In 1934,  the Veterans of Foreign Wars raised a white, seven-foot cross in the Mojave Desert as a memorial for soldiers who died in World War I. By car, the cross was well over a two hour drive from Los Angeles. Only then would you reach the Mojave National Preserve in which you would continue to drive several more miles to Sunset Rock, the standing place of the cross. One can only wonder how a simple cross, so far from the public eye could become the center of an international controversy.

In 2001, a former park employee sued the government in an attempt to have the cross removed. Several liberal and influential organizations rallied together in an effort to have it taken down. Nearly a decade later, in April 2010, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 and decided to leave the cross standing. Two weeks after the legal battle ended, thieves dismounted the monument and stole it. Today, there is no cross at Sunset Rock.

Paul spoke of preaching in such a manner that we are careful not to empty the cross of its power (1 Corinthians 1:17-18). The cross was never meant to be a mere symbol but even then, its very presence confronts the powers of this evil age. It seems the cross is a powerful thing. It is central to the story of redemption. It is a constant reminder of Jesus' victory and the defeat of sin. It is the bridge from a holy God to fallen man. It was through the cross that walls were broken down and humanity was reconciled to its Maker. Paul expounds on this beautifully in Ephesians 2.

There was a day, not long ago when the cross was an accepted and honoured symbol in our society. It provoked reflection on the love of God and our duty to love others. Because the powers behind the rapid secularization of the west are deeply threatened by the message of the cross, they fight to eliminate its presence. All that the cross symbolizes undermines the chaos and confusion that is central to the agenda of fallen humanity. Paul recognized the cross was a “stumbling block” to some and “foolishness” to others but he refused to stop preaching Christ crucified.

Our world is both offended and confused by the cross, but it is very important that we keep preaching it. In his book, When The Crosses Are Gone, Dr. Michael Youssef writes, “When the crosses are gone, the world has truly gone mad. But we don’t have to accept the madness. Just as a great fire can begin with a few sparks, great renewal can begin with a few committed individuals.” If we desire this revival of commitment, we must have a revival of cross-centered preaching. Not only is the cross central to Christian unity (Ephesians 2), but through it, Christ defeated the principalities and powers, placing them under His feet (Colossians 2:15). This means the only way for Christians to live peacefully together and in victory over evil is to preach the cross that they may experience its power.

Our enemy will not be content with the removal of one cross from one place. He will work vehemently until he has removed the cross from every sermon in every pulpit. The strongholds we war against would like nothing more than to empty the cross of its power by emptying our preaching of the cross. And so I say, keep preaching the cross.

Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.