Why is the Cross Offensive Today?

 

The cross remains offensive today because it confronts humanity with the reality of sin and the necessity of repentance, challenging the world’s self-perception and moral standards. It serves as a condemnation of human pride, immorality, greed, and self-indulgence, exposing the darkness in human hearts that people often prefer to keep hidden. The cross declares that all are sinners in need of salvation, a message that contradicts the world’s desire to see itself as good or deserving. This confrontation is why the cross is described as a "stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles",and why it provokes offense even in modern times.

The offense stems from the cross’s central claim: that salvation is not earned through human effort, good works, or moral striving, but is a free gift of grace through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. This undermines the idea of human self-sufficiency and the belief that people can achieve righteousness on their own, which is why the cross is seen as repugnant to those who rely on their own merit. In fact, the cross is offensive because it demands a complete surrender of personal autonomy and a willingness to deny oneself and take up one’s cross daily, a call that many find uncomfortable or unacceptable.

Furthermore, the cross has been sanitized and commercialized in contemporary culture, often worn as a fashion accessory or decorative symbol without acknowledging its original meaning as a brutal and humiliating form of execution. This trivialization removes its power and transforms it into something comfortable and non-offensive, which contradicts its true nature as a symbol of suffering, sacrifice, and divine judgment. The cross was historically reserved for the worst criminals and was considered so disgraceful that even Roman citizens were not supposed to speak of it. Today, its offensive power is diminished when it is reduced to a sentimental or aesthetic object rather than a call to discipleship and repentance.

The cross also continues to provoke offense because it exposes hypocrisy and unrepentant sin in individuals and systems, just as it did in the time of Jesus. It condemns not only overt sins but also the hidden pride, fear, and moral compromise that characterize many lives. As Billy Graham noted, the cross brings a "search light" on evil deeds, which people often avoid because they do not want to face their own guilt before God. Ultimately, the cross remains offensive because it stands as a perpetual challenge to human pride and a declaration of God’s justice and love, demanding a response of faith and surrender that many are unwilling to make.

Until next time, walk with the King & be a blessing.

In His Name & for His Glory,

RL Keller

Bread of Life Ministries

Source: http://www.thecrossunveiled.com/the-offense-of-the-cross.html