The Cross of the Evangelist

The Theology of The Cross by Daniel Deutschlander is hugely popular right now, at least at the monastery I've been living at for the last four weeks. The theology of the cross isn't hard to understand. Quite simply, it talks about how bad things happen to Christians because we are Christians. However, what can be a little bit harder to understand is how we are asked to bear crosses in our lives today. After all, we're not persecuted these days. Overall, people are generally accepting of people having their own beliefs. It might seem like we're not asked to bear crosses like Christians used to be.

Yet, today during Hermeneutics I realized a cross that I, and most Christians, will constantly bear for the rest of our lives. That cross comes to us as we attempt to evangelize to the people in our lives. When you share God's Word with people, you're making an investment in them. Your entire being is wrapped up in wanting them to believe the message that you share. You want this person that you love to spend eternity in heaven with you and with God. However, that will not always happen. Some times those people reject the message. And that hurts. Badly. It truly is a painful cross that we must bear, and it will not go away.

Jesus tells us to bring our crosses to him. He tells us that he will give us rest (Matthew 11:28,29). He doesn't tell us that he'll take our cross away. No, the very fact that he makes this invitation indicates that we will bear crosses throughout our earthly journey. While we will still hurt, Jesus tells us that he will give us rest for our souls. That rest that he brings did not come by the removal of a cross. Instead, it came by Jesus taking up his own cross. Suddenly our crosses seem so small. Imagine the pain of the evangelist, Jesus. He has invested far more into every soul than any of us ever will into one. He suffered death and hell, just to have billions reject that sacrifice. How painful that must be. Yet, despite the pain he knew he would encounter, he took up his cross and paid the price. Let us make that same choice and willingly take up the cross of an evangelist. We know that it will bring us pain, but let us also bear in mind that the benefit will still be worth the price that we pay. Many may reject us, but if even just one comes to faith, that is a cause for celebration (Matthew 18:12,13).

So, let's forget the cost and take up the cross of the evangelist.

"Let no false doctrine me beguile;
Let Satan not my soul defile.
Give strength and patience unto me
To bear my crosses willingly.
Lord Jesus Christ, My God and Lord,
Forsake me not! I trust your Word." (CW 434 v.2)
Amen.