Is wearing crosses biblical? The Catholic cross versus the Protestant cross-What a Difference (Buddhism, churches)

[antredd]

About 10 years ago, a minister at my church stated to me that there was a marked difference between the Protestant cross and the Catholic cross. I never realized the difference until he he said that the cross you see in some protestant churches doesn't have Jesus hanging on it. He stated that the Catholic church's cross still has Jesus hanging on it as if he never was ressurrected.

Then I was thinking to myself, does it really matter? He also said that Christians shouldn't be wearing crosses because it's a graven image.

He asked why would you wear something that was responsible for killing our Lord and saviour. He went on to say that if my loved one was killed by a gun, would I be wearing a gun to symblize my loved one's death?

That statement instantly convicted me, and that's one of the reasons I don't wear crosses nor have them in my house.

It seems to me too that many people who wear crosses want to show others that their wearing of a cross represents that they are christians. I know that the Catholic church uses crosses and rosary beads as part of their worship which is not Scriptural.

The cross may be a symbol of Christianity, but where in the bible does it say that we should be wearing one to symbolize our belief on Christ or the fact that we died on one?

[Miss Blue]

I have a lot of cross jewelry..I just love the shape..I do not wear the cross to broadcast my christianity, because I hope that shows in my life..In fact I have a cross necklace and matching earrings on now..They have a couple small diamonds in them and were a gift from H several years ago..I do not consider my jewelry a graven image of or to any god...it is just jewelry that I enjoy wearing, because I think it is pretty..

[bluepacific]

Originally Posted by antredd

About 10 years ago, a minister at my church stated to me that there was a marked difference between the Protestant cross and the Catholic cross. I never realized the difference until he he said that the cross you see in some protestant churches doesn't have Jesus hanging on it. He stated that the Catholic church's cross still has Jesus hanging on it as if he never was ressurrected.

Then I was thinking to myself, does it really matter? He also said that Christians shouldn't be wearing crosses because it's a graven image.

He asked why would you wear something that was responsible for killing our Lord and saviour. He went on to say that if my loved one was killed by a gun, would I be wearing a gun to symblize my loved one's death?

That statement instantly convicted me, and that's one of the reasons I don't wear crosses nor have them in my house.

It seems to me too that many people who wear crosses want to show others that their wearing of a cross represents that they are christians. I know that the Catholic church uses crosses and rosary beads as part of their worship which is not Scriptural.

The cross may be a symbol of Christianity, but where in the bible does it say that we should be wearing one to symbolize our belief on Christ or the fact that we died on one?

Interesting

I've used that illustration for years. I generally use the picture of a machine gun or bazooka killing Jesus. But the arguement of making a replica of an actual death instrument and bowing down and praying to it should be taken seriously. It was never instituted by Jesus or the Apostles as a symbol of Christianity. Here's an interesting link as to the origin of the modern day religious cross used in Christendom. The info is extremey informative.

"The Non-Christian Cross" - by John Denham Parsons

The Non-Christian Cross

It definitely has a pagan past. There are numerous variations of it. I saw an example of the Celtic Cross and it's origins. This would ba a cross with a circle in it. Many have seen this before in famous old graveyard pictures. When the Catholics conquered Ireland, they took the Druid Sun Disk symbol and blened into the cross to appease the pagan converts. This was actually explained on the History Channel.

[janetvj]

Originally Posted by antredd

About 10 years ago, a minister at my church stated to me that there was a marked difference between the Protestant cross and the Catholic cross. I never realized the difference until he he said that the cross you see in some protestant churches doesn't have Jesus hanging on it. He stated that the Catholic church's cross still has Jesus hanging on it as if he never was ressurrected.

Then I was thinking to myself, does it really matter? He also said that Christians shouldn't be wearing crosses because it's a graven image.

He asked why would you wear something that was responsible for killing our Lord and saviour. He went on to say that if my loved one was killed by a gun, would I be wearing a gun to symblize my loved one's death?

That statement instantly convicted me, and that's one of the reasons I don't wear crosses nor have them in my house.

It seems to me too that many people who wear crosses want to show others that their wearing of a cross represents that they are christians. I know that the Catholic church uses crosses and rosary beads as part of their worship which is not Scriptural.

The cross may be a symbol of Christianity, but where in the bible does it say that we should be wearing one to symbolize our belief on Christ or the fact that we died on one?

I'm not Catholic, so those of you who are can correct me if I'm wrong, but I've always understood that the reason the Catholics portray Jesus still on the cross is to emphasize the suffering he endured in order to "save us from our sins". And, the Protestants use the empty cross to emphasize the resurrection.

I am not a Christian (although I was raised as one) but I'm not sure I would accept that minister's analogy to the theoretical gun that killed your loved one, although it is an interesting thought. Most of my Christian friends wear the cross as a reminder of their faith, and there isn't anything wrong with that. As a matter of fact, I am looking for a pendant in the shape of a lotus flower to remind me of my buddhism practice.

[antredd]

Originally Posted by bluepacific

Interesting

I've used that illustration for years. I generally use the picture of a machine gun or bazooka killing Jesus. But the arguement of making a replica of an actual death instrument and bowing down and praying to it should be taken seriously. It was never instituted by Jesus or the Apostles as a symbol of Christianity. Here's an interesting link as to the origin of the modern day religious cross used in Christendom. The info is extremey informative.

"The Non-Christian Cross" - by John Denham Parsons

The Non-Christian Cross

It definitely has a pagan past. There are numerous variations of it. I saw an example of the Celtic Cross and it's origins. This would ba a cross with a circle in it. Many have seen this before in famous old graveyard pictures. When the Catholics conquered Ireland, they took the Druid Sun Disk symbol and blened into the cross to appease the pagan converts. This was actually explained on the History Channel.

Thanks for the link.

[Haaziq]

Quote from Lenny Bruce:

"If Jesus had been killed twenty years ago, Christians would be wearing electric chairs around their necks."

[janetvj]

Originally Posted by Haaziq

Quote from Lenny Bruce:

"If Jesus had been killed twenty years ago, Christians would be wearing electric chairs around their necks."

Pretty funny

[zonababe]

I always laugh when I see people wearing a cross on "Judge Judy". I don't know if a cross will help their cause as Judge Judy is Jewish!

[Haaziq]

Originally Posted by zonababe

I always laugh when I see people wearing a cross on "Judge Judy". I don't know if a cross will help their cause as Judge Judy is Jewish!

I think I'm going to start wearing a Baphomet pendant to ward off those evil witnesses.

[MysticPhD]

More trivial issues that have little relevance to the adoption of a Christian lifestyle . . . it is NOT about what we wear, eat, or otherwise use to remind us of Jesus and the example he represents for our lives.