Bamford & Norden April 2019

The Cross is a Plus!
At school I used to dread the teacher marking my work and putting a cross (X) in
my workbook. After all, I had tried so hard to get it right. The good effect it had on
me was that I wanted to get the right answer all the time, but it didn’t feel good
when I got it wrong. And, of course, I didn’t want to make the teacher cross, did I?
Then when I grew old enough to vote I thought it funny that I had to put a cross (X)
– rather than a ‘tick’ - on the ballot paper next to the person I wanted to win.
So some people find it odd that the main symbol used by Christians is a cross (+),
and, when you think about it, is even odder that it’s a reminder of one of the most
painful forms of death invented by the human race – Crucifixion.
Once again, this year a group of Christians from local Churches will carry a cross
through Norden on Palm Sunday (14th April) and, weather permitting, put it on
Knowl Hill. So why a cross? Christians believe that, in dying on a cross at the
hands of mankind, Jesus offered all our wrong-doing to God and forgave us, so
that we may be truly freed from all the errors we have made in this life. (While
dying He said, “Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they do!”) Had that
been the end of the story, we could be mistaken, but Jesus rose from the dead
(which is what we celebrate at Easter) and promised everyone the opportunity of
freedom today and eternal life after our natural death.
Of course, all religions ask the question, “why are we here?” and rightly
encourage people to respect God and do what is right (in spite of some of the
horrors carried out in the name of religion). Only the Christian faith claims to offer
God’s free forgiveness for those who ask Jesus for it. And millions know the
freedom of that forgiveness.
You see, the Cross shows us a plus sign “+”; where we can think of the vertical
part showing God’s love coming down to us, and the ‘cross bar’ showing how we
need to reach out in love to help and forgive one another. Perhaps you wear a
cross - it’s not a “good luck charm”, but a real reminder that God loves you and
has a purpose for your life.
If you think that you’d like to know more, call at one of the Churches in the area
and ask the Minister in confidence for more information. They’d love to help you!
For the Cross is definitely a PLUS for everyone!
Michael J Davis
On behalf of Churches Together in North West Rochdale
For a short video about the Cross, by that well-known evangelist, the late
Rev. Billy Graham, see:-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcIWnaXiJLk
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