The primary symbol of Christianity has always been the cross. The death of Jesus for our sins is at the heart of the gospel, the good news. Increasingly, however, what the Christian church has considered good news is considered by the rest of our culture to be bad news.
Why then don't we just leave the cross out? Why not focus on the life of Jesus and his teachings rather than on his death? Why did Jesus have to die?
Reason 1: Real Forgiveness is Costly Suffering. A good example is the German theologian and martyr Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He did not ignore or excuse sin. He resisted it head on, even though it cost him everything. His forgiveness was also costly because he refused to hate.
It is crucial at this point to remember that the Christian faith has always understood that Jesus Christ is God. Therefore, the God of the Bible is not like the primitive deities who demanded our blood for their wrath to be appeased. Rather, this is a God who becomes human and offers his own lifeblood in order to honour moral justice and merciful love so that some day he can destroy all evil without destroying us.
Reason 2: Real Love is a Personal Exchange. If you take away the cross, you don't have a God of love. In the real world of relationships it is impossible to love people with a problem or a need without in some sense sharing or even changing places with them. All real-life changing love involves some form of this exchange.
The gospel is not just a moving fictional story about someone else. It is a true story about us. We are actually in it.
When I realised I was actually inside Jesus' story (and he inside mine) it changed me. The fear and pride that captured my heart was finally dislodged. The fact that Jesus had to die for me humbled me out of my pride. The fact that Jesus was glad to die for me assured me out of my fear.
Based on: Tim Keller (2008), The Reason for God, p.186-200
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