idea that God came to earth as a man and was humiliated and embarrassed on the cross, so they tended not to preach Christ crucified.  In no short order, Paul sets things straight and tells them that the greatest gift is love (charity) and that Christ crucified IS the gospel, end of story.  Paul goes on to address other specific issues in the church at Corinth, like disruptions in the worship service and the less-than-virtuous activity of sexual relations with your in-laws (seriously, did they really need someone to point that out?!).  The authors spend most of their time on what they call "the Crux," which is this:
      "The cross of Christ ought to make a difference in how you live, how you teat one another, how you restrain your freedoms and subdue your desires in order that others may be served.  It ought to affect the choices you make, the words you use, the sacrifices you offer.  The concerns of Christ should be reflected in everything you do." (p. 210)
      On Sunday morning our table discussed the interesting idea that sometimes the most simple idea can be the most significant.  As Christians, by definition,  we all believe in the deity and resurrection of Christ.  But do we understand why his death was and is so significant?  Beyond being the "act" of salvation, why is it so amazing, so earth-shattering, so transformative?  The answer: Because he didn't have to.  He was Yahweh, Jehovah, Elohim, Adonai.  This was the Lord of Lords and the King of Kings on the cross.  If you think Elijah set it off on Baal, just imagine what God the Creator could have done at Golgatha.  But he didn't.  He restrained all His power, all His freedom for our good, so that His sacrifice might have meaning and power greater than any event before or after.  If the Lord Almighty can sacrifice everything, do we have any place to put our interests before other's?  Can you honestly say, that when you meet God face to face, pierced hand to hand, punctured side to side, that you want to explain why you were justified in promoting your interests at the expense of a relationship with your brother or sister?  That is the Crux.
     So what does a life transformed by the cross look like?