Great Salvation/Good Friday

The consumer mindset rules the church in America. We have taken the cross of Christ and transformed it into something nice. There is nothing nice about the cross of Christ. As Paul said it, is foolishness to some, a stumbling block to others. Many will not embrace the cross because it will not take them where they want to go. How can we embrace the cross and find power, wealth, and the applause of man? Paul gloried in the cross. He counted everything else as rubbish, except to know Christ and Him crucified. The consumer mindset conflicts with the cross. The consumer mindset has my comfort, happiness and success at its core. The cross has the will of the Father and the glory of the Father at its core. The cross demands that I die to my selfish agenda and embrace the Father's will without hestitation or reservation. The cross is not a place to strike a bargain. The cross is not a place to make a deal. The cross of Christ is painful, embarrassing, confrontational, and revealing. The cross of Christ exposes our sins and sinfulness. The cross of Christ is life's major intersection. Here I choose life or death, sin or holiness, forgiveness or condemnation, Christ or self. Christ calls us to 'follow Him.' The destination of that path takes us to the cross. There we have the privilege of being crucified with Christ so that we are no longer living for self but for Christ. Then we discover the privilege of sharing in His redemptive purpose as the power of His resurrection flows through us to a broken world. Then by the grace of God, we transition from being a consumer to being Christian.