The most important question individuals can ask in interactions is the question of the crucifixion: how does the cross inform this interaction?
The most crucial question churches and organizations can ask in their posture toward others is the question of the crucifixion: how do the timbers of Jesus shape our treatment of others?
This was Paul’s counsel to the church in Philippi. Selfish-ambition and self-centeredness were poisons infecting the bloodstream of the body of Christ. So Paul pointed them back to the cross:
“3 When you do things, do not let selfishness or pride be your guide. Instead, be humble and give more honor to others than to yourselves. 4 Do not be interested only in your own life, but be interested in the lives of others. 5 In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. 6 Christ himself was like God in everything. But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit. 7 But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing. He was born as a man and became like a servant. 8 And when he was living as a man, he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross. (Phil. 2:3-8 NCV)
For Paul, the cross exemplifies the pathway towards treating others with the honor and value they are due. “You must think and act like Christ Jesus,” he demands, for Jesus placed others before himself. Jesus acted not out of self-interest but out of social-interest, even at the cost of his own life.
And this, Benedict believed, was crucial to spiritual flourishing. The seventh of twelve rungs on Benedict’s ladder of humility is this:
“The seventh step of humility is that we should be ready to speak of ourselves as of less importance and less worthy than others, not as a mere phrase on your lips but we should really believe it in our hearts.”
This is not a call for self-hatred–that is as much a sin as pride or selfish ambition. As we have seen, appropriate self-love is a fundamental step in spiritual growth. Secure in our identity as a person in whom God delights, we are able then to place the needs of others above our own. We are free to honor and value others in the ways they deserve.
It’s the question of the crucifixion.
- Churches of one race or ethnicity must ask it regarding people of other races or ethnicities.
- Predominantly heterosexual churches must ask it regarding people who are not.
- Churches led exclusively by men must ask it regarding their sisters in Christ.
- Churches filled mostly by one age cohort must ask it regarding those of other ages.
- Rich churches must ask it regarding poor people.
The same cross that secures my identity as a person beloved of God also summons me to treat all as beloved by God.
