EP 168 This Was Supposed to Be the Place #8: The Cross, The Crowd, and the Line We Don't Talk about

In this episode of Clemenz With a Z, I continue my series on idolatry in the church—but this time, I turn the lens toward something that feels almost untouchable: the cross itself. Growing up, the cross was everything—sacred, central, and surrounded by emotion. But lately, I’ve been wrestling with what it’s actually calling us to do. Is it about guilt? Worship? Performance? Or something deeper? From a deeply theatrical Good Friday service to the theology I’ve inherited—and now questioned—I’m unpacking how my view of the cross has changed, and what it might mean to follow Jesus without idolizing Him. This one’s not about answers. It’s about naming what no longer sits right… and maybe, just maybe, finding something more honest in the process.

Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Clemenz With a Z.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for sitting in the tension with me.
This one wasn’t about clear answers—it was about asking better questions.
About the cross. About worship. About what it really means to follow.

If you are a member, were a member, or know someone who was a part of the ICOC or ICC and you’d like to share your story about life in and out of the church, I’d love to hear from you.
Together, we can keep exploring the question: “Were we in a cult?”
—and maybe, just maybe, find some healing along the way.

You can reach me at clemenzwithaz@gmail.com or send me a DM on Instagram at the Clemenz With a Z podcast page.

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And don’t forget:
I’m just a channel. I ain’t the source.

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Until next time—
take care of yourself, stay grateful, and keep growing.
Peace.