No, we’re not speaking about water frontage, like living on the French Riviera. Nor is it the same as living on the dole, relying on government unemployment funds. For a patibulum (pa-TIH-byu-lum) is the horizontal beam on a Roman cross. Likely you have seen Christian relationships illustrated by a cross, the vertical pole representing our oneness with God, and the horizontal timber — the patibulum —symbolizing our unity with others through Christ. For “Christ is all and in all”1 and “in him all things hold together.”2 In Christ we are “one” not just with Him, but also with all who live in Him through faith.3 So perhaps we can think of “living on the patibulum” as living in Christlike love for others. For “we have all been baptized into one body by one Spirit, and we all share the same Spirit.”4 He who lives in you lives also in me, each of us entirely by grace.
Yet living as a people united is by no means easy, for we all harbor “the flesh,” that self-willed part of us that insists we live life our way and not God’s. So, while we aspire to love God with our whole heart, our embrace of brotherly love is somewhat less enthusiastic. But we have a saying in Kairos Prison Ministry: Christ loves our enemy as much as he loves us. This notion agitates us a bit, for relinquishing resentment toward an unfriendly foe is far different than basking in the beauty of a sinless Savior.
Then we could write volumes about latitudinal living, but let’s just focus on a couple thoughts on life on the patibulum.
Use your words. Often when offended, we share our grievances with everyone but the offender. But Jesus sends us straight to the source of our agita: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.”5 Engage with a heart set on restoration and relationship. Do your best to resolve conflict there and leave it there, “between you and him alone.”
Forgive anyway. Dying in innocence upon the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”6 Did you ever notice, though, that no one there ever asked Jesus for forgiveness or even confessed their wrong? But Jesus forgave anyway. So Paul writes, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”7 No conditions. Just pardon.
Loving others as ourselves can be incredibly greater than any fleshy surrogate we substitute for it. Eager to listen, eager to resolve, eager to forgive — life on the patibulum.
“If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.” — Romans 12:18 ESV
Father, in Christ, we are one. Lead us together in Your way of selfless love. In Christ we pray. Amen.
1 Colossians 3:11 ESV
2 Colossians 1:17 ESV
3 John 17:20-26
4 1 Corinthians 12:13 NLT
5 Matthew 18:15 ESV
6 Luke 23:34 NIV
7 Colossians 3:13 NIV
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Paul Nordman—Author 
2 replies on “Living on the Patibulum”
Thank you Paul, for this and all your blogs. They are a blessing. Our small group will be using them to fuel our summer Bible studies.
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Wow! That’s really great. This “unity” series, by the way, begins back on February 26. In all (so far), there are 15 posts.
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