Sermon for Proper 17 year A by Fr. Rian Adams Text: Matthew 16:21-28 Since February of this year, the People’s Republic of China has removed and destroyed over 900 crosses from Christian churches. If that wasn’t enough, to display a cross on a place of worship is a crime against the government. If congregants disobey, the government can try them as insurrections.  The cross is offensive.  I read an article in an academic journal a few months ago at Sewanee that informs this sermon. The author called for the historic Christian churches in…