If Jesus died in a stabbing, would everybody wear little knives around their necks?

Question

I just find it bizarre that Christians worship and pray to the cross, a tool that was used to brutally kill criminals in a very excruciating and painful way.
Some say it's because that's where he died, on a cross, but he died on Golgotha Hill, so why don't they wear little symbols that look like the hill?
I guess furthermore I'm wondering why Christians focus so much on how Christ died rather than what he did when he lived. It was his death that supposedly saves us, but, wow, couldn't he have done that without being brutally murdered?

Also, please give me a reason for your answers...saying "You're just sick"; if you're a Christian, shouldn't you be trying to convert me?
And yes, I realize that Jesus died on the cross for the sins of mankind. I'm asking that if he died by way of a knife, would THAT be the symbol rather than the cross?

Also, please actually answer the question directly in some way, or at least make a point about it, or don't answer at all

Answer 1

Some might, just as some Christians wear crosses, without really thinking on it. to them the cross represents Jesus death upon the cross for us all. But, it doesnt. He didnt stay there, it was a way in which they killed him, and I too have an issue with crosses. PPL say look to the cross. no. Look to the cross and see He is no longer there. We dont serve a dead Jesus hanging on that cross. We serve a risen Lord, who is alive too, working miracles, and doing all He did so long ago, and He is coming again to take us home. Lets all be ready. WE cant just say we believe, even the devil believes. We must obey God and know that He knows what is best for us, and to turn from sin, repent, and sin no more. Only by obeying Jesus can we do that. Obedience leads to blessing and disobedience leads to curse.
By the way, Jesus death didnt save us. if he had stayed dead, we would have no life in Him. What saves us He is rose from the dead, and He concquered death , hell and the grave. He conquered sin and was victorious on this earth also. And we can do it too, He requires it, but the devil doesnt want us to know that. WE can only do it by being obedient to God and following Jesus as our exmpale and obeyng in all things.
I know most Christians find crosses very reverant and I try to not judge them, give them time, and they will learn. I didnt use to think they were wrong either. Ppl learn different thigns at different times. and its ok. no judging, as we dont want them judging us as we grow in the Lord.
If Christians would truly begin to ask questions about these things, God would show them. Like you said, if He were killed by a gun or a knife, would we wear that around our necks?? I just cant see it. But, I only pray for them to see this and to stop it. Focus on the risen Lord.... oh yeah. God bless all who believe and for those that dont, Teach them Lord Jesus. be real to them before its too late.

Answer 2

Well, during the Middle ages Knights used their swords as a Cross so you are not far from right.

Since Christians are trying to wear a item of remembrance I believe they would most likely wear it if it could be differentiated from others. Whips, Knives, or Rocks could be already made and it would not make since to wear something that others might. (not like crosses that only Christians wear!)

Now, aside from Catholics and a pacific island group of believers. No faith worships the Cross. We worship at the foot of the Cross and usually that is symbolic. The reason we do not have Golgotha on the cross I would guess is because Jesus had to carry his cross and later he told others to pick up their crosses and follow him.

It may seem bizarre to you and yes it was a brutal way to die but it does not stop with death. Because of the certainty of the death and the certainty of the Resurrection we have hope and more than this we have the opportunity to have our sins forgiven.

Furthermore, one should never forget the price of this salvation and the ransom willingly paid. We honor Jesus and remember this gift and wear a symbol for all to see not ashamed of the death he suffered nor the doubt that he arose.

No, Jesus could not have saved us any other way than a brutal death. Remember the sin offering was always a blood offering and it was prophesied that the Messiah would die for our sins. You are right that we need to focus more on what he said while he was alive both times and it is the resurrection and other miracles that Jesus preformed that give those words power and authority. If he had not died and rose again people could scoff and say he was nothing but a great teacher like Ghandi, Buddha, and Mohammed.

I am sure you could find other symbols that people adorn themselves with that have less importance and meaning. Piercings, tattoos, frat symbols etc...

Answer 3

Well, I agree with your point about the cross, (or actually it was more like a pole that Jesus died on), being a tool for a criminals death, and it is bizarre that people use it as a Christian symbol. The first Christains would never have done that! It is like flaunting the weapon that the greatest man that ever lived, died by. I would certainly hate it if my son's death weapon was flaunted in my face! I really don't think that God appreciates it either. It has nothing to do with being a follower of Jesus! But I guess it is easier than living your life according to God's will. The Bible talks about in the last days people will have a "form of godly devotion, but they will prove false to its power".( 2 Timothy 3:5). There is so much wonderful knowledge to learn about Jesus and God, but it takes a real sincere heart to want to go to the trouble to really learn...
John 17: 3: "This means everlasting life, their taking in knowledge of you, the only true God, and of the one whom you sent forth, Jesus Christ."

There is certainly a lot more to being a Christian than just an outward appearance...it is an everyday lifestyle that reflects the will of God...Jesus said this about his disciples:

John 13: 34 & 35; "I am giving YOU a new commandment, that YOU love one another; just as I have loved YOU, that YOU also love one another. 35 By this all will know that YOU are my disciples, if YOU have love among yourselves."

I think that is a key to recognizing true Christians, not an image that they wear, or bow down in front of.

Answer 4

Friend,

I suppose that knives would be commercialized in the same way as the symbol of the Cross, had that been the way that Christ was killed.

I don't "worship and pray to" the Cross (and if I do, I do so in error); I worship and pray to God.

You bring up an interesting point about Golgotha itself and the Cross. However, I don't think the hill is very appropriate; if we forget the fact that He suffered, and that He fell beneath the weight of the Cross as He walked to Golgotha, and that He bled, and had spikes driven through His hands and feet... well, we might not realize how much it cost. A hill, by the very fact that it isn't inherently violent, doesn't necessarily evoke any reaction.

The ultimate reason Christ was born was to die for our sakes. Remember the Garden of Gethsemane, just before Christ was arrested; Christ prayed to the Father, asking if it were possible for Him to not drink the "cup" of suffering and death. (Matthew 26:36-46)

If it had been possible for our salvation to be granted by any other means, I do not think God would have subjected His Son to death; especially not the horrible death of crucifixion. He suffered and died for us; we did not deserve His sacrifice.

May God bless you.

Answer 5

Agreed 120%

I will add this, what's even more ridiculous is those who try to defend the idea that the cross is not worshipped.

After they forzed people in so many ways to believe that the cross is the symbol of Christ and Christianity, now they come out that is only a charm, WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!!

Go to Mexico, Argentina, in the South Americas, Italy and who knows the many other places where millions of people cry over it, kiss, worship, pray, ask for miracles, and who knows what else they do to the cross, help your fellow worshippers to break down what your religion has taught them.

But most important tell them how God view this practise,

it is I D O L A T R Y!

Answer 6

I find that it has more to do with the idea that he died FOR me than it does how. The cross remains symbolic of the atonement for sin, the sacrifice he chose on my behalf. True, it would appear rather foolish and nonsensical without the perspective that the brutal execution is the sacrifical love God showed FOR ME. It serves as a symbol for identifying with Christ, by his death and his ressurection. The brutality is a reflection of both the rejection of the people then and now, as well as a demonstration of how far Jesus was willing to go.

Answer 7

it was Jesus' death and ressurection that is the most holy part of christianity and the cross is symbolic to that. So if Jesus were stabbed, we probably would have little knives hanging round our necks. A hill does not symbolise death at all.

Christ's death and ressurection is meant to be the proof that he is the lord. Having to die was symbolic of how much sin there was in the world and was more of a spectacle than anything else.

Can you imagine Jesus going 'taadaa' and all the world's sins were gone. It'd be pretty quick and boring read. And in theory God could have done that without coming to Earth at all.

Answer 8

LOL, I heard a pastor preaching about the crucifixion. He said if Christ would have been put to death in today's world, by lethal injection or the electric chair, would Christians wear a hypodermic needle or a little electric chair around their necks?
I don't know that I can answer your questions to your satisfaction, but I'll try.
First, Christians don't worship the cross (at least they shouldn't); they worship Christ.
Secondly, Christians revere the symbol of the cross because it was such a brutal way to die. If dying for our sins would have been easy and painless, as in lethal injection or the electric chair (not painless, but quick), it wouldn't have meant as much and wouldn't have been such a strong example of how much he loved us.
Finally, I certainly hope that Christians don't lose sight of what he did while he was on earth. Yes, his atoning death and resurrection are what save us, but he also wants us to live our lives by his teachings after we accept him as Savior.

Answer 9

I really think in the grande scheme, he DID have to die brutally so he could become a martyr. If he died from a heart attack, it would have been forgotten by now. It wasn't what he did when he lived...it was that he died for our sins, (not for high cholesterol) and that he was resurrected to show us that yes, there is life after death. As I said, if he died from a heart attack...his death would have been average and forgettable. That's not what sparks a 2000 year (and counting) religion. No one worships the cross, (OR saints or the virgin Mary for that matter. That's speculation on the part of those who haven't researched much). It's merely a symbol of the way Jesus suffered for our sins....which is to remind us that ridding us of our sins didn't come easy.

Now, everyone who thinks the bible is a joke...don't start slamming me. I'm explaning my own thoughts on WHY it needed to happen that way...I'm not preaching.

Answer 10

On top of Golgotha was three crosses. Jesus died on the center cross--"between two male factors" Golgotha did not kill Jesus--Hanging on the cross killed Jesus. The message is clear about why Jesus did what he did when he died. We look forward to his return. Without his death we have no reason for his return. Don't you look forward to the day Jesus will return
edit: Knives have nothing to do with the death of Jesus. He did have a spear wound him. I am so sorry that God did not seek your approval for his plan. " Praise God from whom all blessings flow."