Central to the Christian call is this graphic and troubling invitation to "take up your cross and follow me." Over a life time, I've heard dozens of explanations of Jesus's meaning. These interpretations run the spectrum, from the sublime to the ridiculous.
While I delight in symbolic language and interpretive play, a rather simple and direct understanding of the invitation has captured my imagination. To bear the cross is to bear sin. To follow Jesus is to take on the sin of the world, to take it out of circulation. To hold it rather than throw it back in the face of the sinner.
As far as I can tell, this is the only power we have to effect real change. Force, coercion, exercising power over others, these are merely frantic efforts to maintain order, fingers in a failing dam. They do not awaken or transform people. They do not move people from obeisances to cultural norms to joyful obedience to the law of love.
Yes, I realize that the call to bear the sins of others has often resulted in silently enduring abuse. I do not know of a rule for discerning the difference between bearing sins as healing act and suffering abuse. And Jesus example is not that helpful. He told Peter that there were a legion of angels standing ready to protect him, but he chose to endure the injustice unfolding before him.
While I'm comfortable with thinking that Jesus's "mission" was somehow unique, I still feel that the invitation to all followers of Jesus remains: choose weakness, vulnerability, and forgiveness and, like Jesus, let that be God's power in the world.
As in all things, especially regarding the upside down kin-dom of God, wisdom and communal discernment are required. But imagine what the world would look like if even a 20% of the world's 2 billion professing Christians we're practicing cross bearers, violence interupters, peace makers, generous hosts reducing fear and anxiety everywhere they went.
While I delight in symbolic language and interpretive play, a rather simple and direct understanding of the invitation has captured my imagination. To bear the cross is to bear sin. To follow Jesus is to take on the sin of the world, to take it out of circulation. To hold it rather than throw it back in the face of the sinner.
As far as I can tell, this is the only power we have to effect real change. Force, coercion, exercising power over others, these are merely frantic efforts to maintain order, fingers in a failing dam. They do not awaken or transform people. They do not move people from obeisances to cultural norms to joyful obedience to the law of love.
Yes, I realize that the call to bear the sins of others has often resulted in silently enduring abuse. I do not know of a rule for discerning the difference between bearing sins as healing act and suffering abuse. And Jesus example is not that helpful. He told Peter that there were a legion of angels standing ready to protect him, but he chose to endure the injustice unfolding before him.
While I'm comfortable with thinking that Jesus's "mission" was somehow unique, I still feel that the invitation to all followers of Jesus remains: choose weakness, vulnerability, and forgiveness and, like Jesus, let that be God's power in the world.
As in all things, especially regarding the upside down kin-dom of God, wisdom and communal discernment are required. But imagine what the world would look like if even a 20% of the world's 2 billion professing Christians we're practicing cross bearers, violence interupters, peace makers, generous hosts reducing fear and anxiety everywhere they went.
