Christian symbols

Its a popular thing to wear a cross.
Why is that any different than wearing a crusifix? I can see the difference.. but Im talking about the logic behind preferring one above the other..

If you straight away think of the second commandment then how come a cross is acceptable and a crusifix isnt?

Who draws that line?

God right? Now why is it fine to have an image of Jesus on the wall or as a wallpaper on your PC, or a cross around your neck, but a crusifix is a problem?

Hi Gordy, welcome to CC!

The crucifix (note the correct spelling) is inappropriate as a Christian symbol because Jesus isn't still on the cross. He suffered and died, was buried, and rose again to life. The crucifix only represents His suffering and death, as though they continue perpetually... which is what the Catholic "church" teaches (whether overtly or not).

The cross, by itself, is a reminder that Jesus died and that He rose again.

The second commandment's primary issue is pagan idol worship; Israelites were not to make images of God to facilitate their worship. They were to treat Him differently than the pagans treat their 'gods'. Whether a crucifix is an idol is a matter of the individual's use of it; the same for a cross. Knowledgeable Christians don't kneel before either and pray to it, as though God is somehow in or on the object. Rightly used, a cross is simply a reminder.

Actually wearing a cross and have a crusifix is the same problem.
None of these things represent God's Word. We should incorporate God's word into our bones.
James 1:23
For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

1:Listening, believing, doing is faith.
2:Not wearing a cross and have a crusifix that is faith.
There is a huge difference between the two things.

A man who wears a cross does not means he believes in word of God.
Replacing the Lord with a material things is not the right way.
Replacing the word of God with a material things is not the right way.

Hope you can understand the difference.

Do you think the lord cares if we wear a reminder of what Jesus did for man dying for thier sins ?

air do you think he cares about how we live our life and treat other people in his honor ?

Whether we wear a cross or crucifix or no symbol at all would fall under the “ believe whatever you believe about it category because it’s insignificant

a if a person gets a crucifix and wears it to mock or something it’s what’s in thier hesrt that’s the issue while another person wearing the same wears it as a constant reminder how Jesus died for our sins

which is an image of Gods love for us

“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭KJV‬‬

sits what’s in us our intent that would make it ok or not okay.

We have to stop judging people by such things and also not let people judge us by such things. If a person feels it’s wrong to wear a cross or crucifix then they shouldn’t because it would violate thier belief and cause guilt

If someone loves thier cross necklace of crucifix necklace they should wear it because it’s not going to violate thier conscience and make them guilty

it’s the same for all Insignificant matters like is one day holt and the rest aren’t is one day special ? Or is one type of meat ok to eat and another isn’t ?

“One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. ( they disagree ) Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind. ( each needs to follow what they believe )

He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. ( it’s between a believer and Jesus )

He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭14:5-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

a see it’s not whether both agree that one day is special to God or all days are the same to him it’s what we believe about such matters.

If I believe I need to make one day a week special I need to don hat because it will corrupt my conscience if I don’t. Or if I believe eating certain food is wrong I need to heed that because it will make me guilty by my conscience if I eat something I believe is unclean to God

it’s the same with something like a necklace if I believe it’s a reminder that honors what Jesus did that’s what it is for me , if I believe wearing it is an offense to God then it’s going to offend my conscience because wearing it is going to make me think I’ve offended God

there are things we must believe and agree on and then there’s a lot of things we need to personally determine whether it’s okay or not

to see another wearing a cross and then judge them is only judging our self so we need to not do that

“But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, And every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭14:10-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

sat jusgement we’re only going to have to answer for what we have done and said not what others do and say and they also only have to answer and be concerned about what they do and say

When we start imposing our own personal beliefs on others it’s going to cause them to stumble so we want to
Make sure something is relevant tonthe whole before we contend for it

There's only a problem if we make one. Just wear a cross or not. Doesn't matter.

Not sure how to respond. I can't tell if you're asking questions or if you're making sideways statements by asking questions.

Crosses and crusifixes are just material or object reminders that are easy to wear or display.
They are simple tools for us. In times of struggle or doubt or anger having one of these tools are simple reminders of what Jesus did for us and thay we are his, so He will carry us through it.

I cannot, so please help me out with this.

The difference between a cross and a crucifix is that the cross doesnt have Jesus dying body on it but a crucifix does show this.

The plain cross is after Jesus body is gone or resurrected.

Catholics tend to wear crucifixes, non catholics are more inclined to wear crosses.
For some the danger of crucifix is that it can become an idol, even though its meant to represent Jesus.

I think its up to you whether you need to wear a reminder all the time on your person, some people wear wedding rings, some dont, some have tattoos, some dont.

For most people, a cross is like a reminder that Jesus died for us. Its often put on graves to mark them and signify hope in the resurection.

Most christians dont wear a cross actually but they may put a fish symbol on their car.

How did you arrive at this conclusion? BTW that is "crucifix" (with a "c") and shows Christ in agony on the cross. It is associated with the Catholic church. If you are not a Catholic do not concern yourself with that.

As to the wearing of crosses in jewelry, that is purely a man-made invention, probably to show how spiritual that person is (while it may be the exact opposite). Again, just ignore this tacky practice. Regarding outward show, Christ already condemned it when He spoke about fasting but not making an outward show of it. Or giving alms but not making an outward show.

Icons of the Cross are more popular in the East, including the Eastern Orthodox Churches. An Icon is 2-dimensional. A statue is 3-dimensional. Some people are comfortable with Icons but not Statues. It's a matter of your personal conscience imo. I'm Catholic. My Evangelical Christian relatives went to the Holy Land. They bought back, both for themselves and for me, a 2 dimensional Icon of Christ Crucified. I like it. They like it too. It reminds us that Christ suffered and died for us on the Cross.

Jesus Christ said in John 3: "14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life."

This verse imo authorizes images and even statues of the Crucified Christ. The bronze statue Moses lifted up signified Christ Crucified for our sins on the Cross. When the people looked upon that, they were healed. It's reasonable to interpret God wants not only Crosses, as for e.g. there are over Christian Hospitals, Christian places of the burial of the dead etc, but also Crucifixes that people may see an image of how much it cost God to redeem them. "A Picture is worth a 1000 words".

See also Galatians 3, which indicates there were Pictures/Icons of Christ Crucified in the Early Christian Community:

1O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified.

This issue was debate at the Second Council of Nicaea, which took place in 787 A.D., shortly after the rise of Islamism. Islamism attacked Christianity falsely saying Christian icons for remembrance were "idols" of false gods. Such an opinion had never been heard of before. At the Council, one Bishop said, even the painting of Abraham sacrificing his son moved him to tears, whereas the words alone did not. How much more then will paintings of Christ Crucified move Christians to tears of repentance from a contrite heart in contemplation of the God Who became Flesh (unlike in Islam) and died for us.

Some Icons of Jesus:






God Bless.

There’s a difference between wearing an object and worshiping an object. I wear a cross as a silent witness to people around me that I believe in Jesus Christ.

@Dino246 and @Lanolin say it perfectly. A crucifix primarily depicts Jesus’ suffering whereas a cross primarily depicts His Resurrection. Our focus influences how we walk through life; being afraid of God or rejoicing in His love.

It is no different. It's not the cross that means you're a believer, it's you that means you're a believer.

You’re overlooking the words “silent witness.”

On edit:
There is a monumental difference between wearing an object and worshipping an object.

You're a good man, Snacks.

Oyster wears a fish on his bumper.

Great minds; one Spirit. 😊