Why don’t Protestants like the Crucifix, and some the cross

Ceallaigh · Dec 23, 2022

FenderTL5 said:
First and to be clear I'm not disagreeing with you. I do wonder which groups you refer to that do not seem to want to “preach Christ crucified.”

All of the Protestant groups I was associated with (for almost 50 years) preached Penal Substitutionary Atonment, which emphasized Christ's death on the cross to the point of making His Resurrection almost superfluous and unnecessary to the Gospel. It was just an extra hoo-rah.
I've said it often, by contrast I never celebrated the Resurrection until I became Orthodox.
Which makes the thread topic even more puzzling. In those circles, one would think depictions of their view of the Atonement (a crucified Christ) would be more acceptable than a mere cross.
fwiw, I wear an Orthodox Cross around my neck. I have a crucifix as a reminder on the rearview in my car. Our churches depict both.

In my own experience I remember having it explained as a boy at Easter time that the symbol empty cross was used to emphasize the Resurrection.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" Luke 24:5-6

Ceallaigh · Dec 23, 2022

Strong in Him said:
Preaching Christ crucified is not the same as wearing a cross with an image of a crucified Christ on it.
Some may wear a crucifix as a fashion accessory and not even follow Christ.

FenderTL5 · Dec 23, 2022

MMXX said:
In my own experience I remember having it explained as a boy at Easter time that the symbol empty cross was used to emphasize the Resurrection.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!" Luke 24:5-6

Same here. fwiw, the same happens in Orthodox Churches as we progress through Holy Week.
What is typically a crucifix behind the alter remains empty several weeks after Pascha (thru Pentecost I think).
My point was that given the emphasis of Penal Substitutionary Atonement on the crucifixion, one would kinda' sorta' expect that to be more readily depicted (not that it is or must be).

Margaret3110 · Dec 23, 2022

I'm Protestant and I don't have a problem with crucifixes.

Daniel Peres · Dec 23, 2022

MMXX said:
Visual aids is a good point as they were used, especially in stained glass illustrations, for the many who were illiterate way back when. I've heard the message that "Christ died for your sins" quite prolifically from Protestants my whole life. And it seems to me that when I encounter that message on TV or radio, or in a tract, or from someone out the street, it's being proclaimed by Protestants. It seems to me that Catholics keep it within the church, instead of taking the message to the airwaves and out into the streets.

I think it’s inaccurate that Catholics don’t take the message to the air waves and the streets. I think both Protestants and Catholics do a good job evangelizing.

You are correct that Protestants always say Jesus died for our sins, but at the same time I also hear many claim Catholics don’t realize Jesus is no longer on the cross.

Ceallaigh · Dec 23, 2022

FenderTL5 said:
Same here. fwiw, the same happens in Orthodox Churches as we progress through Holy Week.
What is typically a crucifix behind the alter remains empty several weeks after Pascha (thru Pentecost I think).
My point was that given the emphasis of Penal Substitutionary Atonement on the crucifixion, one would kinda' sorta' expect that to be more readily depicted (not that it is or must be).

I see what you mean.

Lost4words · Dec 23, 2022

For me, the crucifix is a very strong reminder of what Jesus went through for us all.

Its good to turn to the crucifix and remember that.

Ceallaigh · Dec 23, 2022

Daniel Peres said:
I think it’s inaccurate that Catholics don’t take the message to the air waves and the streets. I think both Protestants and Catholics do a good job evangelizing.

From a purely personal perspective, I don't know the name of a single Catholic evangelist. Or put another way, I don't know of a well known Catholic evangelist.

Daniel Peres said:
You are correct that Protestants always say Jesus died for our sins, but at the same time I also hear many claim Catholics don’t realize Jesus is no longer on the cross.

I'm sure there are a lot of inaccurate statements made by Protestants regarding Catholics, and by Catholics regarding Protestants.

Clare73 · Dec 23, 2022

Daniel Peres said:
The issue of when crucifixes began to be used is an issue that I would understand for Protestants who confuse the use of visual aids with idolatry. I guess I am more confused by the more mainstream Protestants who, unlike Paul, do not seem to want to “preach Christ crucified.”

"Mainstream" Protestants do preach Christ crucified. They call it the gospel.

Clare73 · Dec 23, 2022

MMXX said:

Your image represents Heb 6:19.

Ceallaigh · Dec 23, 2022

Clare73 said:
Your image represents Heb 6:19.

Ah interesting. Although the diamond bling was more behind my posting that image in response to Strong in Him saying many probably just wear one as a fashion accessory.

Ceallaigh · Dec 23, 2022

Pope Francis wears an interesting version.

Margaret3110 · Dec 23, 2022

MMXX said:
Ah interesting. Although the diamond bling was more behind my posting that image in response to Strong in Him saying many probably just wear one as a fashion accessory.

Yeah it's hard for me to look at with the diamonds. Weird juxtaposition.

Clare73 · Dec 23, 2022

MMXX said:
Pope Francis wears an interesting version.

The Good Shepherd?

And the divine testimony to being God's Son?

prodromos · Dec 23, 2022

I have a suspicion that what passes for worship in many Protestant Churches is what Traditional Churches would consider little more than veneration. When I was visiting my parents some years ago, I went along with them to their Church service on the Sunday morning, only to experience what I would consider a fellowship gathering, not worship. So I suspect that when some Protestants see veneration of Saints and relics in Traditional Churches, they immediately see it as 'worship'.

prodromos · Dec 23, 2022

Carl Emerson said:
For several years I couldn't look at a crucifix because the identification with His suffering was too overpowering.

What about an Eastern Orthodox crucifix? Jesus is shown standing on the cross, not hanging from it, because even though He is dead, He is victorious over death, it has no power over Him.

GodLovesCats · Dec 23, 2022

Daniel Peres said:
Many Protestants seem to dislike crucifixes, so they only use crosses. Now, it seems like the more modern Protestants don’t even like crosses in their churches either.

This makes no sense to me. In 1 Corinthians 1:23 Paul was very clear when he wrote, “we preach Christ crucified.”

I’m not say we don’t need to preach Jesus risen, but I think we should do both.

I have no idea what you are talking about. Every Protestant church has crosses and loves the Crucifixion. Otherwise, they would not be Protestant churches, obviously.

seeking.IAM · Dec 23, 2022

I think we get into trouble when we talk about Protestants as if they were one thing. Protestantism is much too diverse to paint everyone with the same brush. My Protestant church has both crucifixes and empty crosses. Contrast that with another Protestant denomination that wouldn't let my friend's Christian choral group sing a song that had the word "blood" in it. Generalization doesn't work.

Carl Emerson · Dec 23, 2022

prodromos said:
What about an Eastern Orthodox crucifix? Jesus is shown standing on the cross, not hanging from it, because even though He is dead, He is victorious over death, it has no power over Him.

Sounds better, can you post a picture?

Carl Emerson · Dec 23, 2022

While Jesus is risen, I believe the experience of the cross is a timeless event that spans history atoning, redeeming, healing in every age.

Why don’t Protestants like the Crucifix, and some the cross

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