The Cross Won’t Be Snuffed Out

Artwork: Bernardojbp, Adobe Stock.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was originally published in 2005.

by Ralph E. Mayan

“The showcase of socialist architecture: the pride of East Berlin.” This is how the government described the Berlin television tower known as the Fernsehturm. The East Germans built it in 1966-1969 during the time of Walter Ulbricht and the SED communist party. The tower was the second highest structure in Europe, exceeded only by Moscow’s television tower.

The Fernsehturm reaches 368 metres high. The sphere near the top of the tower comprises seven storeys, two of which are open to the public: the viewing floor at 203 metres and above it the Telecafé which revolves on its axis every half hour. The exterior surface of the sphere consists of 140 stainless steel segments, and when the sun shines upon it, the light reflects in the shape of a large cross.

How could a “showcase of socialist architecture” reflect a cross? You can imagine what the communist government thought. They were embarrassed and determined to get rid of that reflection. Tour guides tell you they investigated a variety of projects to accomplish that goal. None worked. The cross reflection continued and the people—and maybe God too—laughed. They referred to it as “the pope’s revenge”—as God’s revenge.

We are well aware of how the communist world sought to quash religious faith and, in particular, the Christian faith. That era in human history produced many martyrs for the faith, as have some of the most turbulent times in Christian history. But the communists are not the only ones guilty of attempting to snuff out the cross of Christ.

Many attempt it. You no doubt could create an extensive list of those who have. But one comes to my mind every Reformation Day, and it may be the most dangerous: the Church itself. Yes, the Church, called to proclaim the cross of Jesus Christ, can also be guilty of trying to snuff it out.

Nothing can snuff out the cross of Christ. Nothing can diminish the Light of the world, Jesus Christ.

It happens whenever the Gospel is not taught in its truth and purity—whenever its proclamation of that doctrine upon which the Church stands or falls—justification—is clouded. The result is that listeners cannot hear the message: “I am saved by God’s grace through faith because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.” It happens when pastors fail to follow the example of St. Paul who “decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.”

Seeking to snuff out the cross of Jesus Christ is Satan’s primary occupation, and he uses anything and anyone—even the Church—to accomplish his goal. He prefers the darkness and seeks to keep sinful humanity in the darkness of separation from God. If he can keep people from hearing the message of the cross, he can accomplish his goal.

But the Good News is that “the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5). Because of the very existence of this Light, the whole sphere of darkness is overcome and deprived of its power. Nothing can snuff out the cross of Christ. Nothing can diminish the Light of the world, Jesus Christ.

Satan and the world may still try. And for a time, as in Eastern Europe, it may appear as if he is having his way—that is, before God brings to naught the work of the evil one. Whoever thought the communist world would come crashing down as it did? The darkness will not overcome the light!

He does the same within the Church. There was a time when it appeared the cross of Christ was all but lost in the proclamation of the Church. That was before God brought to naught the work of the evil one and gave to the Church men like Martin Luther and the other confessors. The darkness will not overcome the light!

And we pray that it will not be overcome in our midst. May we continue in the footsteps of those reformers who have gone before us. May we, like them, be zealous to keep the message straight and bold, as we remain active in “Proclaiming His Faithfulness.”

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Rev. Dr. Ralph E. Mayan served as Lutheran Church–Canada’s second president (from 1996-2008). This article was originally published in the November 2005 issue of The Canadian Lutheran.

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