The Old Rugged Cross. Just what is it?
We sang this in Church the other Sunday. When I was about 4yrs old an old couple used to look after me and this was their favourite Hymn. I never really thought much about it until I heard it again a few years ago. So I started thinking about it. I find it so hard to find a way to worship in this song when the focus is NOT Jesus but the cross he died on!!! 'so I'll cherish the old rugged cross..... apparently the writer (George Benard) inspiration was Galations 6:16,17 where Paul talks about boasting/glorying in the cross. Maybe this Preacher had missed the point(he probably didn't when he was preaching) but we are not meant to cherish it ,romantasize it nor worship it. Paul was talking about living a free life away from the jewish tradition of circumcision(a particuler prob for the Galatians) and he wants to boast that he has been crucified to the world i.e the world no longer has any hold over him(see Romans 6vs6) No cherishing the cross!!
I guess I just want to air my frustration that we as worship leaders/lead worshipers need to make sure we focus on Jesus and who He is and NOT any objects cross, empty tomb etc that we associalte with Him. Hmmmm!
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It is an odd one Pete. Maybe minus the 1st verse you could see he does seem to pointing to the Lamb of God and the purpose and significance of the cross. I have to admit that I don't really have a problem theologically with it but I did sing it at GB as a solo once on our display night so I am scarred enough anyway.
I find what you are saying very interesting and it is encouraging that you are thinking this way about the songs we sing. Hopefully Mr Bennard's heart was to write a song that helped us realise how crucial the 'cross' is/was to our faith.
In some ways I quite like what the song is saying - we do need to cling to the cross - not literally of course but we do need to remember that at the cross Jesus defeated death and in turn rescued us from death and I suppose that really helps us gain perspective on life. The point is that He is no longer on the cross!!!!!!!!! It didn't finish there!!!!!!
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