As I ponder the words of John Stott in The Cross of Christ, I am left wondering how far away we have veered from Paul's affirmation that "we preach Christ crucified". When it comes to Christian preaching, is that what is being heard around the world? Stott says that the only authentic Jesus is the Jesus who died on the cross. P.T. Forsyth states that "you do not understand Christ till you undertsand His cross".
I remembering hearing of someone who uses the following question as a sort of litmus test for preaching: In order for your sermon to be true, did Christ have to die?
A sort of corollary question might be asked of the congregation: In order for a sermon to have a genuine impact on you, does Christ crucified need to be proclaimed?
The message of the cross may have been a stumbling block to Jews. It may have been foolishness to Greeks. But one fears we are in an even more precarious position now, because to the 21st century inhabitants the message of the cross is seemingly irrelevant.
I remembering hearing of someone who uses the following question as a sort of litmus test for preaching: In order for your sermon to be true, did Christ have to die?
A sort of corollary question might be asked of the congregation: In order for a sermon to have a genuine impact on you, does Christ crucified need to be proclaimed?
The message of the cross may have been a stumbling block to Jews. It may have been foolishness to Greeks. But one fears we are in an even more precarious position now, because to the 21st century inhabitants the message of the cross is seemingly irrelevant.
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