From Len Sweet’s facebook status:

I believe in the power of metaphor, but I’m not a metaphorical Christian. The resurrection is not metaphorical.

I agree, the resurrection is not metaphorical, nor is the cross of Christ. But the symbol of the cross reminds me of something that social justice groups tend to forget, I think. The cross is made up of a vertical and horizontal bar.The horizontal bar, the one upon which Christ’s arms were spread open to all sinners, could not possibly perform as intended if it were not attached to the vertical bar. The vertical bar lifted Christ up (” When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself.” John 12:32). Just as the horizontal bar pointed to the world around Him, the vertical bar pointed to the Father. We can open up our own arms to the world, yet without the strength from the Father through the Holy Spirit, our own efforts will collapse.  Even Christ, whose example we follow and whose disciples we are, needed the strength of the Father to complete His ministry.