I may be wrong but I would consider the cross to be an idol. When did god give people permission to worship an idol symbolizing his son?
2006-06-13 14:26:05 · 16 answers · asked by Jason B 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Hmmmm...good question. I think you hit the nail on the head with that one! The cross is as much an idol as the Goddess and God figurines on my altar. Go figure that there probably aren't Christians who see it that way, but I think you're right!
You know, it seems that there are a lot of Christians with a misconception of what the word idol means. A definition:
i·dol n.
1. a. An image used as an object of worship.
b. A false god.
2. One that is adored, often blindly or excessively.
3. Something visible but without substance.
Thus, their symbol is an idol. They are objectifying their worship of Jesus as their God's son. There's no way around it. It's the same as my figurines. I don't worship them; I worship what they represent to me.
2006-06-13 14:46:24 · answer #1 · answered by Ally 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The cross is a reminder to worship the one true living God. In the Old Testament, the Israelites placed reminders of what God had done for them and laws God wanted them to keep on their clothing and as altars around Israel. As long as you're not worshipping the physical thing, thinking that the cross is somehow a manifestation of God Himself, I don't think it's worship. It should be a reminder to constantly go to God in prayer. God knows humans are dumb, and so I personally think He's okay with us having a physical reminder to bring us back to Him throughout the day. Of course, if people do start worshipping the cross around their neck or in their church, then that is idol worship.
I also think this talk about "true Christians" seems a little narrow minded. There are a lot of devout people, not just during our time, but throughout history, who were fine with crosses in churches. It just seems a tiny bit arrogant to me to say that they are all wrong, and you're right. I may be wrong, but I may be right, and I don't think that you're a "false" Christian for having different beliefs from me. There's some doctrine that you can't budge on, but I don't think this is it.
2006-06-13 22:28:04 · answer #2 · answered by Carrie S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, you misunderstand. Christians do not, under any circumstances, worship the cross. Instead, they worship Jesus who died on the cross. They might use a crucifix as a symbol (usually with a likeness of Jesus on it), but they do not actually pray to or praise the symbol itself. They worship what it represents.
If the crucifix were an idol, Christians would worship it without thinking of Jesus and his sacrifice. As it is, any good Christian looks as a cross and thinks "Jesus," whom Christians are supposed to worship. They don't think "cross," which would be an idol.
2006-06-13 21:34:20 · answer #3 · answered by bezi_cat 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He has not. That is why the LDS church does not have it as a symbol, But most people do see the statue of the angle blowing the trumpet on top of the temples, that is a reminder from the Lord that we are in the last days not an idol.
2006-06-13 21:34:47 · answer #4 · answered by saintrose 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm a Christian, and I certainly don't worship the cross. It's a symbol that was used hundreds of years after Christ died and rose. The symbol that was used shortly after his resurrection was the icthus, or fish. Christians wore it as a secret sign, letting each other know they could confide in each other. This was done because of the persecutions and such going on then. I think the cross serves much the same purpose, except Christianity is much more accepted in our Western culture.
2006-06-13 21:32:10 · answer #5 · answered by awesomeloser08 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are correct the cross is an idol. The rosary is an idol. The virgin Mary statue is an Idol. But yet if you destroyed one of these somebody would have a fit. Sorry but to me these are all just worthless objects.
2006-06-13 21:36:13 · answer #6 · answered by tw2251stst 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes. you're wrong. The cross is not an idol, it's a symbol of Jesus giving His life so we can have eternal life through redemption.
2006-06-13 21:37:58 · answer #7 · answered by Who am I? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are no crosses at my church. They are not commanded or permitted by the Bible. With that said I don't think that wearing a cross is idol worship. I wear a wedding ring, but i don't worship it.
2006-06-13 21:37:36 · answer #8 · answered by Jason S 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
well i dont pay hommage to the cross, its the one who died on it i LOVE! And its a symbol of His sacrifice. In 1st John one of the the last verses goes "little children keep yourelsves from idols", and that could be anything you put ahead of God.
2006-06-13 21:32:44 · answer #9 · answered by kbar_03 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the cross is an idol the bible is an idol. christians make up excuses all the time to try to justify thier actions.
2006-06-13 21:39:35 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋