11 Aug, 2006
MADONNA UNDER FIRE OVER MOCK CRUCIFIXION
Religious groups have reacted furiously after Madonna appeared hanging
from a cross and wearing a crown of thorns during her latest world tour.
During her performance at the Los Angeles forum, Madonna appeared strapped to a 20 foot high crucifix, prompting outrage from Christian leaders.
A Church of England spokesman said: "Is Madonna prepared to take on everything else that goes with wearing a crown of thorns?
"And why would someone with so much talent seem to feel the need to promote herself by offending so many people?"
David Muir of the Evangelical Alliance told the Evening Standard: "It is downright offensive. Madonna's use of Christian imagery is an abuse and it is dangerous.
"The Christian reaction to this sort of thing tends to be tempered but if the same thing was done with the imagery and iconography of other faiths the reaction would be very different."
photo & story courtesy dailymail.co.uk, 8/2/06
Madonna On The Cross
What does today's God's Story teach us about taking up Christ's cross?
In this passage, Jesus is using a word picture that His culture understood and that He would later demonstrate with His own body. To take up one's cross meant to carry your own cross to the place of your crucifixion.
This is a sobering and powerful illustration of what abiding in Jesus is all about. Taking up our cross means we are willing, every day, to deny our own selfish desires and follow Jesus completely. It is so simple, but so hard. This is the cost of being a disciple of Christ. Anything else is just talk and no walk.
Based on what the scripture teaches, Madonna doesn't get it, does she? Many of her fans may think she is doing sort of a cool religious thing by wearing a crown of thorns and hanging on a cross, but it is truly an insult to Christ, the Savior, and His suffering on our behalf. It's a very creative way for Madonna to attract media attention and more dollars to her fortune.
But let's be painfully honest here. Don't we often see our relationship with God like having a genie in a bottle? We think more about what He can do for us rather than what we can do for Him. Taking up our cross means that we won't focus our earthly lives on our pleasure, but spend our lives loving and serving God and others.
- Every day, take a moment to think about Christ's cross. Meditate and reflect on what He did for you. Thank Him. Worship Jesus. Remember that nothing in this world can compare with Jesus living in you and you in Him. Take several minutes to do this right now... pray... listen... worship... thank Him... surrender to Him...
- Make a written list of what is keeping you from taking up your cross to follow Jesus completely every day. Pray every day for Jesus to give you the power to make the needed changes. Ask another friend who loves Jesus to pray for you, encourgage you and hold you accoutable.
- Keep a picture of a cross in your room, or as a background on your screen, as a reminder that Christ's cross is a picture of selfless sacrificial love for others. When you look at it, let Jesus remind you to have His compassion for learning the story of those who need Him as their Savior.
- As Madonna does her "Confessions" tour, the media will talk about her cross routine. Look for conversational opportunities with others to use this as a way to talk about what it really means to take up our cross.
- Pray that the truth and love of God's Story will somehow break through to Madonna. It would change her story forever.
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