Idol worshipping

[Zemog]

I recently started attending a church.  Unfortunately due to covid 19, I was only able to attend like three times.  Last Sunday they moved to online.  Anyways, I have noticed that during the offering the pastor and congregation turn towards a cross and stretch their hands towards it.  When the pastor prays it sounds normal he thanks the father etc.  Exodus 20:3-6, provides an example of idol worshipping.  I do not see anyone bowing down, praying to the cross or serving the cross.  However I'm not sure what to think.  The prayer seems normal I just don't understand why they give thanks towards the direction of the cross.

Thank you

[grahampaul]

1 hour ago, Zemog said:

I recently started attending a church.  Unfortunately due to covid 19, I was only able to attend like three times.  Last Sunday they moved to online.  Anyways, I have noticed that during the offering the pastor and congregation turn towards a cross and stretch their hands towards it.  When the pastor prays it sounds normal he thanks the father etc.  Exodus 20:3-6, provides an example of idol worshipping.  I do not see anyone bowing down, praying to the cross or serving the cross.  However I'm not sure what to think.  The prayer seems normal I just don't understand why they give thanks towards the direction of the cross.

Thank you

A tradition of man crept in most likely, church is a nice place to speak and here the word.see how there heart lays.

[johnthebaptist]

12 hours ago, Zemog said:

I recently started attending a church.  Unfortunately due to covid 19, I was only able to attend like three times.  Last Sunday they moved to online.  Anyways, I have noticed that during the offering the pastor and congregation turn towards a cross and stretch their hands towards it.  When the pastor prays it sounds normal he thanks the father etc.  Exodus 20:3-6, provides an example of idol worshipping.  I do not see anyone bowing down, praying to the cross or serving the cross.  However I'm not sure what to think.  The prayer seems normal I just don't understand why they give thanks towards the direction of the cross.

Thank you

Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, was nailed to a cross and left to die. Therefore, I guess, the cross represents something important to us. I'd never thought about it before, but crosses are very common in churches.

[Tzephanyahu]

Shalom @Zemog

On 3/29/2020 at 12:40 AM, Zemog said:

The prayer seems normal I just don't understand why they give thanks towards the direction of the cross.

You are right to feel cautious to this practice/habit/symbolic gesture.   For even if it was the very same cross that the Messiah was crucified upon, we still shouldn't be turning to it or pray facing it - as if it gives us a clearer line of communication to God.  So how much less a modern iteration of it in a church.

With this in mind, consider what the good king Hezekiah did to the bronze serpent which Moses had made for the children of Israel's healing in the wilderness...

"He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)" - 2 Kings 18:4

The symbol which brought them healing/salvation in the wilderness (as the Messiah likens Himself to in John 3) became their idol.  They had missed the point. 

So, again, you do well in feeling cautious about this.

Love & Shalom

[appy]

I've seen a lot of crosses in churches, but never had a pastor or associate ask the congregation to face a cross and stretch out their hands towards that cross at any time. I'm curious of what church you are attending.

[BeauJangles]

On 3/28/2020 at 5:40 PM, Zemog said:

I recently started attending a church.  Unfortunately due to covid 19, I was only able to attend like three times.  Last Sunday they moved to online.  Anyways, I have noticed that during the offering the pastor and congregation turn towards a cross and stretch their hands towards it.  When the pastor prays it sounds normal he thanks the father etc.  Exodus 20:3-6, provides an example of idol worshipping.  I do not see anyone bowing down, praying to the cross or serving the cross.  However I'm not sure what to think.  The prayer seems normal I just don't understand why they give thanks towards the direction of the cross.

Thank you

Hi Zemog, 

Yeah, it's unfortunate that churches are no longer holding services. It's for practical purposes, even though we as Christian believers are praying in earnest for divine protection. I've been to countless church's over the years, both in regular attendance and also as a visitor. This does sound a little peculiar to me and a bit on the odd side. Perhaps they're showing a sign of deep respect and honor to our Lord's sacrifice, so I'm reluctant to say it's cultish. Not without knowing more about their doctrinal beliefs. It is a little peculiar of a protestant denomination, however. Just my personal opinion. God bless you in further seeking His will for your life. 

Shalom, 

David/BeauJangles

[Debp]

On 3/28/2020 at 5:40 PM, Zemog said:

I recently started attending a church.  Unfortunately due to covid 19, I was only able to attend like three times.  Last Sunday they moved to online.  Anyways, I have noticed that during the offering the pastor and congregation turn towards a cross and stretch their hands towards it.  When the pastor prays it sounds normal he thanks the father etc.  Exodus 20:3-6, provides an example of idol worshipping.  I do not see anyone bowing down, praying to the cross or serving the cross.  However I'm not sure what to think.  The prayer seems normal I just don't understand why they give thanks towards the direction of the cross.

Thank you

If you like the church, if there is good Bible teaching, etc.... perhaps you can ask the pastor about that practice?   

[LonerAndy]

On 3/28/2020 at 8:40 PM, Zemog said:

I recently started attending a church.  Unfortunately due to covid 19, I was only able to attend like three times.  Last Sunday they moved to online.  Anyways, I have noticed that during the offering the pastor and congregation turn towards a cross and stretch their hands towards it.  When the pastor prays it sounds normal he thanks the father etc.  Exodus 20:3-6, provides an example of idol worshipping.  I do not see anyone bowing down, praying to the cross or serving the cross.  However I'm not sure what to think.  The prayer seems normal I just don't understand why they give thanks towards the direction of the cross.

Thank you

So there are conflicting views on this, but the most widely accepted throughout all the Christian world, is that the cross † is the defining symbol of the Christian faith.

We don't have idols or images of Buddha, or a funny hat like Jews, or a black cloak the covers all but the eyes.

We have a symbol.  A symbol is different from an idol.   An idol is not a symbol.  An idol is the just that.  It is a fake god, created by man, to be in place of god.

But a symbol is defined in the dictionary as:

: something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance

So it is not 'the thing', but a symbol points to 'the thing'.

And what is the thing that the cross points to? 

Jesus Christ.  Because according to our faith and the G-d of the Bible, Jesus Christ was killed for our sins, on a cross.   This is why since the time of the Romans, the Cross has been the defacto symbol of the Christian faith.  We are not worshipping an idol.  Those two bits of wood, can do nothing to save us.  Rather it was the one who died on those bits of wood, who saved us, and we remember him when we see the cross.

Now I don't know your specific church, but my guess is, they are not raising their hands to two bits of wood.  They are raising their hands to the one who was on those bits of wood.  The one whose death, defeated Satan, and gave all of us the gift of freedom from our sins.

[JTC]

I think you are correct in being cautious of this practice. I don't have a problem with churches putting a cross in them to indicate that they worship Jesus as the son of God, but to turn towards it and stretch out their hands towards it is clearly wrong. If it was me I'd leave that church and find another one because at the very least they are probably spiritually immature people.

[BeauJangles]

1 hour ago, JTC said:

I think you are correct in being cautious of this practice. I don't have a problem with churches putting a cross in them to indicate that they worship Jesus as the son of God, but to turn towards it and stretch out their hands towards it is clearly wrong. If it was me I'd leave that church and find another one because at the very least they are probably spiritually immature people.

I would have to agree with you on that, bro. Over the years, there have been so many different church services I've attended, and some may have been off on their doctrine. But honestly, I've never seen a practice such as this. It's more than peculiar. Without knowing what they actually believe in, I would hesitate to say it's cultish. But it isn't the norm either. I would probably find myself being uncomfortable there, so yes, I'd find a different church once it's safe to do so. Let's pray for the Lord to intervene on our behalf on that soon.