The Cross, Lets talk about the cross. (Jesus, crucifixion, blood)

[Evandr2]

I was once told that I was not Christian because I don't use the cross as a symbol.

Most people will consider the answer to this question too obvious to even think about so they never do.

Will someone please explain to me why so many Religions think you need to be looking at a cross to be reminded of what Jesus Did for us.

My question stems from the fact that crucifixion is one of the slowest and most painful way to die that could be conceived of. Think about it, the wounds themselves were not fatal so life could linger for a long time. The pain was ever increasing and never let up. If a person wanted to take some weight off of the hands so to soften the pain they had to shift it to the feet which intensified the pain and visa versa.

I greatly reverence the Lords sacrifice for us but my attention is focused upon His conquest of death and not the fact that He died.

If Jesus had suffered some other form of death of the flesh, would we all be carrying around small bows and arrows or little chopping blocks or something else to remind us of what He suffered?

I realize that the cross is just a symbol but I think is a bit much to constantly be reminded about His death and not His life.

I am also a bit dismayed when someone displays a cross with the tortured, almost naked, and bloody representation of Christ hanging on it. Is it really necessary?

Vandr

[standing_alone]

Originally Posted by Evandr2

I was once told that I was not Christian because I don't use the cross as a symbol.

I think that's just stupid. It shouldn't matter what symbols you use, what should matter is what is in your heart. At least, that's my opinion.

[Cerrax]

At the risk of sounding morbid, the cross is actually a very disconserting symbol. It is a symbol of death. Cruxifiction occurs on a cross of wood. Swords and many other instruments of death are cross-shaped. A dead human body naturally appears in the shape of a cross (legs down, arms outsretched) and crosses are often used to instill fear and horror in works of fiction.

It hardly seems like a symbol fit for a religion so fixated on peace, love and uplifting humanity. Yet we see the cross emblazoned on sheilds, used as a symbol of health, and worn as a token of faith and love.

Its all about how you want to see it. To me, its just a shape. A shape with many interesting connotations.

[standing_alone]

Originally Posted by Cerrax

At the risk of sounding morbid, the cross is actually a very disconserting symbol. It is a symbol of death. Cruxifiction occurs on a cross of wood. Swords and many other instruments of death are cross-shaped. A dead human body naturally appears in the shape of a cross (legs down, arms outsretched) and crosses are often used to instill fear and horror in works of fiction.

It hardly seems like a symbol fit for a religion so fixated on peace, love and uplifting humanity. Yet we see the cross emblazoned on sheilds, used as a symbol of health, and worn as a token of faith and love.

Its all about how you want to see it. To me, its just a shape. A shape with many interesting connotations.

That's very true, but something I remember being told by my pastor when I was a Christian is that the though the cross was an instrument of death, the symbol of an "empty" cross (one that doesn't have Jesus on it) symbolizes the resurrection and the the atonement of our sins. Not saying that he's right - just his perspective on it.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by standing_alone

That's very true, but something I remember being told by my pastor when I was a Christian is that the though the cross was an instrument of death, the symbol of an "empty" cross (one that doesn't have Jesus on it) symbolizes the resurrection and the the atonement of our sins. Not saying that he's right - just his perspective on it.

That seems to be a very common Protestant take on the meaning of the cross sans Jesus.

Heck, we were even taught that it was *superior* to the Catholic crucifixes.

Seriously: What's more important? Following Jesus, as He asks? Or what sort of jewelry you have on display? sheesh

[standing_alone]

Originally Posted by Booko

Heck, we were even taught that it was *superior* to the Catholic crucifixes.

Ha ha. I was taught that, too. But I was raised Lutheran, so we were always told about how we were "superior" to Catholics.

[Booko]

Originally Posted by standing_alone

Ha ha. I was taught that, too. But I was raised Lutheran, so we were always told about how we were "superior" to Catholics.

Yup. I was raised Dutch Reformed. Fortunately, they've gotten over their fear of papism in the last 30 years.

...and there was much rejoicing

[Bishka]

Odd, what you too say about the Lutheran Church and Protestants. I agree about the cross, yes, it's a reminder of Jesus, but it's a reminder of His death, not His life. I prefer to think about His entire life and what He did for me, not just focus on His death.

[michel]

Originally Posted by beckysoup61

Odd, what you too say about the Lutheran Church and Protestants. I agree about the cross, yes, it's a reminder of Jesus, but it's a reminder of His death, not His life. I prefer to think about His entire life and what He did for me, not just focus on His death.

I can see that that makes sense, but, having said that, it was the purpose of his life that he should die for our sakes, no?.......so, in using a crucifix to trigger a thought about him, isn't it a case of remembering what an astounding sacrifice he made for us?

[Booko]

Originally Posted by michel

I can see that that makes sense, but, having said that, it was the purpose of his life that he should die for our sakes, no?.......so, in using a crucifix to trigger a thought about him, isn't it a case of remembering what an astounding sacrifice he made for us?

I think that's exactly it, Michel.

From my pov, Baha'u'llah spend 40 years in exile and imprisonment in conditions that were very harsh. And it wasn't just him -- his family was imprisoned as well. He even lost a son as a result of the imprisonment.

You know, there are times when you can get upset by things and worried about money or your health or whatever, and then if you reflect on his life, you think, "ok...so what sacrifice have I given today?" and "Why shouldn't I be able to bear this?"

The same goes when reflecting on the life and Crucifixion of Christ, I think.