Catholic Cardinal Ersilio Tonini called it "an act of open hostility", and the Arab Al Jazeerah network broadcast a missive from Osama Bin Laden in which he declared jihad against her (just kidding on that last one).
Well, here's why I am puzzled and perpexed but not perturbed - I think she doesn't understand what she is doing. Sure, I have no doubts that she is out for the shock factor, but that's getting a little tired.
Crucifixion was a particularly cruel method of capital punishment used by Rome. It should be noted that its origins were in ancient Persia, and that although culture usually associates crucifixion with Christ, he was one of many, many people who suffered its horrors.
Many Christians use the symbol of the cross to identify themselves, seen in jewelry, t-shirts, tattoos etc. The cross has also passed into mainstream culture where it has lost some of it's meaning and become a popular jewelry item void of a deeper meaning. To test my theory, a few days ago I was in Starbucks and the barista (they can charge more if they don't call the employee a server) was wearing a cross. I asked if she was a Christian, and she enthusiastically affirmed her relationship with Christ. OK, maybe the cross still carries more meaning than I thought!
Here's the thing though: the Bible is clear about the cross. In Hebrews 12:2 it reads "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." In Galatians 3:13 we see that "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us--for it is written, " CURSED IS EVERYONE WHO HANGS ON A TREE" (a reference to the cross). My point is that I think the cross has lost some of its meaning over time.
Now, I have flirted with the idea of getting a tattoo, and in some fashion having a cross in it as a way of demonstrating my faith. But, here's the rub - as I mentioned above the cross was an institution of capital punishment. To be literal, it would be culturally relevant (as we don't crucify people anymore) to have a tattoo of a gas chamber, or to wear a little electric chair on a chain. See, it wasn't death that made the cross of Christ memorable - it was life. Because He rose from the dead, He conquered death itself.
I'm not anti-cross, and have no issue with someone wishing to identify themselves as a Christian doing it by wearing a cross. As the Bible says, the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Corinthians 1:18). I think though a more appropriate symbol though of Christianity might be an empty tomb. A lot of people were crucified, but only one rose from the dead.
Well, my rant is coming to a close - now what about Madonna? I'm puzzled and perplexed because she displays her naivete in a way that mocks everyone who was ever crucified, not just Christ. And even in doing that, judging by the picture she avails herself of a sanitized neon platform that she appears to be standing on, rather than having the splinters of rough wood shredding her back as she gasps in pain and slowly suffocates.
Here's my secret to not being perturbed - if she really wanted to mock Christianity, she would be performing from an empty grave, perhaps rolling a giant papier-mache boulder across the entrance where she like an effigy lay trapped inside. Now that, that might get me perturbed!
