I am a christian, I believe in Christ Jesus and the Bible as the inspired book. My question: why do we put crosses in our church buildings? Do we believe in the Risen Christ or the one still Hanging on the cross? #constructive
Discussion
51 comments
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It’s jst a symbolic representation to the ppl to remind the death of Jesus on the cross !
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A church building that shows a statue of Jesus still hanging on the cross, is portraying a dead Jesus and I would not attend church services there, but pray for those people. I think it is in first or second Corinthians where Paul says, paraphrasing, “the cross of Christ is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is The power of God unto salvation! “ It is our reminder of the price he paid for our sin debt!
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Only my thoughts. But I look at the rainbow made for God so the He would remember His promise of not drowning the world by flood. The cross is I believe for us so we do not forget what He did and why, not because He was guilty but because He was innocent and we are guilty and deserving of that cross. But because He paid for our adoption and our ransom with His blood. It is to continue to remind us all what He has done for us even though we do not deserve it. The cross is God’s Grace for us all.
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I am of the opinion that wearing some super fancy rendition of a cross as earrings or a necklace, is counterproductive to his humility and his sacrifice . A lot of false christians or lukewarm Christians wear it as some sort of status symbol or I don’t know what. A lot of celebrities also wear renditions of the cross that are actually the satanic cross thereby causing confusion to young or would-be Christians . We need to be HOT for His TRUTH and stop being scared to lose our lives, jobs or families for Him. He comes FIRST!!!! ??❤️?
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Both. The empty cross represents the victory over death. The one with Jesus on it represents the victory over sin. It’s like a reminder for what He did for us.
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How many of you remembers Jesus by partaking in the communion of the bread and wine?
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I am Southern Baptist. We have a cross at the top of church steeple as well as inside the sanctuary. We do not, however, have any graven images. The cross is empty and so is the tomb! So why do we put the crosses on and inside our building?
For us, the cross is the intersection of God’s love and His justice. Jesus Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The reference to Jesus as the Lamb of God points back to the institution of the Jewish Passover in Exodus 12. The Israelites were commanded to sacrifice an unblemished lamb and smear the blood of that lamb on the doorposts of their homes. The blood would be the sign for the Angel of Death to “pass over” that house, leaving those covered by blood in safety. When Jesus came to John to be baptized, John recognized Him and cried, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29), thereby identifying Him and God’s plan for Him to be sacrificed for sin.
One might ask why Jesus had to die in the first place. This is the over-arching message of the Bible—the story of redemption. God created the heavens and the earth, and He created man and woman in His image and placed them in the Garden of Eden to be His stewards on the earth. However, due to the temptations of Satan (the serpent), Adam and Eve sinned and fell from God’s grace. Furthermore, they have passed the curse of sin on to their children so that everyone inherits their sin and guilt. God the Father sent his one and only Son into the world to take on human flesh and to be the Savior of His people. Born of a virgin, Jesus avoided the curse of the fall that infects all other human beings. As the sinless Son of God, He could provide the unblemished sacrifice that God requires. God’s justice demanded judgment and punishment for sin; God’s love moved Him to send His one and only Son to be the propitiation for sin.
Because of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice on the cross, those who place their faith and trust in Him alone for salvation are guaranteed eternal life (John 3:16). However, Jesus called His followers to take up their cross and follow Him (Matthew 16:24). This concept of “cross-bearing” today has lost much of its original meaning. Typically, we use “cross-bearing” to denote an inconvenient or bothersome circumstance (e.g., “my troubled teen is my cross to bear”). However, we must keep in mind that Jesus is calling His disciples to engage in radical self-denial. The cross meant only one thing to a 1st-century person—death. “Whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it” (Matthew 16:25). Galatians reiterates this theme of death of the sinful self and rising to walk in new life through Christ: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
There are places in the world where Christians are being persecuted, even to the point of death, for their faith. They know what it means to carry their cross and follow Jesus in a very real way. For those of us who are not being persecuted in such fashion, our job is still to remain faithful to Christ. Even if we are never called to give the ultimate sacrifice, we must be willing to do so out of love for the One who saved us and gave His life for us.
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The only crosses that Christ is still on is that if Catholics. Christian crosses are empty.
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Jesus said to take up our cross and follow him, I think of it as a reminder of that
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The empty cross pictures the risen Christ.
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Crosses are the greatest signs of Christianity. That’s where the Mission was accomplished. Remove the Cross, the Christianity, like ALL other religions, philosophies, traditions, is empty!
HOWEVER, the crucifixes are religiously demonic items, subtly mocking a jesus that remains on the cross and was never buried talk less of resurrecting.
Jesus of the Bible has resurrected, Hallelujah! -
Jesus is alive. He is not on a cross.
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The cross speaks of what Christ has done. The early church use the fish.
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Both the crucifixion and the resurrection are vital aspects of Christian belief, but forgiveness through Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is arguably the most important, and powerful.
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Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 25 For whoever would save his life[a] will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
I think it’s quite simple. Follow Jesus and take your cross with you, i think this is why it’s so important for us to have the cross as a representation of the risen Christ and not one that’s crucified. It just simply gives a mixed understanding of your belief.
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Well some churches portray just a cross. Some portray a cross with him still on it. I would suggest you research the difference between the two, because each example has a different understanding and meaning. Im not going to say why as I don’t want to be in a theological debate all day with folks over it. This is something that can be found easily with your own research.
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I obviously have no idea why ppl do that but it could be a Symbol of our hope : god as justifier of the unjust willing to take on your punishment to bring you into the way. Executed in a way that shook the faith of even some of his closest freinds.
Finally god made a point to tell of the curse of hanging on a tree so it might not be wrong to try and use images to remind us most importantly because it is that central confession that we that we can overcome it’s the mark of a new covenant though the lords super is probably sufficient
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I believe he did both he died on the cross and rose again. He is risen by way of the cross.
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I am fine with and like both. They each are powerful.
One is representative of the deed and agony Jesus went through and the other empty one; God’s ressurection power.
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The cross is a symbol representing Christ and His Crucification. I have seen both in churches but I like seeing the empty cross, it represents to me…Christ has risen, he no longer hangs on a cross, He suffered enough and now sits at the right hand of The Father.
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The cross is the Sign of new covenant.
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We don’t worship the one hanging on the cross. We have a cross but it’s empty. Jesus did not remain on the cross, neither in the tomb.
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The death on the cross covers sin. The resurrection from the tomb conquers death. You can not have the tomb without the cross.
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The cross in itself is very significant in most denominations, the empty tomb speaks more of a resounding victory for the way, in the life of the Apostles
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Probably from residual culture from Constantine. “In hoc signo vinces”.
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The image of the cross is to serve as a reminder of what was done by God for us. However, The cross itself is not to be worshiped.
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I think the cross is a reminder what has been done for us. I personally see no reason though, true believers don’t need to be reminded, we live by faith in Christ every day all day. I personally think in some cases, especially in Catholic Church, cross has been turned into idolatry
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The answer to the op is rooted in what St. Paul taught the Church at Corinth:
“For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2).
Obviously St. Paul believed in a risen Christ, he met Him, and so what he is saying is that the only way to know the risen Christ is by first knowing Him through the cross.
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Christians show an empty cross. It denotes the atonement for our sins is complete. The One Who hung on the cross is risen and seated at the right hand of The Father.
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Crucifix – on cross. Plain cross – risen, I would think.
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There’s a difference between a cross and a crucifix. Our church displays an empty cross that reminds us the work of Christ is finished. Not a crucifix that keeps Him on the cross.
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Idolatry. Holding on to pagan roots
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The cross (without Jesus hanging on it) is just a symbol and reminder of His resurrection and redemption. The crucifixion (that shows Jesus still hanging on a cross) although that did happen, it doesn’t symbolize or invoke the message of the resurrection (risen Jesus).
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No reason to put a cross, I personally think It’s a graven image.
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There is absolutely nothing wrong with putting crosses in church buildings. It doesn’t reduce the Christianity of Believers. The cross is a heritage of Christianity and reminds every Believer of the price Jesus Christ paid to redeem us from the shackles of hell. I hope you haven’t forgotten this scripture “do this in remembrance of me”.
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Truthfully, we basically make the cross into an idol. We should be focused on Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, not the cross itself.
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Crosses on churches started appearing on house churches when Constantine was converted to Christianity. To distinguish Christian from Pagan assemblies which were becoming outlawed.
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A reminder if what He did for us
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I don’t believe there is anything wrong with having a cross in the Church as long as Christ isn’t hanging on it..
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We believe in the risen savior but the work was done and accomplished on the cross.
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Come on Fredrick!
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We preach Christ crucified as St. Paul says. The crucifix displays the power of His sacrifice. Love
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There are Churches that do not display the cross on or inside of their buildings! Especially those with Jesus Christ on them, because no one really knows what he looked like, so that’s an engraven image, that’s an idol!
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Well my church has one and no one is hanging on it, it is a symbolic of Him no longer being on the cross and He is risen
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The “empty” cross was adopted by protestants in answer to the catholic cross with Jesus still on it due to many, not all, catholics who believe that Christ is still accomplishing His work on the cross.
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Cross is a symbol of crucifixion but statues are idols.
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Both symbols are appropriate. One reminds us of Good Friday. The other reminds us of Easter Sunday.
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The empty cross is symbol of our Christian faith.
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Good question. We seem to glorify the cross more than the risen saviour why?
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If you notice. In Christian buildings where the Chruch worships. Jesus is not on the cross. In the false religions of Roman Catholicism and the Orthodox. Jesus is on the cross. The cross is a symbol and reminder that Jesus suffered and died on the cross.
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