Boasting in the Cross: A Warning Against Elevating Traditions Above Christ
In Galatians 6:14, the Apostle Paul writes, "But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ." These words are not just a personal declaration; they are a guiding principle for all believers. Paul’s message is clear: our boasting, our confidence, our pride should never lie in our traditions, our knowledge, or our theological stances—but only in the cross of Jesus Christ.
In our day, there is a growing tendency to elevate certain theological positions, traditions, and practices as if they are the foundation of our faith. Some boast in a particular Bible translation, such as the King James Version (KJV). Others place their confidence in doctrines like Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP) or in the pursuit of a “perfect” Textus Receptus (TR). While these positions may have their merits in certain contexts, boasting in them, as if they were the cornerstone of our faith, is not only misguided but also dangerous to the unity and witness of the Church.
The Folly of Boasting in Tradition
The Bible teaches us that boasting in anything other than the cross of Christ is futile. Whether it is a translation, a manuscript tradition, or any theological position that we hold, it should never be the source of our pride. The danger of boasting in these things lies in the fact that it diverts our focus from Christ to human endeavors. It elevates tradition above truth, human interpretations above divine revelation, and, ultimately, leads to division and disunity within the Church.
When we boast about a translation or a particular manuscript tradition, we are, in essence, saying that this is the ultimate standard of truth. This could lead others to believe that the gospel message, which is meant to unite all believers, is bound by a particular set of linguistic or historical traditions. But the gospel of Jesus Christ is not bound to any one translation or interpretation; it is bound to the truth of the cross.
Paul warns us about this tendency in 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, where he addresses the divisions in the Corinthian church: “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.” The church was dividing over issues that should not have been dividing them at all—issues like which leader they followed or which tradition they held. Paul’s response is firm: "Is Christ divided?" (1 Corinthians 1:13). The same applies to our modern divisions over translations and doctrines like VPP or TR. Christ is not divided, and neither should we be.
The Danger of Dividing the Church
When we make our traditions or theological positions the source of our boasting, we run the risk of creating factions within the body of Christ. The gospel is not meant to be a point of division but a source of unity. The message of salvation through Christ’s death and resurrection is what brings believers together, not our preferences for a particular Bible version or our understanding of textual preservation.
Consider the example of the early Church. The apostles did not boast about the manuscripts they had or the traditions they followed; they boasted in Christ and His work on the cross. In Acts 4:12, Peter boldly declares, "Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." This is the heart of the gospel—the salvation found in Jesus Christ alone. The apostle Paul, too, warned the Corinthians against boasting in human wisdom or tradition. In 1 Corinthians 2:2, he wrote, “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” Paul understood that the message of the cross is the central and defining truth of the Christian faith.
The Greatness of the Cross
Why is it wrong to boast in anything but the cross? The cross of Jesus Christ is the only thing that can truly save, transform, and unite us. It is through the cross that humanity finds forgiveness for sins, reconciliation with God, and the hope of eternal life. It is through the cross that we are made one with Christ and one with each other.
At the cross, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, took upon Himself the sins of the world—past, present, and future. The Bible teaches that “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus, who was sinless, bore the full weight of our guilt and shame. He was mocked, beaten, and crucified, not because of any wrong He had done, but because He chose to take our place.
On the cross, Jesus paid the ultimate price for our redemption, satisfying the justice of God and demonstrating His boundless love for humanity. The cross is where God's holiness and His love meet. It is where we find forgiveness and freedom. It is through the cross that we are reconciled to God and one another, becoming part of a new community—the Church. The cross is the center of our faith, and it should be the source of our boasting, our pride, and our confidence.
To boast in anything else—whether it is our traditions, our theological positions, or even our understanding of biblical preservation—distracts from the greatness of the cross. The message of the cross is clear: “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” This is the heart of the gospel, and it is the only message that has the power to save.
Introducing Jesus Christ to False Teachers
To those who place their confidence in something other than Christ—whether it be a particular Bible translation, a certain theological system, or a doctrinal position like Verbal Plenary Preservation or the Perfect Textus Receptus—I offer this loving and solemn reminder: Jesus Christ is the foundation of our faith, not human systems of thought or tradition. The cross is the point of salvation, not the paper or ink we use to communicate God’s Word.
Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, came to this earth to rescue us from the consequences of sin. He lived a perfect life, died a sacrificial death, and rose again, offering to all who believe in Him the free gift of eternal life. Jesus is the one who forgives sins, transforms hearts, and unites believers. He is the one we should boast in, for He alone is worthy of our praise and our trust.
I urge you, my brothers and sisters, to refocus your attention on the cross of Christ. Do not boast in traditions or positions that ultimately cannot save or transform. Boast in the one who was crucified for you and for me. The power of the gospel is not in our ability to defend a particular text or tradition, but in the finished work of Christ on the cross.
Conclusion
The message of the gospel is simple yet profound: Christ crucified for our sins. This is the message we must proclaim, and this is the only thing we should boast about. Traditions, positions, and theologies are secondary to the truth of the cross. If we elevate anything else above Christ, we are in danger of missing the heart of the gospel and creating divisions that harm the unity of the Church.
Let us, as a Church, boast only in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us unite around Him, the one who was crucified and resurrected for our sake. In Him alone, we find salvation, unity, and eternal life. The cross is our glory, our confidence, and our hope. May it always be the foundation upon which we stand.
No comments:
Post a Comment