By Paul Proctor

September 11, 2003

NewsWithViews.com

 

CNS news reported on August 22nd that: “An interfaith group founded by Unification Church leader Sun Myung Moon was spearheading an effort to have Christian ministers remove crosses from their churches, calling them a symbol of oppression and perceived superiority.”

Though some Christians and organizations have clearly denounced the absurd demand, it should be noted that many pastors and congregations have already done so – not because the Moonies told them to but because church growth gurus, “experts” and consultants said that a lot more people would come to church if we would remove all offensive and intimidating symbols and traditions from our buildings and worship services – unaware that in doing so, we were incrementally and unwittingly conforming to the UN’s plan for a one world religion, where people of ALL faiths, beliefs, and practices, however pagan, obscene, obscure and unscriptural, could one day gather together and worship their respective gods collectively in “peace” and ”unity” for the “benefit of all mankind” – that doing such was the REAL measure of Christian love.

“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” – 2nd Corinthians 6:14

Many “progressive” and “contemporary” churches have willingly replaced the cross that once hung in their sanctuaries with large video screens and audio systems to wow and woo their undiscerning audiences with sensual imagery and pulsating music, believing it to be somehow more spiritual than an old rugged cross. Proponents and participants, however, fail to see that in doing so, bibles are quietly closed and attention is redirected toward the high-tech excitement, imagination, exaltation and creativity of men.

Now that crosses are coming down and video screens are going up, it appears that the next phase of this religious transformation has begun with the heralding of the Mosaic church movement – a fellowship that, like most things “new” and “progressive”, began in the artsy-craftsy community of Southern California and quite frankly, REVOLVES around the thrill of sound, imagery and imagination – designed, it’s followers say, to appeal to a more “aesthetic crowd” – to let them “experience Jesus Christ in a new, fresh way."

“…there is no new thing under the sun.” – Ecclesiastes 1:9b

You see, we no longer want men to change for God – we want to try and change God for men because we’ve been shrewdly convinced that it’s good for business. So, how are we changing God? We seem to be attempting some sort of extreme makeover in order to render Him, His Word and His church more presentable and acceptable in public. Though the bible teaches that “God is love”, we have bought into the liberal lie that says God is ONLY love, which, from a public relations perspective is a much easier sell. And, if God is ONLY love, then sin no longer matters; repentance, faithfulness, personal sacrifice and scriptural obedience are all irrelevant. There is no Hell, because a God that ONLY loves would never allow such a place of suffering and torment to exist, much less send anyone there. And THAT, my friends, is why the crosses are coming down at church today – because the god WE'VE created for the new age is ONLY love.

The cross, in fact, represents more than just love – it also represents justice. But the world hates the God of justice because the world is a proud and unjust place. It wants ONLY a god of love because a god who ONLY loves will never chasten, criticize or condemn. And, if God ONLY loves, then why have His Son nailed to a cross high upon a hill for all to see? Why not just forgive and forget everyone’s transgressions across the board WITHOUT a cross or a crucifixion and WELCOME ANYONE, regardless of attitude, behavior or belief, into His Kingdom eternal? Ah, but what kind of Kingdom would that be; where men do as they please without fear or consequence? Even worse – what kind of god would ignore sin and injustice for the sake of a larger following?

I’ll tell you what kind of god; the kind of god that tells us to take down our cross so more people will come. The kind of god Paul warned us about in 2nd Corinthians 4:4 – if you’re interested, that is.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” – Matthew 16:24