Spirituality of the Cross: Center of Urban Spituality

The Death of Christ on the Cross is the center of Spirituality, center of history, source of healing, redemptions, justice, mercy and demonstration of the love of Christ. it is the source of redemption, healing, inner healing, forgiveness. These may be personal but as the shadow of the cross falls across cities, it leads to healing of violence, healing of urban fractures, suffering and pain. The character of the death to self life shown in the beatitudes result in humility, justice and transformation.

1. The Shadow of the Cross in Urban Spirituality Viv Grigg 2025

2. By the end of this teaching:

3. New Spirituality of the Cross Begins at the Fractures of Life Crucifiction Spirituality Begins with Identifying the Pain, Failure, Sin Sin is not a commonly used word in the postmodern lectionary. We call it  mistakes, errors, being misguided, a bit foolish, I wandered around, I got a bit lost, I blew it, I went through a difficult time...

4. Crucial Center

5. The life-giving Shadow of the Cross on the Pain of the Slums The slums are places of intense pain, and deep bitterness. Their very existence may be because of neglect by ruling authorities but rapidly progresses to contexts of oppression by those authorities or other self-appointed authorities, drug gangs or slum lords who step into the vacuum. The structural brokenness leads to drunkenness, rape, violence, and in their wake almost every one you work with is in deep pain. What is the role of the church, the Spirit, and the pastor in bringing healing? First and foremost is the healing of the spirits of those traumatized. That healing is found in the cross as they lay the pain on him who carried all our pains, all our griefs, all our wounds, all our sicknesses. And in his forgiveness is the freedom to forgive those who damaged, those who wounded the abuse of fathers; the deceit of others; the bitterness of others: all forgiven, as we have been forgiven by some sinless man taking all this gunk in his being and dying for us. Play The Old Rugged Cross

6. The Centrality of the Cross in the Journey The pivotal point of the Universe, is an old gnarled cross, empty, ultimate place where all infinities meet. Infinite love as he took the heavy burden of horrific regrets that humanity carry. Infinite healing and wholeness as he took our wounds in his stripes on a beaten back.

7. The Spirituality of the Cross in the Journey The core of spirituality is in the cross and resurrection leading to the exchanged life of the Holy Spirit; the crux of history is the Cross; the crucible of character is the cross; the journey is the way of the cross entwined with the songs of resurrection; the power of our daily death is the authority of humility, love and sacrifice.

8. Spirit - uality We rise from the foot of the Cross with the promised Holy Spirit indwelling us. He gives life to our bodies. He heal the scars. His ongoing presence daily confirms the forgiveness. His life is exchanged for our life. His Spirit gives life not only to our deadened spirits but to our physical body. In place of alienation he brings us into community with others, instead of retreat into ourselves we are constantly reaching out to others. In place of the bitternesses and the blockage of spirit caused by carrying wounds he brings forgiveness and an openness to others. In place of pain, he brings deep healing of spirits, far beyond what counselling and psychology can do, as his overwhelming presence comes again and again. The darkness inside is turned to light The inflexibility of judgmental spirit is turned into grace towards others. So the walk in the Spirit begins, that love, joy, peace, faithfulness, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control.... that mark those who walk in the Spirit.

9. The Three Prongs of the Cross   After the initial phases of spirituality: The Search The Entrance to New Life the third is a process of Discipleship which begins with a total all-consuming allegiance and commitment to Jesus the Christ. Jesus commands us to pick up our cross, and follow him. The cross is an instrument of death. We may consider its two arms and its height as three prongs that he describes: 1. The Disciple and Death to Self 2. The Disciple and Death in Relationships 3. The Disciple and Death to Possessions These are to occur daily, hence directionalities and progressions: 4. The Disciple’s Pathway

10. The Three Prongs of the Cross 1. The Disciple and Self Facets of the Inner Core of Selflessness                                               We need to grasp the core of our passage in Luke 14:26, 27 -  "and hates even his own life..."  It is the hatred of selfishness in these relationships that we are called to.  We are most of all to hate our own rottenness inside, the thoughts of our heart that are evil continually (Gen 6:5).    How can a disciple hate himself or herself? The means is the cross.  A disciple is to take up his cross. What is that cross? It is an instrument of slow painful death – a killing instrument.  It is an instrument to kill our basic instincts, our self-love, self-protection, self-security.  This is a death to the inner being See the Video on: THE DISCIPLINES OF THE BEATITUDES

11. The Three Prongs of the Cross 2. The Disciple and Relationships Facets of the Inner Core of Selflessness                                               We need to grasp the core of our passage in Luke 14:26, 27 -  "and hates not father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes , even their own life – such a person cannot be my disiple ...."  It is the hatred of selfishness in these relationships that we are called to.    See the Video on: THE DISCIPLINES OF THE BEATITUDES

12. The Three Prongs of the Cross 3. The Disciple and Economics (Luke 14:26) Whoever does not forsake all, cannot be my disciple. Lifestyles of Simplicity

13. The Three Prongs of the Cross 4. The Disciple’s Pathway                              "...And follow me..."  If we follow Bruce Lee, we obey his disciplines.  In the same way dying to self enables us to follow the "Disciplines of the Master."  What are these disciplines of Jesus? Quiet time? Church attendance? Scripture memory? No! These re helpful, indeed essential, but they are external props. The disciplines of Jesus are disciplines of the inner person. They are crystallized in the beatitudes (Matt 5:1-12).  The beatitudes are like a diamond with many faces.  Each beatitude reflects a different facet of the inner core of selflessness - the character of those who live under the Kingdom of God. This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

14. Isa 53:1-9 The prophecy of Christ on the Cross Dynamics of Christ on the Cross (Isa 53:1-9).

15. Isa 53 The Cross Foretold

16. Isa 53:1-9 The prophecy of Christ on the Cross What are the items the Cross solves? He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces , he was despised, and we held him in low esteem. 4  Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering , yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. 5  But he was pierced  for our transgressions , he was crushed for our iniquities ; the punishment  that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds  we are heal e d. 6  We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way ; and the  Lord  has laid on him the iniquity of us all. 7  He was oppressed and afflicted ,      yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,      and as a sheep before its shearers is silent,      so he did not open his mouth. 8  By oppression [ a ]  and judgment he was taken away.      Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living;      for the transgression of my people he was punished. 9  He was assigned a grave with the wicked ,      and with the rich in his death ,

17. Isa 53:1-9 The prophecy of Christ on the Cross ( cont ). 9  He was assigned a grave with the wicked,     and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence,     nor was any deceit in his mouth. 10  Yet it was the  Lord ’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,     and though the  Lord  makes [ c ]  his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days,     and the will of the  Lord  will prosper in his hand. 11  After he has suffered,     he will see the light of life [ d ]  and be satisfied [ e ] ; by his knowledge [ f ]  my righteous servant will justify many,     and he will bear their iniquities. 12  Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, [ g ]     and he will divide the spoils with the strong, [ h ] because he poured out his life unto death,     and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many,     and made intercession for the transgressors.

18. Isa 53:1-9 The prophecy of Christ on the Cross How does the cross resolve these issues?     a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. 4  Surely he took up our pain      and bore our suffering , yet we considered him punished by God ,      stricken by him, and afflicted . 5  But he was pierced for our transgressions ,      he was crushed for our iniquities ; the punishment  that brought us peace  was on him,      and by his wounds we are healed . 6  We all, like sheep, have gone astray,      each of us has turned to our own way; and the  Lord  has laid on him      the iniquity of us all . 7  He was oppressed and afflicted,      yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,      and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, For he was cut off from the land of the living;      for the transgression of my people he was punished. 10  Yet it was the  Lord ’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,      and though the  Lord   makes [ c ]  his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days,      and the will of the  Lord  will prosper in his hand. 11  After he has suffered,      he will see the light of life [ d ]  and be satisfied [ e ] ; by his knowledge [ f ]  my righteous servant will justify many,      and he will bear their iniquities. 12  Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, [ g ]      and he will divide the spoils with the strong, [ h ] because he poured out his life unto death,      and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many,      and made intercession for the transgressors.

19. Applications of Isa 53 for Individuals and Urban Structures

20. 1. THE CROSS AS PAYMENT FOR SIN

21. Leaving Bitterness at the Cross

22. Forgiveness as an Urban Lifestyle

23. 12 step spirituality from addiction to stability 2. THE CROSS AS BREAKING BONDAGES We admitted we were powerless over our addictions, that our lives had become unmanageable. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood him. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Humbly asked him to remove our shortcomings. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood him, praying only for knowledge of his will for us and the power to carry that out. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to other addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs. https:// alladdictsanonymous.org /program/

24. The Cross as Reconciler of the Urban Outcaste, the Neglected, Disrepected , the Marginalized Ethnicities The City threw him out He died between two thieves Luke’s gospel particularly portrays his engagement with the outcastes. Our gospel is thus one of reconciliation to God and between ethnicity and ethnicity

25. 3. THE CROSS AS HEALER OF SUFFERING

26. 4. The Cross as Cause and Comfort in Suffering, Persecution and Martyrdom

27. Building Character: Spirituality Birthed in Pain, Grief and Suffering Count it all joy my brethren, when you meet various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces character  (James 1:5). This joy differentiates the Christian from others.  This is one of the key tests that determine whether someone will survive the struggles of mission life. Complainers need not apply. He chose to die. We are to make that choice daily 

28. Lament as a Discipline Engaging Suffering He suffered for us: Discussion on Job based around the questions of suffering: What are common questions and assumptions people make about suffering across different cultures? Why what we think and speak of God is important? How our image of God affects our experience of pain, loss, and suffering? How can we better accompany others through the valley of the shadow of death? The Role of Lament in Dealing with Pain 40% of the Psalms are lament.  How do urban poor churches lament? This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-NC

29. 5. The Cross and Healing of Urban Fractures Ephesians is a book about the impact of the Cross on global infrastructure The city systems that are broken, damaged, unhealed also are redeemed in the cross. He came to preach to all creation, and cities are one of the pinnacles of the created order. Expanding capacities for collective action, for open dialogue, expansion of diversity are all elements of such healing, that stem form the character of the beatitudes = the cross-life, the dying to self that others might live. In this case applied to structures and the structural integration that is called the city. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKTeNiEn9gU . for a framework that might be used to expand this globally.

30. Integration: The Cross & Urban Spirituality

31. Some Readings