“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope–the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:11-13 NIV).
We had a special Ash Wednesday service last night. We had an extended time of “unplugged” worship, with public prayers and Scripture reading. We concluded with a challenge from the Word and a time of response that included receiving the sign of the Cross in ashes upon our foreheads.
We’re not a traditional church, so we don’t usually follow such practices. In fact, it’s the first Ash Wednesday service we’ve ever held. I actually had to look up the recipe for ashes on the internet (“Make sure to mix in a little olive oil with the ashes to make them stick.” – One minister suggested).
We’re serious about being a new culture of those called out from the world’s culture, a people marked by the Cross of Christ. We believe that this salvation in Christ that we have received is shaping us and making us a new people, a people that can say “No” to that in the world’s culture that is ungodly. But this salvation doesn’t just call us out of the world’s culture, it also sends us back in, showing us how to live godly lives in “this present age.” So, we become bearers of the Cross of Christ, pointing people to the blessed hope of His return.
The traditional words spoken by the minister while making the mark of ashes are, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” This is taken from Genesis 3:9 and reminds the congregant of their own mortality and need for repentance and salvation. We certainly affirm this.
But we wanted to say something different. We wanted to say something about being the people of the Cross and carrying the message of the Cross. So, as I looked into the tear-filled eyes of person after person, coming forward to receive the sign of the Cross last night, I said,
“Remember the Cross.”
After the service, as we walked back out into the night, I prayed that the world wouldn’t quickly wipe it off. I prayed that the Oil would make it stick.
It was truly a moving experience! I was particularly touched as we sang “God of this City”. As I sat in my seat, forehead newly decorated with the cross that I was to carry to my city, I wept at the thought the as much as we have seen God do in our lives and in the lives of those around us ~ Greater things are yet to be done in our city! We will see 50 neighbors, associates, family and friends come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as a rescuer from our shortcomings. We will see more than 300 in the Easter service this year. God will use us to spark multiple spontaneous spiritual births in Wilson. Because He is the God of our city!