Cross or Crucifix

[Always in His Presence]

Growing up in the Roman Catholic Church the Crucifix was always the symbol we had in the home. After leaving the church and becoming Pentecostal, now it is a Cross.

Which do you choose, and why.

Let's show our good Christian attitude and take jabs at each other.

For me - I choose the Cross, because I view it like I view the empty tomb - the Risen Savior.

 

[ViaCrucis]

The plain Latin cross is primarily a "simplified" crucifix. Christianity has a long history of different cruciform symbols with various degrees of meaning.

One could see the use of a plain Latin cross as a vacant cross--the Son of God taken down from the cross, laid in the tomb, and having risen from the dead. And that is a beautiful symbol. I love that symbolism.

The crucifix specifically calls our mind to Christ's passion and death, His work of atonement. Which is why it often features prominently in Lutheran contexts as Lutherans see ourselves as "Cross people". Luther once said in his 28 Theses of the Heidelberg Disputations that a true theologian does not understand God in His invisible qualities of glory, power, and wisdom; but in His visible revelation: In the Incarnate Jesus Christ who suffered and died for us. To know God in God's suffering on the cross is the mark of a true theologian: I.e. God is not defined chiefly in abstract concepts, but rather is defined by Himself in His Word Incarnate, in the Incarnate Person of Jesus Christ our Lord.

In the East a more common symbol is the Christus Rex:

The Risen, Glorified Christ superimposed on the cross showing His victory over death and the grave. Christ is King, the King who rose and has conquered sin, death, hell, and the devil and is ascended and seated at the right hand of the Father. The Crucified-Risen King who lives forever.

All of these are beautiful symbols of Christian faith. Though I do admit that the traditional western crucifix is often what resonates most deeply with me--as I am drawn visually into meditation and contemplation over the Savior's loving Self-offering of Himself for me, a wretch and sinner. That I do not know God in power or wisdom, in sagacious philosophy and human reason, but rather I know God in Christ Crucified. He died for me, an ugly unlovely sinner, deserving of death and hell.

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 - 2:1-5

 

[PloverWing]

I have both, and my parish displays both in different parts of the church building. The crucifix is, for me, a powerful image of the Incarnation, God taking on humanness in all the pain that that entails. The cross is a little more abstract, an image that's a little easier to look at on a daily basis, but still a reminder of the pain of the Incarnation and the risks of the life to which we are called.

If I'm looking for an image of the resurrection, probably the Christus Rex image is the best one for me. (My parish church has one of those as well, hanging in the narthex.)

 

[d taylor]

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I believe Jesus and not a cross or crucifix.

 

[Philip_B]

Both

 

[concretecamper]

1 Cor 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified: unto the Jews indeed a stumbling block, and unto the Gentiles foolishness:

 

[zelosravioli]

I am moved by paintings and such of the crucifixion, at rare times even moved to tears, like during an Easter play. But seeing the crucifix too often is not good I feel. It does become ordinary after awhile and then even odd. Primarily bcse His death was only one moment of His life - the rest of His ministry and His current life with us, and our future life with Him, I think of Him as alive, my God, my friend, so it makes the crucifixion out of place sometimes.

Also we don't really know what Jesus looks like, and it strikes me as a image of God would. Jesus is too great to be understood as only an image or carving of someone's imagination.

 

[peter2]

Growing up in the Roman Catholic Church the Crucifix was always the symbol we had in the home. After leaving the church and becoming Pentecostal, now it is a Cross.

Which do you choose, and why.

Let's show our good Christian attitude and take jabs at each other.

For me - I choose the Cross, because I view it like I view the empty tomb - the Risen Savior.

Never thought over this. Thank you for the thread. i use indifferently both

 

[Xeno.of.athens]

At home I have one wall crucifix, it was a gift at my confirmation from the parish's deacon. It is a Saint Benedict crucifix.

I have two rosaries which each have a small crucifix.

I have a Cross which was also a gift at my confirmation, it is a simple wooden cross without varnish or inscription (though the base upon which it stands has a small metal plate with the date on it).

I also have two small crosses with silver chains which could be called Jewellery, not expensive Jewellery because they cost no more than $10 each with their chains included in the price.

My parish's church buildings have crosses or crucifixes in nearly every room, and the church building has a large metal cross incorporated in the architecture.

But in terms of its meaning for me, I love the cross and the crucifix both, one as a sign of Christ and Christianity, the other of Christ crucified which is for me in the deepest sanctuary of my heart in the faith. Brother @ViaCrucis offered a beautiful explanation which I cannot add to, so I gladly and thankfully refer to it.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Growing up in the Roman Catholic Church the Crucifix was always the symbol we had in the home. After leaving the church and becoming Pentecostal, now it is a Cross.

Which do you choose, and why.

Let's show our good Christian attitude and take jabs at each other.

For me - I choose the Cross, because I view it like I view the empty tomb - the Risen Savior.

How was your salvation won? Christ dying on the cross. An empty cross is not like an empty tomb, it is simply a cruel and torturous instrument of death.

Who is it that we worship? According to St. Paul, it is Christ crucified!

The Crucifix has been around long before Protestantism tried to sanitize Christianity by rejecting the Sacraments and discarding Christianity's ancient symbolism in the crucifix.

 

[Always in His Presence]

Christ was crucified for our sins - and rose for our righteousness.

To me - the cross is the symbol of Christ conquering death and the grave.

First Century depictions in the Greek catacombs were simple crosses known as Staurogram

That is the oldest symbolism - not the crucifix.

The first known public depictions of the Crucifix emerged in the 5th century:

• An ivory panel from the Maskell Passion Ivories (British Museum, ca. 420–430 AD) shows a narrative crucifixion scene.
• The wooden doors of the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome (ca. 430–432 AD) include a relief panel widely regarded as the earliest public portrayal of Jesus crucified (flanked by the two thieves, with arms outstretched and no signs of suffering).

 

[concretecamper]

Christ was crucified for our sins - and rose for our righteousness.

To me - the cross is the symbol of Christ conquering death and the grave.

First Century depictions in the Greek catacombs were simple crosses known as Staurogram

That is the oldest symbolism - not the crucifix.

The first known public depictions of the Crucifix emerged in the 5th century:

• An ivory panel from the Maskell Passion Ivories (British Museum, ca. 420–430 AD) shows a narrative crucifixion scene.
• The wooden doors of the Basilica of Santa Sabina in Rome (ca. 430–432 AD) include a relief panel widely regarded as the earliest public portrayal of Jesus crucified (flanked by the two thieves, with arms outstretched and no signs of suffering).

1 Cor 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified: unto the Jews indeed a stumbling block, and unto the Gentiles foolishness:

 

[peter2]

How was your salvation won? Christ dying on the cross. An empty cross is not like an empty tomb, it is simply a cruel and torturous instrument of death.

Who is it that we worship? According to St. Paul, it is Christ crucified!

The Crucifix has been around long before Protestantism tried to sanitize Christianity by rejecting the Sacraments and discarding Christianity's ancient symbolism in the crucifix.

Hello mark, and other contributors.

Thank you, Always in his presence, for this thread.
Best late than never : i never questionned myself on this issue, worshipping with both symbols indistinctively.
Thank you CF for allowing me this questionning.

The testimony i can give is : it didn't prevented me from recovering faith, after about 10-15 years of indetermination that started about at my 13 yo

 

[Always in His Presence]

I don't worship symbols or icons - I worship God.

No one is saying we don't preach Christ Crucified. No one is saying that the Death, burial and resurrection (the atonement) is not central to our faith.

It was just a simple question.

 

[peter2]

To me - the cross is the symbol of Christ conquering death and the grave.

my first reaction would be to think the cross might be the symbol of any of the 2 malefactors as well.
But you may say the crucifix also.
What makes Jesus distinctive is the crown of thorns

 

[Hentenza]

Personally I use the cross because it reminds me of Christ sacrifice and His resurrection which ushered in the new covenant and the gospel of good news.

 

[concretecamper]

I don't worship symbols or icons - I worship God.

No one is saying we don't preach Christ Crucified. No one is saying that the Death, burial and resurrection (the atonement) is not central to our faith.

It was just a simple question.

And a simple answer

1 Cor 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified: unto the Jews indeed a stumbling block, and unto the Gentiles foolishness:

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I don't worship symbols or icons - I worship God.

No one is saying we don't preach Christ Crucified. No one is saying that the Death, burial and resurrection (the atonement) is not central to our faith.

It was just a simple question.

Simple question, yet, you seem to take issue with my short answer.

I don't worship symbols or icons either, I worship one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

The crucifix and Icons on our altars, in our stained glass, on our walls, the ones we wear around our necks are like family photos, they remind us of what is important; our Lord who suffered and died for me and all mankind, in my place. Pagans worship idols, Christians do not. Holy images are worship aids and teaching tools. If the images make us uncomfortable, good, they should, because we are all fallen, poor miserable sinners that can do nothing to save our selves. Faith is not about what we do (because no matter what we try to do, we fall short of the demands of the law) Christ's sacrifice is the only action that was adequate to cover all my sins, your sins, and the sins of everyone now living, those who have passed, and those yet to be conceived.

Praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ!

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

my first reaction would be to think the cross might be the symbol of any of the 2 malefactors as well.
But you may say the crucifix also.
What makes Jesus distinctive is the crown of thorns

I have a beautiful antique (Victorian) Crucifix on my wall, I found it in a Funeral Home I owned and operated.
I will see if I can post a picture, but I have been having issues with CF and Photos lately.

It shows our Lord on the cross before His death; He is looking to heaven, with the first two fingers on His right hand raised as though giving a benediction. When I look upon it, I hear him giving holy absolution to me saying: Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.

 

[Always in His Presence]

And a simple answer

1 Cor 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified: unto the Jews indeed a stumbling block, and unto the Gentiles foolishness:

We agree

Simple question, yet, you seem to take issue with my short answer.

Did you take exception with my showing the cross was used over 100 years before the crucifix?