Honestly, this photo speaks more of American jingoism than it does of anything having to do with Christ. As a New Zealander I am a little too tired of the United States's self-righteous adoption of God's word as their official motto, seeing as they mainly use it to advance their own secular (and decidedly anti-Christ-like) agenda. 'God bless America, for certain groups of people do not want us to dominate them and their natural resources. Lord Jesus, please help us to subdue them and spread freedom around the word! Amen!'
Love conquering hate is more complicated than erecting a symbol from physical materials (How many thousands and possibly even millions of times has the cross been used by people throughout world history who are bent on the destruction of others?...) Do you know what the ultimate act of love would be in this situation? Perhaps if the entire present White House cabinet sat down to a meal with all of those terrorists responsible to 9-11 and discussed with them something like 'We are sorry for hurting you. How can we get along with you better? What should we do so that your people are happier and better off?" That would be, as we Kiwis say, CHOICE!
Maybe what is most ironic is that the cross is made of salvaged steal. Now, during World Wars I and II most Western nations suffered a steel shortage because... (get my point?... hmmm...) Does this cross actually carry a similar message? If so, how um, uh, I-R-O-N-I-C... yeah...
Really, my point is that, on a blog such as this that has a global reach (and one that is supposed to UNITE us as Christians) things like this that express a huge sense of nationalism (and particularly so because it US nationalism...) for a specific country should really be avoided. IMHO, too many Americans mix up nationalism and the worship/love of God anyways (e. g. saying the pledge of allegiance, saying 'God bless America,' 'pray for our president,' 'America was originally a Christian nation.' etc.) Okay, my self-righteous rant is now finished (at least until I respond maybe...)
It's not necessarily my place to defend Mr. Watkins, Mark, but I think his post tried to make some of the same points you did, but without a (your words) "self-righteous rant."
We can certainly admit to some jingoism in our American culture (although we don't have a corner on it), and we could debate the political naivete of "sitting down with terrorists," but suffice to say that your post is how, um, uh, O-V-E-R-R-E-A-C-T-I-O-N...
Hmmm. What's wrong with erecting a cross on the only grave site that thousands of innocent people will ever have? Jingoism, sheesh. I agree with dons. Get a grip, Mark. This isn't a simple issue.
Mark, I think you make some valid points ... and I too would love to see some more attempts to reconcile with terrorists rather than the current methods.
However, I think that the point of the original post was more to say, "Look, even in the midst of extreme tragedy and evil, in the love and grace of the cross we can still find hope."
God bless Mark Terry and New Zealand and now that I have said that let me say this. We as Christians live by the example Christ left us with. However, not all believe that God even exists nor does Christ. Therefore they run around mad at the world in general and several countries in specific areas. They are mad at what they don't have and what they do have. No matter what we do we are not doing it for them. So Mr. Terry I will stand with you or beside you and proclaim the love of Christ to all who can hear. You on the other hand will have to dodge the bullets, rocks, knives and other implaments of destruction that those others will be throwing at us. In God's Grace John
I always thought that the Cross was a symbol of the sacrifice that Christ made for ALL PEOPLES, OF ALL NATIONS. The Original was raised on a hill in the Middle East and shone first for the Jewish people. I am not offended by that. I don't consider it jingoism....The cross is a symbol of Hope and Redemption that has manifested itself in light and darkness in every corner of the world. This particular cross arose in the United States at a place where many innocent people died having no designs on taking over the world or bogarting national resources. Those victims deserve the compassion of Believers EVERYWHERE. God bless us EVERYONE! (With apologies to Mr. Dickens)
Parables, allegories and, now, apparently photos can be over-analyzed and over-interpreted. I simply meant to point out that no matter what and where the evil (Rwana, Sudan or Ground Zero), the love and power of Christ more than conquers evil (Romans 8).
Jim Watkins
I would say that this is tragic for god sake i understand what he is trying to say but i say let the souls of the people rest so that the family of these vitim's can go with there lives us as people this will and shall not ever be forgotten. To me it was a synbol of a bad tragergy gone wrong one day in september . Us as the people try to take this and visual picture and place it with postive picture things/seen. god said for give them for they not know what they do or say god have mery on our american citizen,
JIm; I hope you are right. Some days, it just doesn't feel like it. K+
Wow! Isn't God great! Even after letting thousands of innocent people die, he reminds us he is very real by planting his symbol in the debris!
Login to comment
Alternate Login
Use your social media account to login.
Login with your ReFrame account
Comments (11)
Love conquering hate is more complicated than erecting a symbol from physical materials (How many thousands and possibly even millions of times has the cross been used by people throughout world history who are bent on the destruction of others?...) Do you know what the ultimate act of love would be in this situation? Perhaps if the entire present White House cabinet sat down to a meal with all of those terrorists responsible to 9-11 and discussed with them something like 'We are sorry for hurting you. How can we get along with you better? What should we do so that your people are happier and better off?" That would be, as we Kiwis say, CHOICE!
Maybe what is most ironic is that the cross is made of salvaged steal. Now, during World Wars I and II most Western nations suffered a steel shortage because... (get my point?... hmmm...) Does this cross actually carry a similar message? If so, how um, uh, I-R-O-N-I-C... yeah...
Really, my point is that, on a blog such as this that has a global reach (and one that is supposed to UNITE us as Christians) things like this that express a huge sense of nationalism (and particularly so because it US nationalism...) for a specific country should really be avoided. IMHO, too many Americans mix up nationalism and the worship/love of God anyways (e. g. saying the pledge of allegiance, saying 'God bless America,' 'pray for our president,' 'America was originally a Christian nation.' etc.) Okay, my self-righteous rant is now finished (at least until I respond maybe...)
We can certainly admit to some jingoism in our American culture (although we don't have a corner on it), and we could debate the political naivete of "sitting down with terrorists," but suffice to say that your post is how, um, uh, O-V-E-R-R-E-A-C-T-I-O-N...
However, I think that the point of the original post was more to say, "Look, even in the midst of extreme tragedy and evil, in the love and grace of the cross we can still find hope."
Jim Watkins