Catholics and Protestants is that many Catholic crosses have an image of Jesus hanging on them, while Protestant crosses are empty. (The cross with Christ on it is a crucifix.) More important is that the cross and the crucifix represent two very different understandings of Christ's atonement for sin. Both Catholics and evangelical Protestants believe that Christ died to pay the penalty for sin. The difference is that Protestants believe that Christ's work was finished on the cross, and Catholics believe it continues.
For Catholics, the appearance of Christ on the crucifix represents the fact that Christ's atoning work is still going on.
For Protestants, the empty cross demonstrates that Christ's sacrificial work is completed, and there is no more sacrifice for sin.
Some believe that those images help them to see God in various forms. Native Americans saw the great spirit's strength when they looked at eagles, wisdom when they saw an owl.
When God said not to have images it's because He wants nothing between Him and His people. Not an earthly projection of a small bit of who He is.
__________________
Hypocracy:
to conform outwardly
to traditions set by 'elders'
for which there isn't
an inward respect
of the tradition.
Some believe that those images help them to see God in various forms. Native Americans saw the great spirit's strength when they looked at eagles, wisdom when they saw an owl.
When God said not to have images it's because He wants nothing between Him and His people. Not an earthly projection of a small bit of who He is.
During Reformation, some early Protestant reformers were very cautious about images of Christ. Crosses are frequent in places of worship, but these reformers believed that using images of God in worship was a violation of the second commandment.
In the words of Fr. Benedict Groeshel on why Catholics have the Crucifix:
"All of us has a Cross to carry, none of us knows what it's like to be risen from the dead."
Or something like that.
Are there really no crucifixes in Protestant churches?
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Hope! The fault of many Christians of our day is to hope too little. They believe that every battle and every obstacle will be the downfall of the Church. They are the apostles in the boat during the storm: they forget that the Savior is with them.~Bl. Frederic Ozanam
During Reformation, some early Protestant reformers were very cautious about images of Christ. Crosses are frequent in places of worship, but these reformers believed that using images of God in worship was a violation of the second commandment.
Really? Just during the reformation
__________________
Hypocracy:
to conform outwardly
to traditions set by 'elders'
for which there isn't
an inward respect
of the tradition.
Linear Mode
