- Topic
The WMSCOG accuses other churches of “Idol Worship” in regards to the Cross. They seem to think that even displaying it in church is evil.
Doesn’t the Ten Commandments teach us not to bear false witness?
None of the Christian churches I have been to have ever taught us to worship the Cross. The Cross is used as a symbol to remind us of the great sacrifice that was made for us by Christ Jesus. This is commanded in the Bible.
The Bible says not to make any symbol to a false god and worship it. Make no brazen images. The Cross is a symbol for the REAL GOD and even so we do not worship it. Now that is not to say that some people don’t cross the line on this. If someone is worshipping the Cross they need to be corrected and if we see this worship happening and we don’t help correct it then I believe we are guilty as well. Having a Cross around also serves as a reminder that we are to love the one true God. It’s like a husband asking his wife not to love any other man. She carries a picture of her husband around with her as a reminder that he loves her. If she chose not to carry the picture she might be more easily swayed. Worse would be if she carried a picture of another man. (Jesus vs. Ahnsahnghong) This would be absolutely wrong on all counts.
Gods ways are mysterious. He uses things that we would view as vile and/or worthless to reveal his glory. He uses the stone that was disguarded by men as the Chief Corner Stone. He uses something viewed as a detestable instrument of death to reveal his glory.
Lets look at what the Bible really says about the Cross.
1 Corinthians 1:17-18 Paul states that word of the Cross is the Power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:23 describes the Cross as the Wisdom of God.
Colossians 2:15 describes the Cross as the Glory of God.
The Cross is described as Gods Wisdom, Power, and Glory. This object is viewed by man as a detestable instrument of death that was used to kill Jesus. Only man would have such a limited view as this. Gods ways are what we are striving for. The Cross was made a symbol of Gods power by God not by man.
Many people will bring up the message of the symbol of the bronze snake. God instructed the creation of the bronze snake as a symbol to lead people to him. Men twisted it around and many started worshipping the snake instead of what it represented. In Christian churches we are taught this lesson to not worship symbols but only worship the one true God. To make the statement that other churches are “Idol worshippers” is a gross defamation of character. You shall not bear false witness.
God ordered the making of many symbols in the Bible but I think that I will save this for another post. What God has sanctified we should NEVER try to remove. His ways are not our ways. Keep the reminder of God well within view at all times. It’s a reminder of the love he has for us and a testament to the fact that we belong to him. By the way, it’s a very real possibility that the seal of God is represented by the cross. The word does reveal this if you are truly seeking.
It will be almost impossible to convince or not convince on this “cross” issue, especially because the era we are in now sees the cross in a different light from say medieval times.
I think it's horrible..
What’s horrible?
To "flaunt" the weapon used to murder someone you love. I've be to 1 funeral and 1 memorial. My great granddad died I think of liver failure. He was on dialysis* for a while. When he died, there were pictures of him and even a slide show none of which was a picture of his dead body. Also, someone who lived in the same barracks as me in IL died in his bed from lukemia*. At his memorial, again only nice pictures of him were displayed. None of his pale dead body. It seems like people want to flaunt the most appealing pictures of their loved ones except when it comes to Jesus whom they claim to love the most. I understand His death is important to every Christian but what joy do some of them get from having Jesus hung on the cross dead with blood running down His body on the podium* in the pulpit? People get tatoos of Jesus with an expression of agony on His face to "honor" Him. I think it's horrible. There have been many people who have died for our physical lives but are not honored in the same way. It makes since to me to do "for" God what we would do for our friends and family only greater. IE, Christmas. Celebrating Jesus's birthday. I think if we throw a Christmas party it should be grander than any party we would throw for anyone else's birthday because it's God who we're celebrating. Just my opinion. =)
Wow! I have to say that was a pondering response, Renita.
What do you mean?
Meaning, something to think about. I like it.
Yay! I said something to think about. =)
Yep, you did.
Joshua! Great topic. No one prays to a cross or in that case idol worships it.No one says in their prayers Dear Cross… Ive never understood the COGs view on this. Its JUST a symbol. I also agree that some people over do it a little with the huge crosses around their necks and hanging from their rear view in their cars etc. But to each its own. In no one is the cross a bad thing. Jesus died on it do Im not sure how its bad. Without this occurance no can be saved…you can definitetly not be saved by works thats for sure. When I asked about it I was only shown 1 verse from the COG about idol worship. But in actuality there are like a ga-jillion verses in the Bible on the importance and power of the cross which they ignored.
Are those ga zillion verses pointing at a literal cross or His dying? Does the mention of cross simply depict death, a reminder of his dying since that was where he died? That is, is it the literal cross that we are to look to spiritually or the fact that he died? Is it the electric chair or the fact he died?
The cross holds no power at all. It's not that Jesus died on the cross that you're saved. It's that He died for your sins. 1 John 2:2 1 Peter 3:18 1 Cor 15:3 These verses and many more focus on the reason Jesus died, not how He died. There is no verse in the bible that says the cross has any power. If Jesus was hung, the rope He was hung with isn't what saves you. It's still the fact that He died. 1 Cor 1:16-18 speaks about the power of the message of the cross. And what's that message? That God's one and only Son died on it for the sins of many.
A souvenir from say a foreign country, reminds me of that country or of the fact that I went there. The country or my going there? 😉 having a cross is certainly not a sin. Having said that, some people rather not have one hanging around the house or car.
I agree with you again, Renita.
Well, if it reminded you of the country certainly you would think about the time you went there. But if it reminded you of going there you are obviously reminded of that country. What usually happens is someone sees shells from a 20mm gun and says, This reminds me of that time I almost got knocked off the ship with my own gun because the person operating it wasn't following safety rules. So I would say the souvenir reminds you of the fact you went there. =)
Unintentional idolatry is common in scripture the israelites never saw themselves as worshiping status they thought they worshiped Yehovah
Id wager if you asked an ancient greek why they worshiped the status they’d say we don’t they are just symbols
But see, Simon, they were actually making reverence to it “directly.” That’s completely different even if they didn’t know it was wrong, they still prayed to it.
And yes, Renita, that’s right. So my point is the cross is simply a reminder for some. There are some extremist in this case. I just don’t want to inadvertently do the wrong thing.
Lev 5:17
But they didn’t think they were any more than christians think they do the cross
I get the point. But you have to realise my stance on this particular topic. I don’t keep crosses for a lot of the reasons pointed out here but I don’t think creating a statue and worshipping it is the same as holding something of sentimental value of someone you love. In this case Jesus. If I am wrong and causing someone to err, then I ask for forgiveness from God now and wisdom to know right from wrong in this particular issue. It is a complex matter really.
I cannot dictate what people hold on to with sentimental value. But keeping a toy sized object of what tortured God sounds a little skewed. I saw the movie The Call which was awesome! And the man had his sister's bloody bed down in the basement. He keeps it because it holds sentimental value to him. But everyone thought that definitely confirmed he was crazy.
What about these things: kissing the cross, crossing your body, holding on to it when you pray, not leaving the house unless you find your cross necklace. Most Christians I see don't kneel to the cross or say that the cross has any power but they act like Jesus is not with them unless there's a cross nearby.
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