GOD FORBID THAT I SHOULD BOAST EXCEPT IN THE CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, BY WHOM THE WORLD HAS BEEN CRUCIFIED TO ME, AND I TO THE WORLD.

Galatians 6:14

I read a great article today called "The Old Rugged Cross" on Crossroad, a website operated by Andy and Berit Kjos, discussing how the world and the modern church views the cross in these days. It saddens my heart to see the reality that formerly evangelical churches are turning their backs on the only way there is for man to be saved. If they are not outright denying the cross, they are doing it in a practical sense. The article draws attention to what is in store for churches who will not soften their stance on holding tightly to Christ's work on the cross as the only way of salvation, and some of the legal ramifications they will likely face. Click HERE to read the article.

The editors at Lighthouse Trails wrote an article, "Celebrating the Resurrection, but Denying the Atonement", exposing the pathway the emerging church and contemplative spirituality are taking in their practical denial of the cross. Here is an excerpt from that article:

This weekend, people throughout the world are celebrating Christ's resurrection. Even people who don't believe in the resurrection are celebrating the weekend and wishing Happy Easter to others. But while that seems odd to celebrate a day when you don't even believe in it's reason, what is more odd is that so many Christians are celebrating the resurrection but are throughout the year promoting a spirituality that ultimately denies the atonement. Without the atonement, why bother thinking about the resurrection - it would mean nothing.

Some may be saying right now-- my pastor doesn't deny the atonement. Really? Does he ever promote Brennan Manning or Richard Foster? What about the college you attend? Do your professors ever tell you to read Henri Nouwen or Larry Crabb? And what about the women's Bible studies you attend? Do you ever read books by Keri Wyatt Kent, Jan Johnson, or Ruth Haley Barton? And what about the youth group your teens go to? Do they watch Rob Bell's Noomas and read books by Dan Kimball and Brian McLaren? And is your church involved with Rick Warren's Purpose Driven Life? You see, the spiritual formation movement (of which category all these authors and leaders fall into) has a core of mysticism. And contemplative mysticism, by its very nature, denies the Cross, the atonement, and the resurrection. So to celebrate the resurrection and yet to embrace spiritual formation is a terrible contradiction.

Now it is true that not all of the people who promote contemplative reject the Atonement, but by their adhering to and promoting the spirituality that does, they in a round about way reject it also. Those who believe in the true elements of contemplative/emerging spirituality say they love the Cross and they consider Christ an example of a great servant who sacrificially gave His life for others, but they deny the idea that He was a substitute - in other words He paid the penalty that we should have because we are sinners. They say that God would not send His Son to a violent death on a Cross to bear the sins of others (see our research on this). They say Jesus is their model but cannot say He is their Lord. By Christian leaders embracing spiritual formation as they are now doing in large numbers, they are inadvertently denying the atonement and are helping to usher in a world religious system that will attempt to snuff out the true gospel. This effort is already knocking at the door.(1)

Click HERE to read the rest of the article on the Lighthouse Trails website.

Here is a video of that old favorite hymn:

THE OLD RUGGED CROSS ON ACOUSTIC GUITAR


(1). http://www.lighthousetrailsresearch.com/blog/index.php?cat=41