WHY, if Jesus was tortured/died in a cross, why do people adore/worship a cross?

Question

if he suffered so much in it, and died in the cross, why do people adore the cross so much, even get it tattooed, worship it. am not a bible aficionado but i do believe in God, and if am not mistaking, the bible says not to worship images, etc.
Why do people worship the cross? doesnt make sense to me.

ok, maybe not worship it, but i think some people just have more faith in a cross than on Jesus or God. :(

Answer 1

People should not worship the cross. We should all know HE IS ALIVE! And is living in us (who believe) and wants to walk with us daily!
We worship the true and only God, Jesus Christ! Our Lord and Savior!
Yah, people should not worship the cross. They should have complete faith that He is alive and that He is saving many!

Answer 2

The cross was an instrument of death. In the time of Jesus, it represented not only an ugly end, but humilation and shame. Jesus accepted that fate and, through the power of God, turned it into something new. If the cross before only symbolized "an end," the ressurection showed that it was also the tool to get to a new beginning.

So for Christians, the cross (sometimes in the form of a crucifix) has come to be the main symbol of salvation; triumph over everlasting death and evil. For some people, this symbol is so powerful that they put it forth in various forms like those you mentioned. But they are not worshipped - God alone is to be worshipped. The closest is that the cross in sometimes venerated. This means it is given huge respect, but that the focus is still on God.

I personally hadn't really thought about it one way or the other until I packing up my jewelry many years ago (for a move) and realized that I owned - and wore - at least half a dozen crosses. *shrug* For some of us, it just clicks.

Answer 3

There is no evidence from the Holy Bible that Jesus died on a cross. One of the biblical words used to describe the instrument, carrys the idea of 'tree' the other in classical Greek meant an 'upright stake' and there is every reason to believe it meant no more than that in the koine Greek of the NT, in later Greek the word came to have the meaning 'cross'. (The same can be said of the Latin crux).

The Romans apparently executed criminals by impaling them in a number of positions on implements of various shapes, the simpliest being a single upright beam (called in Latin crux simplex).

The cross itself is a symbol that has always been prominent in the pagan religions. If intended as a unique symbol for Christianity it is an extremely poor choice!

The Bible itself condemns the use of any symbol as part of worship.

It is absolutely monsterous to use what is believed to be the instrument with which our lord and saviour was tortured to death to honor him. It is inconcievable that God would find such a practice acceptable. The cross is abhorant both as a Pagan symbol and one that recalls the instrument of Christ's suffering, and yet because of tradition people proudly adorn themselves with it and make it the object of ritual and ceremony.

Answer 4

First, not all people (even Christians) worship the cross. In fact, the LDS religion says that the cross is an instrument of torture and death and we should not have pictures of crosses or real crosses in our homes.
Secondly, many religions think of the cross in terms of a reminder of the atonement of Jesus. To them it is a symbol of His goodness & mercy and His final act of unconditional love that allows us the opportunity to be free from our sins.
True, we should not worship a cross, or any other image, because we are commanded not to do so. But we should not be so quick to judge the actions of others. We are not qualified to do so, as we cannot see into their hearts. Perhaps many people love the cross simply because they do not understand the horror of its true function.

Answer 5

This is a question that is very interesting because so many denominations denounce the crucifix which is Jesus' body on the cross. It's like they forget there were three crosses on Calvary and one did not represent Salvation. I think they should look again at the Old Testament that really prefigured everything in the New Testament. I am speaking of the snake made of bronze and fastened to a pole in the middle of the Israelites camp on the order of the Lord. This in the eyes of the fundies would be called an idol but, surely it was not because the Lord advised it. No he did not advise it -- he commanded it . He said to fashion the snake and fix it to a pole and everyone that was bitten by one of the snakes that had gone through the camp biting people, were to look at the snake fixed to the pole and they would be healed. Now, it did not say to put the snake on the pole, then take it down and look at the pole. It said to look at the snake ON the pole. This is why I don't understand all the animosity towards the Catholics and the crucifix. We KNOW Jesus has risen but, we look upon him who they have pierced (check the Psalms)

Answer 6

Actually, when Moses and the Israelites were in the desert, some got sick. God told him to put up the snake statue and whoever looked at it would be healed. I think it is in Exodus. Anyways, some would say it is a parallel to Jesus' crucifixion. Now, in the Old Testament, God couldn't be represented by images, because no one knew what He looked like. Jesus, who is one Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, was the Living Word of God and became man. Since He became man, people could actually make images because some had seen Him.

Now, according to the Catholic Church, having images of the saints, of Jesus, of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and of the cross, is not a violation of the commandment, because when one sees the image, they automatically think of Jesus and God. Below is an answer to why there are images in the church.

Also, Jesus chose to die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sin. Why would you not want a reminder of His love for all of us?

Answer 7

not all worship the cross itself. the cross has become a symbol of Jesus, so they see the cross as a "link" to Jesus Himself, similar to how Catholics pray through saints. However, yes, the physical cross is an image, and cannot save nor is to be worshipped.

the cross has a significance "cursed is he who hangs on a tree", and I believe this is in Jeremiah, and Jesus of course took the sins (and curses) of the world upon Himself when He was being crucified.

so do I carry a corss around and pray to it? no. I just keep a relationship with the One who died on it.

Answer 8

Throughout the world, people universally regard the cross as THE symbol of Christianity. Churches have crosses atop their steeples, on their walls, windows and doors. Catholics and Protestants wear crosses on necklaces, bracelets, rings, pendants, keychains and items of clothing. People in some
churches "cross" themselves by touching the forehead,
breast, and then each shoulder to form a symbolic cross in carrying out certain religious rituals or in blessing themselves or others. Some think the sign of the cross to be effective in warding off evil spirits and for generally protecting
believers from harm."

The cross has been associated with torture and death and yet used as jewelry by some.

"For those men and women who wear a cross necklace, cross earrings or other crucifixion jewelry, if you think it adds
to your beauty, think again. For those who know what the cross really represents, do you really think your symbol of torture will help attract the opposite sex? " (From the book "History to consider" by Jim Walker )

"You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth"
Exodus 20:4
The cross is a carved image and is adored by many. It is a form of idolatry.

Answer 9

Most Christians view Christ's suffering in Gethsemane and His death upon the cross as the greatest act in history. Because He laid down His life and allowed himself to be killed, He could rise again and break the bonds of death. Because He died and was resurrected, everyone can live again in heaven, like He did. (Most Christians don't worship the cross, however. They treat the cross as a symbol, not an item of worship.)

Not all Chistians use the symbol of the cross, though. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints does not commonly use the symbol of the cross in its churches or media. As they state in their "True to the Faith" booklet, "Because the Savior lives, we do not use the symbol of His death as the symbol of our faith."

Answer 10

Christians do not worship the cross. The cross is used as a reminder of the sacrifices that were made by God. He sent His son to be crucified for our sins. Since Plan A did not work (When Eve ate from the forbidden tree), Plan B was put into effect (Jesus died for our sins) Seeing the cross reminds Christians that our God is a sacrificing God, willing to do anything to save us.