What does Cavalry mean?

By David J. Stewart

"Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." -1st John 3:16

What a wonderful Savior! Jesus paid a debt that He did not owe, because we owed a debt we could not pay. Calvary ... what a precious word, is mentioned only once in God's Word in Luke 23:33, "And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left." There's a rich heritage that has it's basis in the Biblical term Calvary.

The Greek word for Calvary is kranion, and means, "a skull." The word comes from the hill where Christ was crucified in Israel, where a natural skull is clearly visible in the rock (see actual photo to left). Interestingly, it is from this place where the occult group get their emblem-the skull being symbolic of rebirth, and the bones a symbol of the cross. Bonesman are said to be "born again" into their Order of Death, i.e., the official name of Skull and Bones (a demonic organization). Of course, Satan is the god of this sinful world, and has many followers and loyal servants.

The term Calvary has been precious to believers who use the King James Bible for hundreds of years. Jesus, who knew no sin, became as sin; that we who knew no righteousness, could be made the righteousness of God... "For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him." Calvary is representative of the loving Savior who died for us miserable wretched sinners who deserve to burn in Hell. The Bible declares all mankind GUILTY! ... being under the condemnation of God's Law (Romans 3:19). This truth is clearly evidenced in the powerful hymn, At Calvary (which you are now hearing), by William R. Newell. Here are the lyrics, which are familiar to those of us who grew up in old-fashioned King James Bible loving churches...

CHORUS:

Mercy there was great, and grace was free;
Pardon there was multiplied to me;
There my burdened soul found liberty
At Calvary.

Compare the powerful message conveyed in the words above to the songs of TobyMac, a CCM superstar (and total disgrace to the name of Christ). It is clear from the words of At Calvary that the author knew he was a guilty sinner, who had violated God's Law, and saw his desperate need for Christ who died at Calvary. How does this compare to TobyMac, who is a featured celebrity at Christianpunks.com?