honor vs works

[christiana]

Please share your thoughts and/or opinion on adults who walk along the feeder road carrying a large wooden cross. As I drove to church on Christmas Eve I saw a group of about 8 adults each carrying a very large wooden cross. It was cold and raining and my thoughts were that it was such a waste. The work of the cross is finished and there is nothing to add to the work Christ did other than to believe in faith. However, I was told by a few that I was judgmental, that I didnt know what was in their heart or their motive and that they could be doing it to honor their Savior. So, I'm wondering what PBers might opine on such a display.

 

[py3ak]

Well, of course we don't know what it was in their hearts. But their external activity is not promising. There is no command to carry pieces of wood. The reasons that come to mind for doing so are either personal, or evangelistic. If the goal is personal, it seems like an unnecessary display, and probably based on a misunderstanding of sanctification. If the goal is evangelistic, it attempts a visual display; but mere "passion-plays" so to speak, can stir great and sympathetic emotions without in any clear or definite way calling men to Christ. And that is not moderately good; it is positively deleterious, because feeling an emotional connection to Christ in the absence of saving faith is likely to obscure one's lost condition from one's own awareness.

 

[Wayne]

At least thus far in this nation, that sort of thing is usually done with an evangelistic intent.
Arthur Blessitt is perhaps the best-known practitioner. Lastly, we did have a thread on this
very subject in May of 2010 :

http://www.puritanboard.com/f71/why-dont-more-us-carry-big-wooden-crosses-down-street-60842/

 

[christiana]

Thanks Wayne, I went back and read all those posts again on the previous threadd, including one I'd written and forgot about! I guess my opinion today could be more merciful and prayerful for those involved.

 

[Pergamum]

I think this is a waste, too.

It doesn't communicate, "Wow, let's worship Jesus." It communicates the message, "Some Christians are weird freaks."

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But, (trying to avoid harshness) God blesses many methods and if a person's heart is pure and their wood-carrying is backed up by words, this might be able to glorify God, too.

 

[christiana]

That was exactly my opinion that I had posted about it on FaceBook and some of my kids said I was being judgmental as I didnt know their reason or their heart. I still agree with you that it is a waste for no matter what their reason for doing it there are better and safer ways to go about it without exposing themself to pneumonia and/or being run over by some vehicle. I will be praying for wisdom, for myself and for them as well.