I went to church this Sunday, while snow was just starting to come down, in all
12.6 inches of snow
was recorded at St. Louis' Lambert Airport (32 centimeters for readers
outside of the US). Driving in and out of the services, I was glad that I
have a vehicle like my old GM SUV. It can plow through snow rather
effectively, doesn't get stuck, and the tries rarely spin in the snow or
cause sliding.
The 4 wheel drive is out due to a bad
transfer case, so until I finally get around to having it worked on, it's strictly running of off rear wheel drive, but it still drives quite effectively, because of it's great suspension and the truck tires I recently had put on the back. Digging out the SUV after all that snowfall, made me think of this meme, especially since large snowstorms like this weren't common until about 2 years ago in the St. Louis area (I don't know why the climate has changed in recent years around here):
At the church service this week, since it is only a week until Easter, and the Sunday School classes are still going through the
workbook based off of the book, The Cross of Christ, there's been a lot of talk about Jesus' crucifixion. Christianity tries to make it seem as something glorious, the shining example of god's love. Jesus came down to die for our sins, so we can go to Heaven if we just believe! Jesus defeated death in his resurrection! Rejoice!.
I don't see much reason to rejoice. They're treating something that's incredibly barbaric (the crucifixion) as something beautiful, to be celebrated. I don't get it. If you want to go with that theme, that way of thinking, instead of making the cross, an instrument of torture your religious symbol, why not make it an empty tomb instead? Or how how about a scene of a resurrected Jesus speaking with the disciples? Better yet, why not him ascending into Heaven?
Then, there's the thought that all this worship of the cross, and the idea of redemption through the death and resurrection means that Christianity was based off of human sacrifice. That in itself is a disturbing idea.
Think about it. Unlike
Islam and Judaism, Christianity teaches the concept of original sin, as
Romans 5:12 says:
Therefore,
just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin,
and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned .
