Home » Have Christians forgotten the Way of the cross?

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The thought came to me as I go through my daily walk that for many and yes even myself that while we profess righteously to be followers of Jesus Christ, few to none actually put His beliefs into practice each day when we speak of the Cross. Now I do not care to talk of the doctrines of man. I care to talk about our Lord Jesus Christ and His Cross and sufferings. 

Catholics are tied to His Crucifixion and death as an integral part of their worship. They have a series of special prayers in remembrance of His Crucifixion and Suffering "The Way of The Cross" or better known as the Stations of the Cross and we make up a very large majority of the population of this world, especially the Christian population. Does that make us any better certainly not, but it should remind us that we are to do His works and be a living example to all. Other wise we are hollow inside a mere empty shell.

We even wear the Image of our Lord suffering on the cross to remind us of that sacrifice where other denominations choose to use a cross without an image, symbolic of the Resurrection. The pain, the sorrow, the hurt, the ingratitude, the abuse, the debasement, torture, the ridicule, laughter, embarrassment and the loneliness of that and yes His ultimate victory once and for all.

Yet above all we should not forget the submissiveness, humility, humbleness of what Christ demonstrated and those attributes and qualities for us all to recognize and yes even with His dying Words He asked for our forgiveness and demonstrated mercy. Yes did not Saint Stephen and the other apostles do likewise even as they died, as did many other saints, forgiving even their enemies?

It matters not to me if you wear a cross with the image of our Lord or don't even wear one, gaze upon a picture, pray for intercession of those who have gone to be with the Lord, etc. There is an argument for it all and to date all it has caused is division in the body of Christ, not unity. We all have our beliefs and how we elect to focus on our Lord is an individual choice.

Yet the Cross is an example of the fundamental beliefs that All Christians should follow and exhibit. That is the path of humbleness and humility of mercy and compassion and of LOVE. This is the lesson of Christ and the Cross and it matters not what you profess. We are empty and hollow without the works that demonstrate that belief, fact.

If in your heart of hearts if you cannot, or do not feel the pain of your fellow man, and I mean pain and that pain does not motivate you in all you do, then regardless of what you profess, in my opinion one falls woefully short. It matters not the cause of their hurt what matters is their condition.

Your wealth, your power, your position, your title, the small and the great, it is the lesson of lessons.
Now in this day and age if we are to rise above the evil and horror and greed of this day we must all be who we say we are and elect those who by deed, the fruits of their works and not by what they profess or promise to give. The records are clear, their works before them in what they have done and failed to do. I care not to comment any longer on them. We must also hold true to that in all we do and especially when we consider our leaders.

Let this opinion be either discarded or taken as an act of love for all who profess. Let us all fall down before the Lord of Lords who we call Lord and God and confess we have sinned, have fallen short. Let us start with a day of universal prayer. We do not wish to disrespect those who do not believe yet we in the free nation that we are and which this nation was founded on have a right to do such. In my opinion this must be done before this election in every church, home and on every street corner in this land. What better day then All Saints day, November 01, 2008. Not because it is a Catholic Holiday, no because we are all Saints in training and it is a Christian Holiday. At 3:PM all across this land, the hour that our Lord died, let us in one universal bonding come together and ask in out own way, joined to each other for this land, our people our way of life, for prosperity, for safety in these perilous times, for abundance and for the grace of God to return that to us all and to elect the one that He has chosen through His divine wisdom and not the pride of man. Above all in thanksgiving for that sacrifice on Calvary 2000 years ago and the lesson of the Crucifixion.

I would suggest all over the land to place a Cross upon your lawn as a sign of your recognition of the Cross, as the pagans do for Halloween and their holiday remembrance. To place it there in testimony for your belief and commitment to follow Jesus Christ and for the act of sorrow for our sins as a people and nation. It can be as simple a cross as that old rugged cross or as small or large as you wish. One simple cross.

Then let us go to the polls and make change, let us be born again, change our ways and walk in humbleness, mercy, compassion and love in the name of Christ who we follow. For all men of belief and non of all lands and peoples placing our own first but allowing for those who are also in need.

Bring it to your church, your pastor and those who profess to follow Christ. Share it and do it not out of belonging to a group or movement or for personal gain or pride do it as one individual united all to a belief in Jesus Christ. It is time to move in our own land, our own neighborhoods our local churches. Place those building projects on hold, delay them, let us help those who are having their utilities shut off, the elderly who can't pay the mortgage, the young couple in the same situation and yes even those who are not coming to your church, reach out, extend the love of Christ, place judgment aside and help. If you want to evangelize this is this is the way and then those projects will proser even more as the church grows and grow it will because we have demonstrated we are no Paper tiger, Easter Bunny, Christians. Yes my belief, the time of separation is at hand.

Robert T. Melaccio Sr. 2008 Copyright 2008 Robert Melaccio Sr.