Mar. 8: Cross in a Box

Here in Southeast Virginia there is a battle raging over a brass cross. Here’s the short story: At Wren Chapel on the campus of William and Mary University in Williamsburg, VA an 18-inch tall brass cross had sat on the altar table for over 60 years. Back in October 2006 the school’s President, Gene Nichol, asked that it be stored out of sight when not in use; since the chapel is also used for secular activities, he wanted the room to feel more welcoming to all faiths.

Well, all you-know-what broke loose (including petition drives and at least one lawsuit) with the local news and even the national media getting in on the action. The school’s president later returned the cross to the altar on Sundays and created a committee to study the issue. The 14-member committee of students, alumni, faculty and others has reached a compromise that will put the controversial cross back on display…in a glass case in a "prominent, readily visible place" in the chapel - not on the altar – and will be described by a historical plaque.

All you-know-what broke loose again. Critics complain of “political-correctness run amok”. Some observers with a more cynical streak feel that the threat of donors (one recently withdrew a promised $12 million gift because of the controversy) had an impact on the decision. The local paper polled readers: “Do you agree with the W&M decision to permanently display the Wren Chapel cross in a glass case not on the altar?” to which 49.7% said yes, 46.6% said no, and 3.7% were undecided.

The community is pretty much split down the middle over the issue. One reader said, “This reminds me of when the Soviet Union turned churches into museums; "Here behind the glass is a cross that represented the imperialist government before our great party liberated the people and ushered in an area of enlightenment, free from the shackles of a so-called god. And now we live in peace, harmony, and prosperity.”

At least one reader didn’t think the move went far enough: Nelson T. of Norfolk wrote: “We who disdain our Christian heritage find this cross, this symbol of the Christian church, to be despicable, in that it may possibly offend others, especially those less fortunate, and might even encourage them to (gasp) dislike us. We demand it be removed from any and all positions of influence, be they public or private, and we promise to character-assassinate all those who continue to bear this cross. Change it. Move it. Better yet, remove it. We don't want it. Get it out of our society. We demand greater tolerance!”

How’s that for tolerance?! Anyway, it seems to me that if you put it in a box and put a historical marker on it you’re saying, "This is part of the past." The cross, more importantly the Savior whom it represents, should be part of our present. In fact, I’m not a big fan of brass crosses anyway. While symbols are important, it’s substance that counts—not what we say, but what we do. Not what we stick on an altar table or wear around our necks, but how we treat our fellow-travelers.

Jesus had something to say about the cross: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." (Luke 9:23-24) If I follow Jesus like that, and love people the way He did, maybe guys like Nelson would see Jesus and His followers in a different light.

~ Father, help me to stay focused on what’s really important. Help me to care less about defending religious turf and more about seeing your lost children found, and those imprisoned set free. Amen.