Welcome to 10 minute Bible Talks, where we connect the Bible to your life.

In the time it takes to get to work, I'm Keith Simon.

In 1995 an article in the New York Times described

an evergreen conflict over whether a city would display holiday decorations

associated with a particular faith.

In this instance, the city was Columbus, Ohio, and the city government had decided against allowing

a cross on public grounds because, and here's the quote, the cross is the quintessential

symbol of the Christian faith. The authorities permitted a Christmas tree and

a menorah, but according to the article when someone in Columbus tried to

erect a cross on public property

the agency refused on grounds that in here yet another quote

unlike the other symbols the cross was an exclusively religious symbol.

I'd like to say that Columbus, Ohio got it right.

The city recognized the unique status of the cross.

And yet, I wonder if describing the cross as a religious symbol is the right way to think about it.

Most Christians probably wouldn't question that designation.

They might even say, well, of course the cross is a religious symbol. Yet at the most fundamental level,

the cross isn't religious at all.

In fact, the cross marks out the essential distinction

between Christianity and religion. Fleming Rutledge, a theologian, said,

The cross is irreligious because no human being individually or human beings collectively

would have projected their hopes, wishes, longings, and needs on to a crucified

...