We would rather circumcise ourselves, we would rather do penance, we would rather crawl on our knees through the desert beating ourselves than acknowledge the offense of the cross.-D. Williams
I heard this in church this morning and was stunned. I'm accustomed to hearing "the offense of the cross" being used (and abused) by evangelists as an excuse for all evangelical offensiveness. I have this vague impression of the offense of the cross as "the offense of the righteous condemning sinners." But the context is quite different:
Galatians 5:11Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished.
The context says that the offense of the cross is that righteousness - obeying the law - is worse than useless. The offense of the cross is that we don't need to mess with these things, because we don't save ourselves. In fact, we can't save ourselves. The offense of the cross is its affront to our dignity and pride - our good deeds aren't necessary.
So when Mr. Williams (no, not a famous writer/thinker, just a guy in my Sunday School class) spoke up, it just put things in perspective. I would rather do just about any kind of penance rather than face the fact that I have to put my trust in God, and not my righteousness. Still... kinda refreshing, to be able to cancel my plans for the flagellant retreat. It was for freedom that Christ set us free. :)
