Snakes, and Progress and Another Attitude to War

Snakes and Progress and Another Attitude to War
NUMBERS 21: 4- 35

Yesterday in church I was aware, as I sometimes am, that many people make the sign of the cross at certain points in the service. I was never taught to do that, and I would feel self-conscious about trying to do it, but I also feel self-conscious about not doing it, and I wonder if people notice. I like it as an idea. Anything that involves the body and not merely the inner person thereby contributes to involving the whole person. Marking myself with the sign of the cross means I really am marked with the cross. It parallels how God uses the washing rite of baptism in making us part of the church, and uses the practice of giving us bread and wine in applying the benefits of Christ’s dying for us and making Christ part of our life. James similarly mentions the elders anointing people with oil when praying for people to be healed (Jesus sometimes uses spit!). Because we are physical people, God uses physical means with us in achieving spiritual ends...