As one of the biblical 10 commandments is though shall make no idols..?

Question

..why do christians use the cross , surely a form of idol , as representation of their fath and almost in a way worship it? and what about the statues of Jesus, Mary etc that you bow down before?

The cross thing confuses me greatly as I know if someone I loved with all my heart and soul as christans claim to love jesus was murderd in a particular way, i would not want to wear a little metal version of the murder weapon all the time! it would seem almost disrespectful!

Answer 1

One has to wonder as well how many Christians vote for an American Idol...

Answer 2

John 4:23-24......Nevertheless, the hour is coming, and it is now, when the true worshipers will worship the Father with spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him. God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth.”

Can God, who “is spirit,” be represented by a material image? No. Regardless of how imposing an icon may be, it can never match the glory of God. So an image of God could never be a truthful representation of him. (Romans 1:22, 23) Would a person be ‘worshiping in truth’ if he approached God through some man-made icon?

There is no evidence that for the first 300 years after Christ’s death, those claiming to be Christians used the cross in worship. In the fourth century, however, pagan Emperor Constantine became a convert to apostate Christianity and promoted the cross as its symbol. Whatever Constantine’s motives, the cross had nothing to do with Jesus Christ. The cross is, in fact, pagan in origin. The New Catholic Encyclopedia admits: “The cross is found in both pre-Christian and non-Christian cultures.” Various other authorities have linked the cross with nature worship and pagan sex rites.

Why, then, was this pagan symbol promoted? Apparently, to make it easier for pagans to accept “Christianity.” Nevertheless, devotion to any pagan symbol is clearly condemned by the Bible. (2 Corinthians 6:14-18) The Scriptures also forbid all forms of idolatry. (Exodus 20:4, 5; 1 Corinthians 10:14) With very good reason, therefore, true Christians do not use the cross in worship.

Answer 3

It's an empty cross, a symbol of victory, not defeat. It's like king arthur's sword, not like the electric chair. I hardly think that people worship the cross, but some might. I know some do worship statues. I guess peopel have a need to "see" what they worship. Maybe they know that it's just a symbol of the real thing though. Not that the real Mary needs to be worshipped, but Jesus deserves it.

Answer 4

You say that the cross is "surely a form of idol" an idol by very definition is something to be worshipped. We don't worship the cross. It is symbolic to us. We worship our Lord. And what about the statutes of Jesus? We bow our heads in prayer to pray to our Lord. The cross, wearing it around our neck, it is not disrespectful, Jesus gave His life on that cross so all who claim His name can live, can have in fact eternal life. You have no knowledge of a the Savior, would you like to know??

L.

Answer 5

Religious symbolism is commonly used to show an affinity with a particular faith or belief. A religious statue or symbol gives people the opportunity to physically 'connect' with God and so rather being deemed an idol, it represents the ideals which we should strive to achieve. I do agree that the mis-use of religious symbols (particularly as a fashion statement) is sadly, disrespectful.

Answer 6

I do wear a cross. I don't worship it. It is a constant reminder of who I am in Christ. And if I start acting like I'm not a Christian, then the world will not see Christ reflected in me. It's actually more of a reminder for me, that the world is watching so I need to live what I believe.

Answer 7

An idol, by definition, is something you worship instead of God. No-one I know is dumb enough to worship wood, plaster or marble. Such physical items, along with pictures and other works of art, are merely representations of real persons, and no-one worships them. Also, no-one worships the persons they represent, since worship is reserved for God alone, at least in the Catholic Church which absolutely condemns idolatry in every form, and presumably in other Christian churches as well.

Answer 8

The Almighty YHVH created everything good . After sin, man could no longer measure up, and did not have the strength to become better. So YHVH sent His Son the Savior- His name is YHVH is Savior (YAHOSHUA)- to intervene in man's behalf. He offers Himself, and His perfection to anyone who chooses to accept it. If someone chooses not to accept it, they thus choose to remain fastened to their sin, and in the end all sin will be destroyed in the lake of fire which cleanses the world of sin so it can be made new. How could He be more Generous? Churchianity is a pagan system that we are urged to come out of. (It is called Babylon- the mixture of truth and error)

Answer 9

Actually, there are many symbols of the Christian faith. The symbol of the cross is just one of them. Early Christians used the symbol of the fish, because Christ said he would make the disciples "Fishers of men". Symbols were used early in the "movement of faith" so to speak to throw off Roman rule. Lets not forget that it was the Romans that put Christ to death on the cross, and early followers of Yeshua (Jesus) were persecuted severely for their faith, being stoned to death, fed to lions in the coliseums for Roman entertainment, slaughtered relentlessly, etc. It is because of this that symbols and signs of faith were necessary to allow believers a way of identifying each other without slipping up and asking the wrong person, thus causing an early demise.

The symbol of the cross is the greatest symbol of the faith because it was the blood of Christ that was shed on the cross that paid for the remission of sin, as required by the law under Moses. It was the instrument of death that killed Christ, yes, but it was also the very instrument of SALVATION for those that had believed, according to Christ himself. That is why people wear the cross as an icon of sorts. Yes, an identifying symbol, but also a profession of faith that it IS the instrument of salvation for that person, that their sins are forgiven.

As to the whole statue thing, you are confusing Christianity and Catholicism, which, though similar, are VERY different religions. Catholicism deifies (turns into gods) the early saints. It refers to Mary as perfect. They believe that she had to be perfect to carry the son of God in her womb. Christianity, however, states that there are none perfect except Christ alone (that would include Mary). It states that he was the only perfect person to walk the face of the earth, God made manifest as you will, in human form, both fully God and fully man (known in theological circles as a hypostatic union). In addition to this, the Catholic faith requires that you have someone else go before God for you to ask God for his help, wisdom, whatever, (Thus performing the "Hail Mary" penance, and having patron saints of this or that ...i.e. wearing a St. Christopher medalion for protection, etc) and Christianity says that because of the sacrifice made by Christ, we are able to go before the throne of God ourselves. It also says that we will have to stand before that throne in judgement one day.

So, in closing, it is not an idol as much as a symbol of faith. Christians don't worship the cross, or the little statues you mentioned (wrong religion), they use it as a symbol, a profession of faith, as it, and many other symbols, were used in the earliest days of the faith.

Hope this helps...

Answer 10

I do not wear a cross, I do not bow to a statue.