The Cross: Center of Love and Healing in a Troubled World

I would propose to you that the pivotal point of the Universe, is an old gnarled cross, empty, ultimate place where all infinities meet. Infinite love as he took the heavy burden of horrific regrets that humanity carry. Infinite healing and wholeness as he took our wounds in his stripes on a beaten back.

Examining the universe with physics leads physicists to deeper questions about a purposive universe. It raises questions about predetermination. It questions the apparent personalities within the universe. Eventually, it leads to considering the mind behind the mechanisms. These are beyond physics. Physics can tell us the structures, but it cannot answer the ultimate questions. Love, sacrifice for others, wholeness, and healing have been part of the grand discussion since the time of the ancients. Faith and hope are also included in these universals that outflank the mere study of mechanisms. Reality is deeper than mere forms. Morality, character, personality, and values are all higher integrations in which physics is subsumed as descriptive of processes within them.

Crucial Center

The core of love, hope, and spirituality is seen in the death of Christ on a cross. Christ sacrificed his life for the lives of all. The subsequent resurrection conquered death, leading to the exchanged life of the Holy Spirit. The crux of history is the Cross. The crucible of character is the cross. The journey is the way of the cross entwined with the songs of resurrection. The power of our daily death to self brings the authority of humility, love, and sacrifice.

Pain, suffering, bitterness, hurt, sickness can be brought to the cross.  And from the cross receive forgiveness and healing. Then flows the resurrected life of the Spirit.

The slums are places of intense pain and deep bitterness. Their existence may be due to neglect by ruling authorities. It rapidly progresses to contexts of oppression by those authorities, self-appointed authorities, drug gangs, or slum lords who step into the vacuum. The structural brokenness leads to drunkenness, rape, and violence. As a result, almost everyone you work with is in deep pain. What is the role of the church, the Spirit, and the pastor in bringing healing?

First and foremost is the healing of the spirits of those traumatized. That healing is found in the cross. We lay the pain on him who carried all our pains, all our griefs, all our wounds, and all our sicknesses. In his forgiveness, there is freedom. We can forgive those who damaged and wounded us. This includes the abuse of fathers, the deceit of others, and the bitterness of others. All are forgiven. We have been forgiven by a sinless man. He took all this gunk in his being and died for us.

Spirit – uality

The Cross cannot be disassociated from the Resurrection and Pentecost. Coming to the cross is the first step to knowing the Spirit. This is the divine presence of his Spirit promised after he rose. The Spirit comes in when we lay our burdens at his feet. It happens when we turn from our sins into light from our pursuit of darkness. Infinite destiny as that Spirit leads and reveals.

We rise from the foot of the Cross with the promised Holy Spirit indwelling us. He gives life to our bodies. He heal the scars. His ongoing presence daily confirms the forgiveness. His life is exchanged for our life. His Spirit gives life not only to our deadened spirits but to our physical body.

He brings us into community with others in place of alienation. We constantly reach out to others instead of retreating into ourselves. In place of bitterness and the blockage of spirit caused by carrying wounds, he brings forgiveness. He encourages an openness to others. In place of pain, he brings a deep healing of spirits. This healing goes far beyond what counseling and psychology can do. His overwhelming presence comes again and again. The darkness inside is turned to light. The inflexibility of a judgmental spirit is turned into grace towards others. So the walk in the Spirit begins, that love, joy, peace, faithfulness, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control… that mark those who walk in the Spirit.