Why the Cross?

[KyleX0rz]

Why do we as Christians use the crucifix as a symbol for christianity? It was a means to kill many people in the time of the romans....Jesus did die for us on a cross..but I also think what if Jesus died by a hand gun, would we use a hand gun as a symbol for us? What about an electric chair? I don't find it appropriate we use it..

Is there any verses in the bible saying that christian should use it to represent us?

[Hitch]

The soiled rough wood of the Cross speaks to the criminal's death we all deserve and the criminal's death the King of Glory sufferred on our behalf.

It is ,as you noted, the historical method of the breaking of his body, which is directly associated with the Gratitude, therefore the perfect symbol of our humilty before God and our identification with Christ as His servant even unto death.

[Hitch]

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suffering and shame;
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.



So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.



In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.



To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.




When I was a boy it wasnt uncommon to hear this fine old hymn and maybe even the Lord's Prayer on primetime television, all in one week.

[KyleX0rz]

The soiled rough wood of the Crosss speaks to the criminal's death we all deserve and the criminal's death the King of Glory sufferred on our behalf.

It is ,as you noted, the historical meathod of the breaking of his body, which is directly associated with the Gratitude, therefore the perfect symbol of our humilty before God and our identification with Christ as His servant even unto death.
Isn't that kind of sadistic? Christ died for our sins, When we use the cross as a symbol for our belief I think its depressing...and thats not what christianity is about...there has to be a better symbol for christians instead of a method of torture

[Anoetos]

For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, -1 Cor 1:22-23

And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 1 Cor. 2:1-2

Being Protestant, I have a problem with crucifixes if they are worshiped, adored, etc. But as a symbol of the single, sole instrument of our salvation, I treasure the image.

This is a deep mystery that God would not spare His only Son but gave Him up to be a sacrifice for us. That He was killed a rebellious slave's death (imaging our own deserving of just such a punishment for being rebellious subjects and servants of an all Holy God.)

The crucifixion of Christ is the nexus of grace and sin. It is where we meet our Savior most truly, for here we are clothed with His righteousness while He, in turn, takes upon Himself all our sin even becoming sin for us.

Paul said he purposed to preach only Christ and Him crucified. He could never get beyond it. Do a quick search at biblegateway on the words "cross", "crucified" and "crucify" and you will see that this image of our Savior dying on a tree pervades everything he wrote. The passages I use here are but three of, literally, dozens.

That some Christians should choose to carry this image with them as a sign of their identity, bears eloquent testimony to the power of this truth, that "the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (-1 Cor. 1:18)

[Hitch]

Isn't that kind of sadistic? Christ died for our sins, When we use the cross as a symbol for our belief I think its depressing...and thats not what christianity is about...there has to be a better symbol for christians instead of a method of torture It is a shame you dont understand that this is the only entrance to the Kingdom, the place every man must pass, from the greatest to the least.

[Richbee]

If Jesus had been killed twenty years ago, Catholic school children would be wearing little electric chairs around their necks instead of crosses. ~ Lenny Bruce ~

[KyleX0rz]

1 Cornthians 1:17-19

18For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.



That verse in paticular did make things a bit clearer..I still though don't really like the cross as a symbol for my belief.

hmmm I'll look into it more

[KyleX0rz]

It is a shame you dont understand that this is the only entrance to the Kingdom, the place every man must pass, from the greatest to the least. The cross is the only way to heaven? I thought Jesus was the only way to heaven not the instrument of death that killed Jesus.

[Anoetos]

The cross is the only way to heaven? I thought Jesus was the only way to heaven not the instrument of death that killed Jesus.

Inasmuch as the only way to heaven is by being saved from wrath, and since the only means by which that wrath has been turned aside is by the suffering and death of Jesus, the cross is very much the way to heaven, though it must be admitted that it means nothing without our Lord having died upon it..

To put it another way, we are saved by Christ's work in dying for us. Therefore that death was valuable and without it we could not have peace with God. Therefore the means of that death is effectual unto our salvation.

And to put it still another way, Christ came to save sinners and He did that by dying for them on a Cross, therefore His work is inseparable from the means by which He accomplished it. We ought not to separate the Gospel from blood.

[Hitch]

Inasmuch as the only way to heaven is by being saved from wrath, and since the only means by which that wrath has been turned aside is by the suffering and death of Jesus, the cross is very much the way to heaven, though it must be admitted that it means nothing without our Lord having died upon it..

To put it another way, we are saved by Christ's work in dying for us. Therefore that death was valuable and without it we could not have peace with God. Therefore the means of that death is effectual unto our salvation.

And to put it still another way, Christ came to save sinners and He did that by dying for them on a Cross, therefore His work is inseparable from the means by which He accomplished it. We ought not to separate the Gospel from blood.Yup. And it would be foolish to think the Cross , specificly, was not as much a part of the plan as was Abe, Moshe and Dave.