The Radical Cross: A Lenten Blog

This post is from the defunct blog "Dying Church"

"The season of Lent has not been well observed in much of evangelical Christianity," writes Dennis Bratcher. But things are changing. "Many of the churches that had originally rejected more formal and deliberate liturgy are now recovering aspects of a larger Christian tradition as a means to refocus on spirituality in a culture that is increasingly secular." More of us are discovering (or rediscovering) Lent. I'm looking forward to observing Lent beginning tomorrow. I'm working through A.W. Tozer's book The Radical Cross. Tozer writes:

Though the cross of Christ has been beautified by the poet and the artist, the avid seeker after God is likely to find it the same savage instrument of destruction it was in the days of old. The way of the cross is still the pain-wracked path to spiritual power and fruitfulness. So do not seek to hide from it. Do not accept an easy way. Do not allow yourself to be patted to sleep in a comfortable church, void of power and barren of fruit. Do not paint the cross nor deck it with flowers. Take it for what it is, as it is, and you will find the rugged way to death and life. Let it slay you utterly.

I'm also keeping a Lenten blog with a selection from the book every day between now and Easter. You can follow along at RadicalCross.info, or subscribe to the feed.

Comments

[Naomi]

"The way of the cross is still the pain-wracked path to spiritual power and fruitfulness...Take it for what it is, as it is, and you will find the rugged way to death and life. Let it slay you utterly." What would it take to become a church built on the power of death -- this kind of death -- filled with disciples who knew they either lived this way, or -- they weren't living at all? I wonder if there's any church in North America, daring enough to find out?

[Justin]

A lenten blog is a good idea; thanks for doing that. Do you think you'll do such a blog next year?

[Darryl]

I'm not sure yet; I certainly hope so. Thanks for the encouragement.