Rev. Reed Lee Pedersen's
“Symbols have been called our silent teachers. They are universally used. A flag, a figure of a half-moon, a swastika, a cross—each one conveys a truth or designates a loyalty. Each says succinctly what would otherwise take many words to express.”[i] While perusing through the church library I stumbled upon this quote from a book on the season of advent by Paul M. Lindberg. The page continues with talking about the symbols of the church sanctuary and outside the church which speak of Christ without words. Other symbols tell many things about our lives. The color of your jewelry can let people know the month you were born, the Alex and Ani bracelet(s) speak to your character and personal qualities, the dog tags lets people know you serve or have served your country, the tattoos each carry a story and meaning, the elephant around your neck may speak to your spirit animal. All in all, the symbols we have, wear, and carry speak to who we are without the need of words. I claim the cross as the greatest symbol which Christians can wear around their neck, in their homes or cars, or on their skin. It is an immediate symbol which speaks about one’s faith in Christ who died on that cross for us. As much as movie, TV, and music producers try to overuse this symbol for financial gain (see how many American Idol contestants and pop stars have a cross around their neck --> it’s marketing not coincidence), the cross can still be the symbol that speaks to others that you are a Christian. For that reason some people have a preference not to wear any religious symbols for fear of shoving their faith down someone else’s life and sight. The common words that can be heard in the Service for Holy Baptism are that the baptized person is “sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.”[ii] This means that if you are baptized and choose not to wear a religious symbol for the outside world to see and know you are a follower of Jesus, you still wear the sign of the cross in your hearts, minds, and souls which God sees always. Whether we latch on to the religious symbols or not, Jesus Christ has saved the world with that cross. Jesus Christ has saved you with that cross. Points to Ponder:
[i] Paul M Lindberg, Advent: The Days Before Christmas, (Fortress Press, Philedelphia: 1966), p. 1. [ii] ELW Service of Holy Baptism
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AuthorPastor Reed is a first call pastor at Augustana Lutheran Church in Andover, Illinois. Archives
July 2019
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