The Necessity of the Cross

Christian Proclamation

The Necessity of the Cross

Christian Proclamation

In the landscape of Christian ministry, the message of Christ crucified stands as the immutable cornerstone. It is the lynchpin of the faith, the foundation upon which all doctrines are built, and the central theme that animates the life of the church. A church that fails to prioritize the crucifixion of Christ in its teachings is akin to a myriad of lifeless metaphors; it is an entity that has lost its purpose, direction, and vitality.

The Church as a Lifeless Entity Without the Cross

When the cross is removed from the pulpit, the church becomes comparable to a dead carcass. In the absence of the life-giving message of redemption through Jesus Christ, the church loses its spiritual vitality. As the Scripture says in James chapter two, verse twenty-six, "For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." The church must embody the spirit of its faith, which is manifest in the works of Christ's sacrifice.

The Emptiness of a Church Without the Message of Salvation

Similarly, a church without the crucified Christ is like a well without water. In Jeremiah chapter two, verse thirteen, it is written, "For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." Without the proclamation of the cross, the church becomes a broken cistern that cannot hold the living water of God's Word.

The Barrenness of a Fig Tree

The metaphor of a barren fig tree is a stark scriptural warning found in the judgment upon the unfruitful tree in the Gospels. In Luke chapter thirteen, verses six through nine, the parable of the barren fig tree warns of the consequences of fruitlessness. A church that fails to preach Christ crucified will inevitably fail to bear the fruit of true Christian faith.

The Ineffectiveness of the Silent Watchman

A silent trumpet and a sleeping watchman serve as profound biblical symbols of neglect and dereliction of duty. Ezekiel chapter thirty-three, verses six through nine, holds the watchman accountable for the blood of the people if he fails to sound the alarm. The church is God’s watchman, tasked with the solemn duty of proclaiming salvation through the cross. Silence in this regard is tantamount to spiritual negligence.

The Messenger and Ambassador Without a Message

An ambassador without terms of peace and a messenger without tidings are both ineffective and purposeless. Second Corinthians chapter five, verse eighteen to nineteen, speaks of the ministry of reconciliation entrusted to the apostles, stating, "And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation." A church that neglects to serve the message of reconciliation through the preaching of the cross falls drastically short of its calling.

The Church as Salt That Has Lost Its Savor

A church that neglects the crucified Christ mirrors flavorless salt: ineffective and purposeless. As Jesus teaches in Matthew chapter five, verse thirteen, salt must retain its savor to be of value. The church is charged with preserving Gospel truth and infusing believers' lives with the wisdom of Christ's sacrifice. Without its central message, the church cannot sustain faith, provoke a hunger for righteousness, or impart the grace and truth of Jesus' life and teachings. Absent the message of the cross, the church risks becoming like tasteless salt, losing its essential role and potentially being cast aside.

The Church as a Lampstand Without Light

A church without the central message of Christ's crucifixion resembles a darkened lampstand. Revelation chapter two, verse five compares a church's failure to uphold its calling to a lampstand at risk of being removed. Just as a lampstand is designed to hold a burning light, the church is meant to illuminate the path to salvation with the Gospel's truth. Without the light of the crucifixion and resurrection narrative, the church loses its ability to guide believers, leaving them in spiritual darkness, devoid of the cross's redemptive power.

A Refuge for Formalism

A church devoid of the crucifixion becomes a hotbed for formalism. Without the heartfelt worship and the transformative message of the cross, religious practice devolves into mere formality. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for such empty practices in Matthew chapter twenty-three, verse twenty-seven: "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness."

Conclusion

The crucifixion of Christ is not merely a historical fact to be acknowledged; it is the very essence of the Gospel that must be proclaimed with fervor and sincerity. A church that sidelines this central truth is at risk of becoming spiritually desolate and ineffective. The call to return to the cross is urgent and clear. As Paul succinctly stated in Galatians chapter six, verse fourteen, "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." The church must reclaim its calling to preach Christ crucified, for in doing so, it stands as a beacon of hope and a conduit of God's grace in a world in desperate need of salvation.