Georgetown University officials confirmed recently that they covered the monogram "IHS" with black painted plywood—symbolizing the name of Jesus Christ—because it was inscribed on a pediment on the stage where President Obama was to deliver a commencement address. The White House specifically asked the university to cover up the Christian symbol.
"In coordinating the logistical arrangements for yesterday’s event, Georgetown honored the White House staff’s request to cover all of the Georgetown University signage and symbols behind Gaston Hall stage," Julie Green Bataille, associate vice president for communications at Georgetown, told CNSNews.com.
"The White House wanted a simple backdrop of flags and pipe and drape for the speech, consistent with what they’ve done for other policy speeches," she added. "Frankly, the pipe and drape wasn’t high enough by itself to fully cover the IHS and cross above the GU seal and it seemed most respectful to have them covered so as not to be seen out of context."
What all Christians should find disturbing and offensive is the need to cover the Christian symbol for any reason whatsoever. Predictably, other organizations are now being asked to cover Christian symbols. On Friday, April 24, 2009 Fox News reported that a local church was asked to cover the cross—because the church served as the location for a public school’s graduation ceremony. The nation should weep, be ashamed and alarmed over these requests from the nation’s highest office and from those below.
Once, the cross was a symbol of shame and suffering. "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" (Gal 3:13).
Today, the cross is much more. The cross is the place where the battle of the ages for the souls of men was won. "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect" (1 Cor 1:17).
The cross is foolishness to some but a display of the saving power of God to others. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (1 Cor 1:18).
The cross is an encouragement to suffer persecution for Christ though some want to avoid any type of suffering. "As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ" (Gal 6:12).
The cross is where a person dies to the world. "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world" (Gal 6:14).
The cross is the place of reconciliation. "And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby" (Eph 2:16).
The cross is the place where Jesus became obedient even unto death. "And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross" (Phil 2:8).
The cross is the place of peace. "And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven" (Col 1:20).
The cross is the place where God becomes free to justify the guilty. "Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross" (Col 2:14).
I realize the cross is an offense to many. It always has been. In Galatians 5:11 the apostle Paul spoke about the "offence of the cross". Nevertheless, now is the time for Christians to stand up and glory in the cross. Oh Christian, who ever you are, wherever you are, do not cover up the cross for anyone. Not even the President of the United States.
"I will glory in the cross, in the cross
Lest his suffering all be in vain
I will weep no more for the cross that He bore
I will glory in the cross."
-- Dottie Rambo
