CHRISTIANS why wear a cross?

Question

If someone went up to your child,your only child...
blew his head off with a gun...
now your only child is laying there, blood everywhere,dead...
would you take pictures?
then hang them in your house?
would you get the gun that killed your child...
and dip it in gold?wear it around your neck?

god said "NO IMAGES"why do you think a cross is ok?
or pictures of Jesus being tortured hanging in your house?
I hope you don't say"to remind us"because then your not a real christian if you need something that graffic to remind you...
christianity is about faith afterall isn't it?
2cor.5:7 for we are walking by faith, not by sight.
1cor.10:14-14 Therefore, my beloved ones, flee from idolatry.
exod.20:4,5 -4 “You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. 5 You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them,
1jo.5:21-21 Little children, guard yourselves from id

psal 115:4-8
4 Their idols are silver and gold,
The work of the hands of earthling man.

5 A mouth they have, but they cannot speak;
Eyes they have, but they cannot see;

6 Ears they have, but they cannot hear.
A nose they have, but they cannot smell.

7 Hands are theirs, but they cannot feel.
Feet are theirs, but they cannot walk;
They utter no sound with their throat.

8 Those making them will become just like them,
All those who are trusting in them

**don't you get it?an idols an idol...**

all of you are saying to remind me...again,isn't christianity about faith???

Answer 1

You are to be commended for your insite and use of scriptures to support your position. Let's look at the difinitions of Idol, symbol and icons

Definitions:

Idol: 1 : a representation or symbol of an object of worship; broadly : a false god
2 a : a likeness of something b obsolete : PRETENDER, IMPOSTOR
3 : a form or appearance visible but without substance
4 : an object of extreme devotion ; also : IDEAL 2
5 : a false conception : FALLACY

symbol: Etymology: in sense 1, from Late Latin symbolum, from Late Greek symbolon, from Greek, token, sign; in other senses from Latin symbolum token, sign, symbol, from Greek symbolon, literally, token of identity verified by comparing its other half, from symballein to throw together, compare, from syn- + ballein to throw -- more at DEVIL
1 : an authoritative summary of faith or doctrine : CREED
2 : something that stands for or suggests something else by reason of relationship, association, convention, or accidental resemblance; especially : a visible sign of something invisible
3 : an arbitrary or conventional sign used in writing or printing relating to a particular field to represent operations, quantities, elements, relations, or qualities
4 : an object or act representing something in the unconscious mind that has been repressed
5 : an act, sound, or object having cultural significance and the capacity to excite or objectify a response

Icons:icon Etymology: Latin, from Greek eikOn, from eikenai to resemble
1 : a usually pictorial representation : IMAGE
2 [Late Greek eikOn, from Greek] : a conventional religious image typically painted on a small wooden panel and used in the devotions of Eastern Christians
3 : an object of uncritical devotion : IDOL
4 : EMBLEM, SYMBOL
5 a : a sign (as a word or graphic symbol) whose form suggests its meaning b : a graphic symbol on a computer display screen that usually suggests the type of object represented or the purpose of an available function

In the three definitions above they all indicate that they represent something either by inference or by direct illustration.

The question you have asked "Christians - why wear a cross?"
Really the question should be "SHOULD a Christian wear a cross?"

The answer of course is a resounding "NO!!!!!!"

In order to get a better foundation on your insite into the subject, the article below will explain the the origins of symbols/idols/icons and why Christians SHOULD NOT wear a cross.

Enjoy your reading.

Answer 2

You make a great point. It's quite possible that a cross might be considered an idol, especially if people worshiped the cross. Most people don't actually worship the cross. It totally depends on what you do with it that gives it its meaning. If you use the cross as a piece of jewelry meant to start conversations, then I don't see anything wrong with it. I think you're taking the sentiment of the cross and the word of God out of context, but you DO pose an interesting question. People shouldn't need reminding, but sometimes seeing the cross serves as a comfort for people. I'm not a huge fan of wearing a cross because that's just how Jesus died. It has nothing to do with how He rose again. An empty tomb would make WAY more sense, but I don't guess a piece of rock on a chain is as marketable. People like clean lines and whatnot.

Your comparison of your own child dying doesn't work for me because I think people DO need to be reminded of history. It's important for us to be reminded of what happened to the World Trade Center, and it's important for us to be reminded of the atrocities of slavery in our country. Sometimes we DO need to keep our eyes open wide and take in the horrible things that have happened so as not take our position in life for granted. Why couldn't the same be said of Jesus' death IF it's something you believe in?

Answer 3

It's a symbol, not necessarily for me but for others. I don't wear a cruscifix but a cross around my neck daily. I have had people come up and ask me about it and I have had the priveledge to explain it. I'm not a fashionable person and I don't wear flashy jewelry but I do call myself a Christian and I do wear a cross daily. Since you are well read in the Bible you will see many symbols throughout the Bible. Thats all this is. You will also find that Jesus preaches to go forth and spread the word. That's why my email address is what it is. So people will ask and I can elaborate. I'm not one to walk down the street handing out pamphlets but I will share the Gospel when given the oppertunity. Good luck and I'm glad to see you asking a good question.

Sincerely,

TW

Answer 4

An idol of a dead person, thing, or whatever is what GOD had in mind.
However; an object that portrays your GOD suffering for our sins; now that is just a modest Christian's tribute to their LORD and SAVIOR.
You could quote scripture all you want; but if we followed the BIBLE in the strictest sense then you should every once in a while sacrifice a lamb, maybe your first born, or kill 10,000 Philistines with a jawbone of an ***.
GOD made the ultimate sacrifice JOHN 3:16.
If Christians wear the cross; it is to let others know that they believe in that sacifice.
Muslims pray to MECCA in similar fashion.
I know others have trouble to understanding; but it must be respected.
I remember another saying: "The DEVIL will always quote scripture."
Not sure where I heard this; but it does make sense.
The DEVIL lives by no rules. We are bound by GOD'S LAW.
That is the difference between those who believe in GOD and those who criticize how GOD is to be worshipped.
Every Christian, Jew, Muslim, and others too many to mention have got it right.
To Honor GOD is to wear something of your FAITH to show others that you worship HIM in your unique way.
I may be straying away a little on the idol worship issue; but the point is that to judge others in how they worship is wrong. No one person in this universe can have such authority.
Only GOD does.
"Let the one without sin; cast the first stone."
Gotcha.

Answer 5

I agree with you. We don't need to hang a cross around our neck to remind us of what Christ did on the cross. We do celebrate communion, though, because Christ told us this was a way to remember him. There are many references to building altars in the Old Testament so that we would be reminded of the goodness of God.

So, if a young Christian wants to identify themselves as a Christian to others out about in the world by wearing a cross, would that be horrible? We need to remember to make allowances for the weaker brother. 1 Corinthians 8:1 says, "Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth."

It's important not to worship anything but God, but in doing so, we need to make sure we are not offending our brother when he is trying to walk the walk with a pure heart. He will learn as he grows.

Answer 6

Wow, Crystal! You certainly have some strong emotions here. The cross is a symbol not an image of anyone. The image of Christ is our only connection to God. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. (Matt 11:27)
Christ is the son that was sent here from God to save us. He sent Him on earth to walk as we walk in order to spread healing, love and the Good News of God's kingdom. Yes we do walk by faith, not by sight. We are Christians in our hearts, not by our jewelry...agreed. The cross is the symbol that proclaims our love and adoration for Jesus. It isn't displayed to upset you or used as a crutch. If you feel His love, share it with others. You will feel that love return to you 10 times over!

Answer 7

5 You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them.
You have unknowly answered your own question. I have a little advice for you. When you sit down to read your Bible, don't forget that what you hold in your hands is the Word of God. You are trying to understand with your simple mind. Ask God for understanding and He will give it to you in abundance if asked in the name of His only begotten Son. Do give it a try tonight just after dinner, you'll be glad you did.
A little help from a stranger goes along way sometimes does it not.><>

Answer 8

I am a Christian. I do not think there is anything wrong with wearing a cross. I do not, however, need a cross hanging around my neck to remind me of what Jesus did for me. I keep it in my heart.

Answer 9

The cross's beauty is in how ugly and terrible it was. The worse the cross was, the greater the gift was when he died for us. The cross is also a symbol of the pain He went through because of US. We should never forget the pain He went through for us, so carryin a cross can just be a reminder.

Answer 10

As a dutch standing up comic used to say: what good that Jesus died on a cross and not in the water. If so all catholics and christians would have an aquarium above the door!