Why do christians have images or statues of crucified Christ?

Question

Having images or statues of a wounded, bleeding, agonizing Christ is just like having a pic on your wall of a beloved person all in pain, agonizing, etc.
Why have such images? Wouldn't it be enough with just knowing what happened?

Answer 1

I agree with you and the mel gibson film is so grossly extreme,,, the idea that horrific gore will deepen the message... it is disgusting and not at all the spiritual message of Jesus's intent. Demented, ghoulish, insane.

Answer 2

Because Christ is our Savior. That is the reason He came into the world. And the cross is the moment of our salvation, the central event in the history of the human race. Some Christians prefer to look upon the empty cross, sterile and clean, focusing upon the risen Christ they say, rather then the crucified Christ. But the crucifixion is what made Jesus the Christ. Without the person of Christ, the cross is just a piece of wood, an ancient instrument of execution that was used on many thousands of people. The crucifix makes it personal - between me and what God did for me.
.

Answer 3

The commandment reads to not make an idol or bow down and worship an idol. In the dictionary the meaning of idol is an image of a diety other than God. God, Jesus, or the cross is not an idol, they represent what is true.

However, Christians do not worship a picture of Jesus, or a cross hanging on their wall, or around their neck.

There is a religion (I won't name it) that may go a little too far & pray to an image or they will kneel before a statue, which the kneeling can be considered a form of worship.

Christians do not worship anyone other than God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. We do not even worship our Bibles. My Bible is important to me only because of the notes I have written in it. There is a wooden cross and a wooden fish that were made for me as a gift and they are hanging on my wall, but I do not worship either one, nor are they idols.

In Christian churches there may be a very large cross hanging up somewhere, but not even in church will anyone worship that cross. It is just a symbol that represents what God's son did for me and for you.

Answer 4

Your question makes a lot of sense. First of all the image of the crucified Christ is not the only image that is common in Christianity of Jesus. A prominent Icon would just be a picture of Him or a picture of Him pointing to a heart. The crucifix is one of the images that many Christians use to remember Christ because it is the event that created our relationship with him. The worst image in history, God hanging dying from a cross, He has made beautiful because it is that very event that gives us new life and allows us to know Him.

My mom has pictures of me right after I was born, and I was kinda gross looking, but she loves the picture because that was the moment that I entered into this world and she was able to know me. The image of Christ on the cross is powerful, no question. It is emotional and it isn't meant to be taken lightly, but it isn't idolatry and it isn't morbid. Being humans we need to use all our sense and just reading about what happened isn't always enough, having a symbol we can use to remember can help remind us what Christ endured and the picture becomes not simply of Jesus, but of us and our relationship and need for Christ.

Answer 5

Here's the deal: many people claiming to be Christians aren't Christians indeed. I belong to an Independent Fundamental Baptist Church, and inside our Church building we have an empty cross. This cross is there just to remind us that Christ did have to suffer bleed and die to save us from our sins, but it also reminds us that Christ was buried and rose again the 3rd day to save us from our sins and that he isn't still on the cross, but is, today, seated at the right hand of God the Father to make intercession for us. The reason other religious sects still have him on the cross is because of the fact that you have those who believe that at every communion service, the wine becomes the actual blood of Christ and the bread becomes the actual blood of Christ, which means in all actuality, that they crucify him anew each time they partake of said bread and wine, thus his atoning work is not finished, whereas, again, Biblically, he died once for all.

Answer 6

Really good question. It seems to me(haven given up on christianity long ago) that the faith is so weak that the reminder is very much needed. But it is really interesting that this so called reminder does not deter ignorance and violence. Maybe if christians actually thought that the same thing could happen to them; then seeing the "so called son of God" like that would teach them more tolerance.
Good luck finding a real answer from any one who claims to be christian.

Answer 7

I'm a Christian, and I have no such statues or images. The 2nd commandment says not to make an image of ANYTHING that is in heaven..., well, Jesus is in heaven, so I don't think we should be making images of Him.

http://www.needGod.com

Answer 8

Well, I think this would depend on your knowledge of Christ and how you feel about what happened to him. Yes his crusifiction was horrible and very sad. I think that maybe some folks put these pictures up to remind themselves of what Jesus went through so that we on earth may have abundant life and that we may be saved from ours sins. Maybe some folks need certain visuals to remind them. I haven't seen any bloody pictures of Christ to that depth hanging on anyone's wall but I see nothing wrong with the cross itself with Jesus Christ.

Answer 9

the 2d Jesus became a guy, he became the flesh photograph of a heavenly element, and God's historic prohibition against graven photographs replaced into quickly to alter into thoroughly out of date. Now that all of us understand what God particularly feels like, in the guy of Jesus Christ, gaven photographs or idols now no longer have any skill to confuse. finally, Jesus fulfilled and set aside all of the old ordinances, statutes, and commandments, whilst he fulfilled all that replaced into written approximately him in the regulation, the psalms, and the prophets. Now, we are saved through Christ and his grace, and are no further difficulty to the condemnation of the regulation. in case you nevertheless sense the way you do, you extra constructive quit utilising that computer, too, because of the fact each photograph that seems on the video exhibit would additionally be seen a contravention of that comparable commandment.

Answer 10

The crucifix is a Catholic symbol. Catholocism is a division of Christianity and just like any other division in Christianity it is error, the mixture of truth and lies which is false religion. Revelation 18:4 says to come out of false religion. And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.


There are no Christian symbols.