Or, why this Calvinist carries a crucifix.
If one can't handle complexities and ambiguities, one does best to avoid the Bible, because the Bible is full of complexities and ambiguities and hard truths and stuff like that, stuff that we human beings generally try to avoid. But then, so is life.
That's the problem with the Bible, it's too much like life. The Bible is messy because life it messy.
But the Bible also has a very simple message: God loves us and will do whatever is necessary to set us free from the mess we have gotten ourselves into, regardless of the cost to himself. He will do it himself and he will do it his way, because it is far too complex and ambiguous a mess for us to get out of ourselves. We aren't strong enough or wise enough, especially when we think that we are.
I love the way Paul describes it in his first letter to the church at Corinth.
For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. (1 Corinthians 1:21-25 NIV)
It pleased God through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Through the foolishness and weakness of Jesus nailed to a cross.
Look at a crucifix and ask yourself, "How much does Jesus love me?"
Yeah, that much.
There is no magic in a crucifix, as if Jesus were someone I could tuck away into my pocket, safe and controlled, ready to be pulled out as needed. A crucifix is not a good luck charm. But it's a really good reminder.
Which is why this Calvinist carries a crucifix.
And that's the truth.
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