Someone told me that by hanging a cross on my rearview mirror that I am worshipping an object and not Christ?

Question

I was in a recent car accident, and I had a cross hanging on my rearview mirror, everything was destroyed except for where I was sitting, everything to the right of the cross was crushed and everything behind me was crushed by a semi truck.

Admittedly I am not extremely religious, I do believe in Christ, and I do go to church...probably not as often as I should have. But this person told me that by having a cross in my car it's like I am worshipping an object and not Christ. Could someone explain this? Or perhaps I interperated it wrong.

To any athiest who happen to read this, please don't rant on about how my beliefs are wrong. I respect your beliefs, and wouldn't impose my beliefs on anyone, so I ask that you respect mine.

Wow, such good answers. Thanks everyone

Answer 1

You are the one who knows. If the cross is a symbol or reminder to you, that's not worship. If you attribute supernatural powers to it , as a lucky charm so to speak, I would consider that "too close for comfort".

As a side note, there are a lot of people who have been influenced - directy or indirecty - by Alexander Hislop, a 19th century clergyman who published a book called The Two Babylons. The book supposedly proves that just about everything you can think of in Christianity, was pagan in origin and adopted by the Catholic church, including the symbol of the cross. (Hislop has been largely discredited by scholars, but his writing continues to influence a lot of gullible people who don't bother checking on the accuracy of what he wrote. )

Answer 2

I am glad you were spared more serious injury.

Whoever said this to you is mistaken and does not understand. Keep your cross. You know that the cross is not a god. Having a symbol and reminder of God's love is not wrong.

The person who said that probably has pictures of their friends and families at home and on walls or somewhere in their house. Does anyone ever say to them, they are worshipping their friends and family. Of course not.

Lots of people have different things hanging from the rear view mirror. Does anyone every say that someone is worshipping a fuzzy dice or a trinket? Of course not. Keep your cross.

Answer 3

Many Christians use the cross as a representation of their belief in Christ's sacrifice on their behalf.

Personally, I don't wear a cross, or have one anywhere amongst my possessions. I am well aware of Christ's sacrifice on my behalf, and my most precious possession is my Bible. I've had it since about 1985. Its cover is worn from much handling. Its pages have notes written in corners, verses underlined and highlighted, etc.

The reason why you may have been told that you are worshipping an object may be because many people erroneously endow that piece of molded metal (or plastic) with supernatural powers. They feel as if being in possession of it protects them. THAT type of thinking is what is referred to as 'object worship' or 'idol worship' in this case.

If you have in any way made inferrences that this cross you have protected you in that car accident, then those comments of yours is what has drawn those kinds of responses. Do you get what I'm trying to say? Does this answer your question?

~Z :-)

Answer 4

In the mid 16th century a man named Luther popularized the belief that icons (crosses, statues, etc.) were 'idols' and thus against what the Bible believed in. This is just one of the many criticisms Luther and others like him had against the Catholic Church at the time. This and much more lead to the Reformation, which lead to entire wing of Christianity known as Protestantism and all of it's sects.
The person who told you that is probably a Protestant, most likely a Lutheran, as they are usually the only Protestants who actually say things like that anymore.

Answer 5

I'm not a christain Chigga but I'm a religious person and i feel that there is just one god any form u worship ur prayers just reach GOD so if u worship or bow in front of a cross it doesn't mean ur worshipping the cross but it simply means ur praying to that invisible entity we call GOD. Jesus was a representative from the mighty lord who came down to make people aware of the almighty and he just wanted people to understand love and equality, but sadly people r not so intelligent and end up fighting with the backbone of religion, culture, color, etc etc....

When u say Jesus ur calling upon the lords representative who is forever there for us no matter wat, u worship any form or shape but wat signifies ur faith is ur voice calling out to god in general. The cross is the symbol where jesus was hung up jesus never designed the cross himself but it was the almighty who put the thot in the people, for it wud definately become a significant symbol in the lives of people for the decades which wud passby and thus today if u c in every christains house u'd find a cross or some symbol which wud direct it towards Jesus Christ.

I belive in god so for me Jesus is also god in a different form. Likewise anything u worship if thereby u end up taking the lords name ur worshipping the lord himself.

Take the cross in ur cars rearview mirror to be the angel in disguise, a representative of the almighty who was there for ur safety on the lords command, I'd say all will be clear to u then. It'a our faith and it's our love for the God which helps us, the deeds we do makes up our life shaping it accordingly.

I don't like to impose myself on anyone just the way u said for simple reason, God comes with faith and love he never comes with persuasion or doubt. God makes his presence felt with love only, only it takes for mere humans to understand it thus making the process slow.

Newayz I'd say ask ur heart, if u felt the cross was something which had ur faith and complete love then rest assured it indeed saved u. Ur heart will be ur better judge Chigga.

Answer 6

Having a symbol that reminds you of the sacrifice Jesus made to pay for your sins is not worshiping the object. Perhaps you might want to remind the person of this passage from the Bible that applies to disputable matters like having a cross hanging in your car.

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. 5 One person esteems one day as better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 The one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. The one who eats, eats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to God, while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to God.

Answer 7

When an object becomes more important than God then it is idol worship. God knows your heart and if you use the cross to remind yourself of the act of love God did for you then He knows and it is not a problem. Many would like to remove Jesus and any symbols of His love for us from society because they are following their father satan.

Answer 8

Do you pray to your crucifix? Do you praise it and worship it? Probably not. I think that most Christians like to have crucifixes because they remind them that Christ died on the cross for them(and everyone else as well!). Personally, it reminds me how very much Jesus must love us,and I am comforted and humbled.And thankful!

Answer 9

If you worship this object than you are sinning,
I do not worship crosses but they are a symbol of God's sacrifice to man and a sign of the greatest victory ever, the victory over sin and death.

Answer 10

Whoever told you that was wrong. Having a cross, whether hanging from your rearview mirror or from around your neck, is not worshipping it. It is a symbol that displays your faith.