I just ran across a blog site that quoted one of my favorite writers of recent times, A.W. Tozer. The blog article that referenced Tozer had to do with current church culture's ability to "switch" the Cross that is being presented in much of the preaching and teaching we are hearing today. Tozer wrote his article in the mid-20th century, but what he writes seems to be almost prophetic in nature to what I see on numerous fronts in church life. I want to quote that section of Tozer that I found so interesting and if you'll allow me, I will clean up some of his ambiguity and theological referencing so you can get the full impact of what he was saying.

"Unannounced and mostly undetected there has come in modern times a new cross into popular evangelical circles. It is like the old cross, but different: the likenesses are superficial; the differences are fundamental.

From this new cross has sprung a new philosophy of the Christian life, and from that new philosophy has come a new evangelical technique - a new type of meeting and a new type of preaching. This new evangelism employs the same language as the old, but its content is not the same and its emphasis not as before.

The old cross would have no treaty with the world. For pride, the flesh, and the carnal nature it meant the end of the journey. The old cross carried a death sentence to these things in a person's life. The new cross however, is not really opposed to these human traits; rather, it is a friendly pal and, if understood in a new and trendy way, it is oceans of fun and enjoyment. The new cross lets the flesh live without interference. The motivation of the carnal nature is left unchanged, the flesh still lives for it's own pleasure...

The new cross encourages a new and entirely different approach to the Christian life. The preacher no longer speaks of contrasts to the world, but rather similarities. He seeks to key into public interest by showing the hearers that Christianity makes no unpleasant demands; rather, it offers the same things the world does, only at a higher level...

The new cross does not slay the flesh, it merely redirects it. It points the person into a happier way of living and saves his pride and self-respect. It is false because it is blind. It misses completely the whole meaning of the cross.

The old cross is a symbol of death...the human race is under the death sentence of sin. There is no negotiation and there is no escape. God cannot approve of any of the fruits of sin, however innocent they may be defined in our current era or beautiful they may appear in the eyes of men. God salvages the individual by liquidating him and then raising him again to newness of life.

That evangelism which draws friendly parallels between the ways of God and the ways of men is false to the Bible and cruel to the souls of its hearers. The faith of Christ does not parallel the world, it intersects it. In coming to Christ we do not bring our old life up onto a higher plane; we leave it at the cross. The grain of wheat must fall into the ground and die.

God offers life, but not an improved old life. The life He offers is life out of death...Let us not seek to negotiate with God and set our terms, but rather let us bow our heads before the stroke of God's displeasure and acknowledge ourselves under that death sentence. It is then and there that the power which raised Christ from the dead will raise us up to a new life alongside Christ."

As I have often said, Jesus didn't come to put a new set of clothes on the same old person; but rather create a brand new person that could only exist in Him. I certainly believe in every generation God gives insight and revelation to apply His Word in people's present circumstances in a way that is relevant and applicable; but at the end of the day no matter what century we live in the cross must do it's work in our very nature.

I am partial to contemporary Christian music. I enjoy the sound being a musician myself. But I remember the old hymn which sums it up so well:

On a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross;
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
to bear it on dark Calvary.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see;
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me.

To that old rugged cross I will ever be true,
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then He'll call me some day to my home far away,
where His glory forever I'll share.

SO I'LL CHERISH THE OLD RUGGED CROSS,
TILL MY TROPHIES AT LAST I LAY DOWN;
I WILL CLING TO THE OLD RUGGED CROSS,
AND EXCHANGE IT SOME DAY FOR A CROWN

Planting a Cross,

Pastor