A few years ago Mike Foster and Jud Wilhite (Deadly Viper Character Assassins, Junky Car Club) birthed an idea that revolved around radical grace. That idea was People of the Second Chance (POTSC for short). What started as a sidenote to their other ministries has developed into a movement of it’s own. As Mike and Jud wrote on the front page of POTSC,

People of the Second Chance is no longer just a nice concept with some stickers and tee shirts, but the very story we are living out right now.

So take a few minutes to visit the new website and blog.

Become a fan at Facebook.

Follow POTSC on Twitter.

Follow Mike and Jud on Twitter.

In Acts chapter fifteen we see the first recorded conflict in the Christian church. A group of Jewish Christians were telling Gentiles (non-Jews) that if they wanted to be saved, in addition to accepting Christ they must also be circumcised. So Paul and Barnabas went to Jerusalem to bring the matter before the apostles. After the various parties made their arguments here is what James (the brother of Jesus) had to say in verse nineteen:

Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God. (ESV)

It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. (NIV)

And so my judgment is that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. (NLT)

So here is my decision: We’re not going to unnecessarily burden non-Jewish people who turn to the Master. (The Message)

There is so much one can unpack from this verse, which is why I presented it in various translations. They all say the same thing, but to varying degrees of bluntness.

Have you added anything to the message of Christ that could make it difficult for your unchurched friends to come to know Him?

Is your church or ministry doing anything that could make it difficult for unchurched people to know Christ?

It’s okay if people choose to reject the cross, but let’s don’t put a whole lot of other things in their way that cause them to get confused before they get to the issue, which is the cross.
- Andy Stanley

Now I know some of you reading this will find it hard to stomach the first part of that quote;

It’s okay if people choose to reject the cross…

Because if what the Bible says is correct, then the only alternative to the cross is Hell. But the fact is that many people will reject the cross (Matthew 7:13). So what Andy is saying in this quote, and in the video below, is let’s not make it easy for them to reject the cross by putting obstacles in front of them before they even get to make a decision to follow or reject Jesus. Instead, let’s make it as easy as possible for people to come to God – that way, if they still choose to reject Jesus it isn’t because of traditions or a musical style or dress code or a language only known to the churched.

Anyways, here’s the video. It’s about ten minutes long.
To watch the full sermon click here.

18 If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. 19 If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 20 Remember the word that I said to you: A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. 21 But all these things they will do to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have been guilty of sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24 If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin, but now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25 But the word that is written in their Law must be fulfilled: They hated me without a cause.

John 15:18-20 (ESV)

When most people read this passage they think of all the religious persecution Christians have faced over the years. From ancient Rome up through modern day China, Christians have always faced persecution in some form, whether it be governments or other religions.

Not to discount those persecutions – I can’t begin to describe the level of respect and admiration I have for those who, in the face of death still cling to their faith in God. But this morning when I woke up, there was one question on my mind: What group, more than any other, persecuted Jesus?

What if Jesus, seeing as He is God and knows the future, were trying to tell us not that the world (as in unbelievers), but the world (as in all those around us) would hate and persecute us?

Think about it – if you’re a Christian in a Muslim nation, of course your persecutors will be Muslim; you’re surrounded by them!

But if you’re a Christian in a Christian nation…… a nation where, especially in certain areas, everyone is a Christian…… who will be your persecutors?

14 Now he was casting out a demon that was mute. When the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke, and the people marveled. 15 But some of them said, He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, 16 while others, to test him, kept seeking from him a sign from heaven. 17 But he, knowing their thoughts, said to them, Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and a divided household falls. 18 And if Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul.

Luke 11:15-18 (ESV)

4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food. 6 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 And the people came to Moses and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us. So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live. 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

Numbers 21:4-9

1 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah, king of Israel, Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he began to reign, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. 3 And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that David his father had done. 4 He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan).

2 Kings 18:1-4

When Hezekiah became king of Judah one of the first things he did was abolish idolatry and that included the bronze serpent Moses was instructed by God to make, because what had been a symbol of redemption had, over time, become an idol. People were more concerned with the object than what it had provided.

Many Christians are quick to point out things that could be idols for us in the 21st century: money, entertainment, success, sex, work, people…… the list could go on. Really, anything we put above God is an idol.

But one area we ignore is our own traditions.

People in church will argue over what music should be played, what you should wear, even what color the carpet should be!

So here’s a question: has the cross become an idol?

How many songs have you heard about the cross, instead of what Jesus did on the cross?

How many people wear a cross around their neck as if it were some good luck charm?

How many church buildings have a cross in their sanctuary or on top of their steeple for decoration?

I’m not saying that having a crucifix in your church or around your neck is wrong. It’s the why that makes it right or wrong.

So, have you made the cross an idol?