The Cross is Offensive

By Tom Rhodes 10/20/2012

Like no other religious symbol the world finds the cross offensive. In Galatians 5:11 Paul wrote, "Brothers, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished." Paul was under attack when he wrote those words because he was making it very clear that there is only one way to salvation. Preaching that we can only be saved through the cross of Christ is a message that the world finds offensive.

Proof that Paul was right can be seen today in the actions of Louisiana State University who purposefully edited out the cross in this image.

This is a group of students called “The Painted Posse,” who paint their bodies with LSU school colors and small crosses for every home game.

What LSU published was this:


LSU officials reasoning was they didn’t want to offend non Christians.

The question is why does the world expect Christians to be tolerant of all other beliefs, but is totally intolerant of Christianity? The fact is the bible is the source of libertarian beliefs, it is Christians who eventually ended acceptance of slavery in the western world, it is Christians that pushed for equal rights and tolerance of other beliefs. Other religions don’t share such beliefs and are not willing to fight for others regardless of beliefs as Christians are. The example of the cross and what it means, shames others to such a degree as they find the Cross offensive. Over 100 years ago C.H. Spurgeon preached on the subject, and it has been a theme in seminaries and sermons for as long as there has been a Church.

The rule of law, rather than rule of dictates by Imams, dictators, kings, etc. is based on Christian principles. In The Christian foundations of the rule of law in the West: a legacy of liberty and resistance against tyranny, Augusto Zimmermann clearly shows how the rule of law as an effective check on tyranny has its roots in Christianity.

“The rule of law is therefore far more than the mere existence of positive laws, as it also requires the state to act in accordance with principles of a ‘higher law’. The search for such ‘higher law’ implies, however, a moral discussion on what laws ought to be. If so, the rule of law becomes an impracticable and even undesirable achievement for societies not subject to certain patterns of cultural and religious behaviour. On the other hand, any radical change in such patterns can certainly produce undesirable consequences for the realization of the rule of law.”

Consider Islam; Islamists find the Cross offensive because it points out that unlike Christianity, Islam condones unequal treatment of believers and non-believers, it condones lying to unbelievers, it condones murder of unbelievers. The standard Christ set is impossible and the only means of salvation is through him, thus those who reject the cross cannot tolerate and find offensive the standard the cross represents because it clearly shows that they fall short.

LSU is well within its right to censor the image, they have freedom of speech. The fact that they recognize that the cross is offensive is further testimony to the Truth, that is Jesus Christ.