The Good Of the Father (Relics)

 Erasing the handwriting of the decrees against us, which was hostile to us, and has taken it away out of the midst, nailing it to the cross 

Paul to the Colossians 2: 14, Concordant New Testament 

Like many, I watched more than a few scenes of the funeral procession of the recent death of the leader of the Catholic church.  Indeed, the death of Pope Francis and its aftermath was played out on live feeds everywhere for the world to see.  But what was most interesting to me was the collection of old relics which the church displayed in the ceremony.  From the ornate coffin to the ceremonial papal ring used to seal it, it seems that the catholic church once again spared no expense as they blew the dust off of these ancient artifacts to display them for all to see.  Of course, growing up in the Christian mainstream church, I grew accustomed to the display of relics.  Who hasn't walked into a church where the very first thing you see is the ceremonial cross of Jesus?  I use the words ceremonial because it's obviously not the same cross as Jesus was nailed to, but it is indeed meant for us to remember Him for that event.  Yeah, Jesus died, I get that.  Yet the way that I remember Him and the way in which the mainstream church remember Him may be a bit different.  See, I remember Christ Jesus as my life in Him {Johns Account 14:20}.  I do not require an image of the cross to stir my memory of the Lord Jesus.  In fact, to me Jesus is more than simply a memory, He is my life.  Of course, in all of my years in that mainstream church I never heard of Jesus described in that way.  What I did hear was of the church rendition of Christ, Who was seated at the Fathers side in heaven and removed from us here on earth.  Perhaps that is why the church feels the need to prominently display the cross in houses of worship, to remind people of the presence of Jesus?  Keep in mind that the scriptures speak to the truth of our life in Him.  The apostle Paul understood this as he spoke of Christ Jesus in him {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}.  Paul didn't need to be reminded of Jesus with the image of the cross.  He knew and lived Jesus daily.  I feel that this also has become the basis of my own relationship with Christ.  I'm not one to display a cross around my neck to proudly display who it is that I believe in.  I already know that in my heart.  

Then Jesus is saying to him, "Go away, Satan, for it is written, The Lord your God you shall be worshipping, And to Him only shall you be offering divine service" 

Matthews Account 4: 10, Concordant New Testament 

I hate to say it, but the Christian faith is full of images which far too many people somehow give worship to.  The "Way of the cross" is an old Christian belief of walking the path which Jesus took to the cross, reflecting on fourteen parts of that journey to Golgotha.  It doesn't end there, for many believers give devotion to other sights connected to the life of Jesus.  Form the alleged site of His burial to the site of His birth, many believers often journey to the "Holy Land" in order to see these sacred sites.  I've never been.  Yet, despite never being to the land where Jesus once walked, I am still well aware of the life that He lives for me.  I do not need a relic to assure me of my life in Him.  I believe that the basis of mans need to have a physical connection with Jesus is a natural one for us.  For we are created in the likeness of the Father {Genesis 1:27}.  It is only natural that we would desire that physical connection with He who created us.  God has always been a intimate part of who we are.  So much so, that many look for ways to develop that physical connection with God.  They look for the cross in church.  They seek to "Walk the path which Jesus walked."  Yet, if we listen to the iconic words of Paul in Galatians, we have been put to death with Christ {Paul to the Galatians 2:20}.  Our old identity was there on the cross with Jesus when He died.  Like I said, He's always been an intimate part of who we are.  God has never asked us to use the image of the cross to remember Him.  However, He has made it known through His apostle that it is His desire that we will come to the realization of His truth {Paul to Timothy (1) 2:4}.  

~Scott~