Untested

Of Christ's disciples only the "beloved disciple" was present at the crucifixion.

The others had run away ... doubtless from concerns for personal safety and convenience.

Christ was crucified, and died, forsaken by those (including Peter) who'd followed him for three years, by the very men who'd witnessed Christ's miracles, including seeing him raise people from the dead ... yet their faith wavered when push came to putting nails through the hand.

For crying out loud, Christ's chosen disciples gave up and ran away ... denying in at least one case even having known him. But scripture does tell us that Peter wept as a result.

Just as Jesus had predicted.

Where was their faith? Where was their strength and conviction? Jesus knew they would fail and fall short, yet he loved them regardless. And he forgave them.

Each one of them could have stepped forward and demanded, Put me on the cross to die beside him.

But not one of them did. Maybe they were focused on saving their lives, while Christ was focused on saving ours. Given difficult situations we're inclined to look for the most convenient, and easiest, way out of trouble. That's the difference between Christ's love and the weakness of our faith.

Seeing that difference is what makes me wonder why traditionalists and legalists can presume to have the authority to set regulations about what's the "right way to worship" or demand "the reverent way to have church" when even Christ's disciples lacked faith and ran away rather than take the cross beside him.

2000 years later we know that Christ was resurrected. Shouldn't that be reason enough to know our faith is in him ... and not in hollow reverence and convenient traditions?