I got an email from a friend who I got to know while I was speaking at Niner’s Camp last year at Camp Sawtooth. She is a bright young girl who is really thinking theologically and asking some wonderful questions about her life and faith. She emailed me a few weeks ago and wanted me to post some pictures of this cross on my blog - so I asked if I could just put up her email she sent to me. So, be mindful that this is a guest-blog post when you are leaving comments. Anyway, here is her email:
My mom and I just got back from Hastings (movie rental store). Of course they have Easter stuff out already. In one corner with the "Passion" junk was… a chocolate cross.
I kid you not, right next to the cheerful Easter decorations there it was. It felt so wrong, Easter is supposed to be about miracles and another chance at life, Easter eggs are about new life and starting over. The cross just felt like it was saying, this holiday is just about being miserable because of all that Jesus did for us because we are not worth anything. (sort of like the movie "The Passion")
Not only that, but how degrading to have our central religious symbol be nothing more than something for pre-schoolers to eat on a holiday. Will we have bubble-gum crosses next? Is the cross just another way to sell products and make money?
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Sheesh, next thing you know you’ll be complaing about Testamints! I mean what’s wrong with that? Why is “got Jesus?” a dumb bumper-sticker, huh, huh????
Tongue is now firmly out of cheek… continue with your thought-provoking discussion…
Oh, the difficult thing with the Passion is allowing the Film to make alive the suffering of the Cross (which we are said to be blessed to participate in), with the stupid/pimping/whore-mongering hype that surrounded it. Many pepple can’t; and that’s ok. Some people can, and that’s ok. Other people just love the hype and believe that their faith has been validated by this film; we have clue sticks for them…
I’m a big fan of the freedom God gives us to ask questions, use our brains and wonder in our faith. THAT is the reason this is a wonderful email.
As for the content of the email, well, the empty cross is biggest miracle there is. It is the only reason anyone has another chance at life. The empty cross is what Easter is about. The empty cross and Easter are about CELEBRATING what Jesus did for us (in both dying and rising, the rising is symbolized by the empty cross rather than a crucifix), which he did because he considered us of GREAT value.
If that’s not what the cross means, then it is a lousy central symbol because it would symbolize defeat and we would be of all the most pitied.
But don’t get me started on the fact that it’s chocolate. Friend of Adam’s, whoever you are, you hit that nail on the head: yes, the cross has become for some just another way to make money.
(insta-poll: worse possible substance for a cross to be made of?)
Will we have bubble-gum crosses next? Is the cross just another way to sell products and make money?
Two incisive and perceptive comments.
Reminds me of 2 Cor 2:17’s “peddlers of God’s word” and 1 Timothy’s invective against those who consider godliness “a means of gain.”
Wow…that’s really freaky!
remember the WWJD bracelets? crazy to think how we, as christians, use the market to proselytize which in turn seems to weaken the very thing we live for.
i was at a friends how this week and her mother tried to use the passion to convert my jewish friend into a messianic jew. as if as soon as he saw it, WHAM!!, conversion. man i think we miss the point more then hit it.
My nomination for worst substance to make a cross from:
edible: cotton candy
non-edible: crystal, gold, silver (anything shiny)
My rule of thumb: what substances would we use if depicting an electric chair?
i think we are all in agreement that the commercialisim here is a bad thing. my question: where are similar invectives against christmas’ similar tendencies?
that being said, i am uncomfortable with jumping to the glory of Easter. yes, it is about rebirth, a chance at new life that we do not deserve. it is also three days after Good Friday. so many (myself usually included) want to skip to the good stuff without facing the price at which our redemption came. the passion was difficult to watch, but on some (decidedly non-hollywood) level, we need to be reminded that Jesus faced that. and he faced that as a result of sin. the true glory of Easter morning emerges when painted against the backdrop of the Cross.
as an aside, i wanted to ask: were there nail pendants in the passion aisle? i remember hearing about those last year.
I hate to break the bad news but I’ve seen bubble gum crosses. They were right next to a chocolate nativity set in a booth at craft fair.
Do you know the Tom Wiat’s song, Chocolate Jesus?
Don’t go to church on Sunday
Don’t get on my knees to pray
Don’t memorize the books of the Bible
I got my own special way
Bit I know Jesus loves me
Maybe just a little bit more
I fall on my knees every Sunday
At Zerelda Lee’s candy store
Well it’s got to be a chocolate Jesus
Make me feel good inside
Got to be a chocolate Jesus
Keep me satisfied
Well I don’t want no Anna Zabba
Don’t want no Almond Joy
There ain’t nothing better
Suitable for this boy
Well it’s the only thing
That can pick me up
Better than a cup of gold
See only a chocolate Jesus
Can satisfy my soul
(Solo)
When the weather gets rough
And it’s whiskey in the shade
It’s best to wrap your savior
Up in cellophane
He flows like the big muddy
But that’s ok
Pour him over ice cream
For a nice parfait
Well it’s got to be a chocolate Jesus
Good enough for me
Got to be a chocolate Jesus
Good enough for me
Well it’s got to be a chocolate Jesus
Make me feel good inside
Got to be a chocolate Jesus
Keep me satisfied
Triumphalism and captialistim make excellent candy blends, huh?
Okay, I think Troy just completely and irreparably altered by Holy Week experience.