Does having a crucifix fall under the same category as statues or idols?

Question

whats the answer!!yes or no ...is it bad.

If i have one over bed is that bad...on my wall.

i dont pray at it or to it,its just a reminder more then anything.

Answer 1

No, a Crucifix is not an idol.

When we look upon a Crucifix, it is there to remind us of the Price Our Dear Lord Paid for us all.

Answer 2

A crucifix is a reminder of Christ's atoning death on the Cross. It's not meant to be worshipped, but simply to make us think about God and remember Him.

As far as the old "graven image" thing is concerned, I sure hope that everyone who accuses Catholics of being idol worshippers don't have pictures of their family, paintings, or angel statues in their homes. They're all representations of something in the real world, so why don't they qualify as graven images?

The truth is that an idol is something that we honor more than we do God. That can be anything from a job, a bank account, or another person.

So don't worry about having a crucifix or a cross above your bed. Just remember Who is portrayed on that crucifix and think about how much He loves you.

Answer 3

An idol is nothing in and of itself. It is the importance and significance that an individual attaches to an object that qualifies it as being an idol. For instance, the Apostle Paul identified a covetousness as being a form of idolatry.

1 Corinthians 8:4 Therefore, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "an idol has no real existence," and that "there is no God but one."

Colossians 3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Therefore, having a crucifix might fall under the category of a statue of an idol to one person while to another person it might just be an earthly reminder of the spiritual sacrifice that Jesus made on their behalf.

As a Christian I wouldn't have a crucifix because I worship the risen Christ and I don't consider it to be respectful or appropriate to make an image of my Savior still hanging on a cross. But as it is written:

Romans 14:4 Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make him stand.

Answer 4

This is a good question. I don't think so, but that is just my gut feeling. I am a non-Catholic Christian who doesn't possess any crucifixes, but I do have a little wooden cross with two fake gold rings on it that my husband and I received when we got married - it's above our front door. I don't pray to it or in front of it, though.

Answer 5

LISTEN

Anything, really can be made into an Idol or a God. If you worship it or pray to it or trust it for your salavation.

The Cross, is usually worshipped. It is held onto, and cherished, some trust it to keep evil away from you, some will think it will keep you safe. Wait, God is suppost to do that. It is a snare. It will take you away from God, because of all that. You don't need anything to worship God.

I won't dare say its not an idol, for fear that it is. Its a risk to me to tell you that its ok, if you don't worship it, but I believe it will become a snare to you, or someone else if I say that because of its history.

Leave it, put it far away, you don't need it.

Play it safe, don't tempt God. Many worship it, and trust it.

Answer 6

Statues, yes; idols, no (unless you are offering latria to the crucifix itself).

Answer 7

Yes, I believe that it does, but that all depends on if you're worshiping God or the crucifix.

Answer 8

A plain crucifix can be symbolic, but having a person on it is an idol.

Answer 9

yes

Ex. 20:4, 5, JB: “You shall not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven or on earth beneath or in the waters under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them.” (Notice that God commanded that his people not even make an image before which people would bow down.)

Answer 10

Yes. Idol worship.