God's Vulnerability

Wednesday, August 20 2008 @ 06:16 PM PDT

If I had to pick one attribute of God I admire the most it would be His vulnerability. For humans, this is one of the hardest principles for us to demonstrate yet, God bids us to copy Him no matter how difficult or embarrassing. The life of Jesus was outwardly and obviously marked by simplicity and kindness - both aspects of a quiet strength. If these attributes are so powerful then why isn't the entire world converted to Christianity? Why won't everyone come racing to the cross to find out more about He who lived, died and rose again? Why isn't  the fear of an angry and  violent god wiped away and replaced by relief on a global scale? One person described his distaste of Christianity for all the blood involved in sacrifices and the the final offering of God's son, "How horrid it is..." he remarked. He went on to say, "What kind of Father would sacrifice His son like that?"  How would you answer that question? Maybe you yourself as a Christian wonder the same thing, "Why all that blood?"

The cross has compelling evidence of where sin leads - death. God Himself was willing to come as a human to show us first the character of His father and then to unmask the character of the one who says that God cannot be trusted - Satan himself.  God's methods (freedom and love) had to be contrasted with Satan's (tyranny and force) before an onlooking universe in order for each person to judge for themselves if God is indeed trustworthy. God's display of vulnerability - even unto death - is not what you would expect from the One who has all power. In fact, the common belief is that God will punish and torture all those who do not fall in line with His commands.  It is popular because most have not challenged it so it gains momentum. It gains speed. It gains power to abuse, destroy and ultimately engulf.  Author and pastor, Paul Heubach, describes the glory of the cross as sevenfold, "Wherein, then, is the power and glory of the cross? It is in the power and glory of the Man on the cross. Seen in its true perspective, it is at least sevenfolod:

  1. the compelling power of love
  2. the Kingly power of reason
  3. the stabilizing power of justice
  4. the releasing power of true freedom
  5. the transforming power of fellowship with Christ;
  6. the healing power of redemption, of forgiveness, of sanctification;
  7. the creative power of the dedicated life--a noble purpose--a magnificent obsession."

Notice that Paul says there are at least seven aspects of the cross that magnify God's mission for all creation, can you think of another?

-2008 Stacie Belmonte

 

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