The catholic Cross

[ayin jade]

I may shock some folks here but .....

I am not a catholic but I prefer the catholic cross to the protestant cross. When I was younger, before I knew that the one was catholic and the other protestant, I preferred the cross with Jesus on it. Later in life, I studied art history. The depictions of the cross throughout history were ones with Jesus on it. Later, after I became born again, I find that I still prefer the visual image of the catholic cross. Why? Because the protestant cross is too "clean". Seeing Jesus on the cross has a visual impact of His sacrifice that the protestant cross doesnt have for me.

Now does it matter if your cross has Jesus on it or not? There are issues that are important to our beliefs, and some that are not. To me, which image of the cross one has really is a trivial matter for each believer. Who He is to each person is what matters.

[Shiloh62]

as a charismatic catholic i do keep Him there to remind of what He went thru for me while i was yet a sinner

i also have one of the risen Christ as well to remind me that He has defeated death

praise God for my cross after yesterday(seepost) because it also reminded me of all He had to go thru and He can still help me with my burdens as well

lv yr sis in christ

manie

I enjoyed meetiing and visiting with you in chat the other day, my sister! Congrats on the 1000 posts! Shiloh62

[Shiloh62]

My mom grew up Catholic, and she said it was a reminder of His sacrifice.

I agree Colleen. If we can learn what Catholics believe and why we might disagree with them but not all of what they believe is wrong. Just like many of the other denominations.

Your right , Massorite. We can learn from everybody, most of the time from the ones we least expected! Shiloh62

[Shiloh62]

I may shock some folks here but .....

I am not a catholic but I prefer the catholic cross to the protestant cross. When I was younger, before I knew that the one was catholic and the other protestant, I preferred the cross with Jesus on it. Later in life, I studied art history. The depictions of the cross throughout history were ones with Jesus on it. Later, after I became born again, I find that I still prefer the visual image of the catholic cross. Why? Because the protestant cross is too "clean". Seeing Jesus on the cross has a visual impact of His sacrifice that the protestant cross doesnt have for me.

Now does it matter if your cross has Jesus on it or not? There are issues that are important to our beliefs, and some that are not. To me, which image of the cross one has really is a trivial matter for each believer. Who He is to each person is what matters.

Amen to that Ayinjade! Shiloh62

[Shiloh62]

Whenever I see a empty cross it reminds me of my risen Lord

It reminds me of Jesus who died on the cross and carried my sins and through Him I am saved, the cross is Empty and my sins are forgiven

Thank you angels4u! Nice to meet you-and shalom! Shiloh62

[yesult]

If muslim extremists raided any of your homes right now and dragged your daughter out and nailed her to a tree in the yard - would you like people everywhere to make little models of trees and her body on it to remind them to be true to the faith? If they nailed her to the side of the house - would you make a replica of it either?

Sorry to be graphic, but the cross is an implement of death and torture. If christ had had his cut off instead, would you hang a little axe around your neck to remind you of his sacrifice. If it was a firing squad - would you wear a little silver blindfold on the end of a chain.

The cross is a sign of death. And idolising an object is exactly that - idolatry. So is viewing one as 'sacred'. A cross is no more sacred then a guillotine. Nor a bullet. And using it as a reminder of his death points to that instead of his victorious resurrection. He's alive. Not dead. Why focus on his torture instrument?

[Smalcald]

I think that indeed I would wear that firing squad or that electric chair as a reminder of what happened and a further reminder that ONLY through the cross and suffering will victory come and has come.

It does no good to try to forget the suffering of our Lord because ONLY through that suffering was victory made available, you cannot have one without the other. Just as we cannot have a true faith that is worth much of anything, without suffering. Christ is our model and that includes the suffering as well as the victory.

[yesult]

How can anybody 'forget' that christ was crucified? Or he suffered?

[Smalcald]

How can anybody 'forget' that christ was crucified? Or he suffered?

I think that they do, in fact I think it is often downplayed.

[Smalcald]

I want to add though I don't think it is worth arguing about, it is not doctrine, it has nothing to do with our faith, it is simply a symbol that may help some people remember who they are and if it gets in the way of our faith or our walk with Christ, then throw the cross away, it is just an inanimate object.