For all those who believe Jesus died on a cross......?

Question

WHY DO YOU WEAR A CRUCIFIX AROUND YOUR NECK WHEN ACCORDING TO YOU IT WAS THE IMPLIMENT OF HIS DEATH?
IF YOUR BEST FRIEND WAS SHOT - HOW DO YOU THINK HIS/HER FATHER WOULD FEEL IF YOU WORE A REPLICA OF A GUN AROUND YOUR NECK & CHERISHED IT?

JESUS DID DIE FOR US - BUT HE DIDN'T DIE ON A CROSS - HE WAS IMPALED ON A STAKE
AND WORSHIPING THE IMPLIMENT OF HIS DEATH IS WRONG
IT IS IDOL WORSHIP AND GOD IS NOT PLEASED WITH IT

CHECK EXODUS 20:4 and 1 JOHN 5:21
AND ACCEPT THE COUNSEL YOU FIND THERE WITH HUMILITY

The Greek word generally translated “cross” is stau·ros′. It basically means “an upright pale or stake.”

Bible writers use another word for the instrument of Jesus’ death.
It is the Greek word xy′lon. - This word simply means “timber” or “a stick, club, or tree.”

Take a look at GALATIANS 3:13
Here Paul quotes Deuteronomy 21:22, 23, which clearly refers to a stake, not a cross. Since such a means of execution made the person “a curse,” it would not be proper for Christians to decorate their homes with images of Christ impaled.

to Joyfilled :- you still haven't addressed my point on the using of images in worship. Whether you believe Jesus died on a cross or stake - it's still not right to cherish these images in worship - READ YOUR BIBLE

1 CORINTHIANS 10:14

EXODUS 20:4, 5

to John P:- to venerate something is to use it as an idol

Answer 1

Good questions and points.

You say to accept what we find in the Scriptures you cited and accept the counsel with humility but sadly there isn't much humility in these answers!
Many people today don't want to know God and a lot of those claiming to follow him don't even bother to check what he thinks on certain things. They're too self important to think that maybe they might be wrong.
Anyone interested in knowing the truth of the Bible should listen and take note before it's too late

Answer 2

It is ONLY the JW mis-translation of Scripture that says Jesus was impaled on a stake.

It is ONLY the JW mis-translation of Scripture that was written by NON-Hebrew, NON-Aramaic and NON-Greek scholars.

Look at any Protestant or Catholic translation of God's Word and you will see that Jesus died on a cross.

It seems that what you are trying to do with raising doubts is not
any different from what Satan was doing in the Garden of Eden with Eve.


I would like to comment on Guitar ... 's comments regarding humility. I think that many of the answerers are just so disgusted by the lameness, the straining for gnats of such questions.

You say "Many people today don't want to know God and a lot of those claiming to follow him don't even bother to check what he thinks on certain things. They're too self important to think that maybe they might be wrong." But I have to say that from all of the Watchtower Witnesses I have talked to through the decades, that JWs more than anybody else I have ever talked to are the least likely to check the Truth of what they are told and what they tell others. They quote only what the Watchtower says that Scripture says, NOT what God's Word actually says in the whole.

You also say "Anyone interested in knowing the truth of the Bible should listen and take note before it's too late." It is excellent advice except that you should not listen to what the JWs say - it is afterall the short-sheeted version of God's Word.

NOTE: I do read the Bible on a regular basis. No, the Protestant church I attend does not use images. But it is NOT for me to judge those that do. My question is why are JWs quibbling about the non-scriptural things some churches do and ignoring the plank in their own eye?

What you quote about Jesus and the cross is not the Truth so start with cleaning your own house before you go nosing around in other people's houses. A cousin of mine did just that and left the JWs after being with them for 40 years.

I have an idea - Let's have all Watchtower Witnesses be born again and all those churches that use images in their places of worship give those up.

Answer 3

I don’t kneel down and worship the cross I wear. It’s a reminder. If a vampire came up to you do you think s/he would run away from a stick? You could just hold up a finger for that matter. Your question presupposes its own conclusion so no rational answer is possible.

You assume that Jesus died on a steak and don’t even tell us if it was rare, medium or well done.

You assume folks worship a cross as opposed to the possibility that they venerate the cross or wear it as a reminder of the sacrifice of Jesus.

God is not a human so we don’t know what emotions she has except for love.

Answer 4

The Greek word for cross, stauros, can refer to either a stake, or more commonly, a stake with a cross piece which was carried by the person being crucified to the execution site.

The symbol of the cross, however, is not necessarily used a symbol of the implement of Jesus' death, but is actually an evolving of the Jewish "tav" a "t"-shaped letter which is used as a mark or symbol of the Torah. The tav was Christianized into the Greek letter chi (also the first letter of the word kyrios, "Lord") which looks like the letter "X" --hence the use of X as a symbol or abbreviation as in the word Xmas.

Answer 5

I agree with you on a few points. It is sad that the majority of the Chistian world were a cross upon their necks when it is a symbol of the crusifiction of Christ (yes it was a cross, Romans wouldn't use just a stick, a cross was used during those times as the most humiliating way they could kill someone.) I would rather think of the Resurrection of Jesus, For he is risen. He has overcome the bonds of death and gave us a way to do it too. I don't wear a cross.

Answer 6

I did accept it as a good question for I have also had such thoughts. Mine were not about one wearing a cross so much but about the cross being on a lot of church buildings and on most alters. I have in fact as you did ask some about this very thing before.

At this moment I do have a different view now. In my view I wonder if I should actually assume something when I do question others about what they do and what they seem to display in my view. I must first think that my ideas as to what I think I see are of course influenced by my own thoughts and my own outlook. Thus first I must think that maybe I am the one who is jumping to a conclusion that may be false because something inside me is not in the proper order or proper place.

I have read that it is best to take the big log out of ones own eye before one does try to see the tiny thing in the eye of someone else. I do hope I did read it correctly and did understand it to mean that maybe the problem is in me. Check out if the problem is in me is the way I do read it.

Now if another has already explained to me in their own words with their own lips that they do worship that cross or that if is a symbol or something to be looked up to for guidence, then I may ask why they think that. But if they did not do that and say that, why would I just assume such is the case. In my view now I do see that such may be wrong to do.

Please I am not saying you are wrong OK. I must not do that for you are not my servant. I do hope you do serve your God and maybe your God told you to do what you did. If that be the case, you did right by posting what you did post. So you must ask yourself if your God did tell you to do it or was it an idea sourced in you. Only you can answer that for such is between you and your God.

I personally want to be like my Lord who did say he has His God and I can have my God but they should be the same God. I find this in His words in John 20:17 after the resurrection. I take it to mean in one view that each may have a different view of the same God but it should be the same God for all. Thus the different views must not be such to dictate that there is more than on God Almighty or God Most High.

Please do see this as my view only and you are free to have your own view OK. I must accept that or it is not right for me to want to have my own view OK.

Do give this some thought, just smile and do enjoy the day. I did enjoy answering this question.

Answer 7

I am glad you have noticed this concerning the use of idols; (this is also one case of one of the ten commandments being brought into the New Testament) however the death of WAS on the cross. If you will read in John 19:34 you will read that blood and water came out when he was (as you say) impaled. When someone dies, the blood separates into blood and clear liquid. This then, indicates that Jesus was dead before the soldier pierced his side.

Answer 8

I read something interesting on this subject.

The Romans used a cross to kill people because it was a slow and painful death.

Those hung on a cross died of exposure and thrist usually in 2-3 days.

Even breaking the legs of the victum didn't speed up the death.

Jesus and the other two died of suffication, and had to die in hours not days because of the Sabbath. Suffication accures from the sissor action of the shoulders on the neck. The only way to breath is to support your weight with your legs (which is why they were broken)

In order to die of suffication his hands had to be over his head (not out to the side) only in way can you sufficate while hanging.

Food for thought. I'm sorry I can't provide the reference, but I thought it was interesting.

Answer 9

IDK where you get the "impaled on a stake" bit. The Romans routinely crucified criminals. This is not something they made up just for Jesus' sake!

The verses you mention do not refute the crucifixion process detailed in the Gospels: Matthew 27:27-34 (cross is mentioned 3 times, crucify/crucifixion mentioned 4 times), Mark 15: 6-32 (cross mentioned 3 times, crucifixion mentioned 8 times), Luke 23:18-38 (cross mentioned once, crucify/crucifixion mentioned 4 times), John 19:6-42 (cross mentioned 4 times, crucify/crucifixion 10 times). The amount of times this particular form of execution is mentioned really blows your "impaling" theory out of the water!

You are right about one thing: this form of death was ghastly. It was a slow, torturous way to die. Some people lasted for days. Jesus had already spent the better part of the last 12 hours being beaten by hands and rods, and whipped with metal shards. He only lasted about 6 hours.

So why wear a crucifix? Is it a form of worship?

I would have to answer, no. It is a form of identifying with Jesus, the one who died that way and was raised to life, as well as a reminder of what He did for our sakes. I have spoken to Roman Catholics (I'm protestant, btw), and they do NOT worship the crucifix. They look at it and hold it during prayer as a reminder of the price paid for their sins.

We must never forget what was done for our sakes, lest we take it for granted .

Answer 10

The crucifix (cross with corpus) is primarily a Catholic symbol.

We wear it to remind us that not only did Jesus die for us; but that no matter how bad a day you may be having someone, long ago, had a much worse day and can understand completely what we are going through.

The cross (cross without corpus) is primarily a Protestant symbol.

They focus more on Jesus risen, or that He defeated death, hell and the devil and rose on the third day.

It is a symbol of Jesus victory and is worn to remind Christians of His victory.

And yes, death by crucifixion (on a cross) was the common form of execution for criminals in ancient Roman times.

There is plenty of non-religious research that has proven this fact.

Now, when you see a Christian holding a Bible, do you say we are worshipping the Bible?

Of course not.

We are worshipping God.

When you are looking at a picture of a husband, wife or loved one; do you really believe that picture is actually them when you talk to their picture if you are apart from them?

Of course not.

A cross, or crucifix is simply a "picture" or a visual form of our faith that we can see and touch to remind ourselves that God loves us and so does Jesus.

Just like you have pictures of those whom you love and whom love you.