Have you ever seen the Eye of Providence/Eye in the Pyramid symbol in an LCMS parish?

[Sword of the Lord]

We are discussing this symbol in RCC parishes in OBOB. One member said that he has seen this in Lutheran parishes as well, and that may be so, but I have a hard time believing this is symbolized in LCMS parishes. Have you ever seen it in any Lutheran church? I personally have not seen it in any LCMS church (I've been to 4) or seen it in any photos of LCMS parishes and artwork within, or any Lutheran Church (2 ELCA, 1 NALC) that I have been to, or again, photos from within. I've never heard of such a thing, but at the risk of upsetting and insulting others, I wouldn't be surprised to hear of this in the ELCA (sorry).

http://www.christianforums.com/t7858026/

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

Not a masonic symbol at all but the "all seeing eye of God".

One or more of these are from a Lutheran Chruch, but they could be Catholic or Anglican or who knows...

This symbol also appeared in our Catechisms in the 70's where the attributes of God were listed.

This is not a pyramid, but a triangle, an age old symbol of the trinity. The eye in the triangle is symbolic of the omniscience of God.

I have also seen this on grave markers in Lutheran cemeteries.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

I can not recall the symbol in north American Lutheran parishes I've been in but have seen the all-seeing eye in photos of parishes in Europe, mainly very old churches.

 

[AngCath]

I've seen it in Lutheran churches (LCMS & ELCA).

 

[Sword of the Lord]

I'm happy to say that my parish doesn't have this image, and that I've never seen it in any parish, and I hope to never see it in any parish; but I have done some research since posting, and I suppose the symbolism of God's being omnipresent and all seeing, along with the Most Holy Trinity, isn't a bad thing; but with that said, I don't like what it once stood for and how it's used by the occult and masons, albeit in a very slightly different fashion, making the triangle more of a pyramid. I realize that without Christ the Cross that we so very frequently use is just a torture device, and so Christ is what makes the image/icon holy and different, but at least the Cross has true meaning, deep meaning; this thing, not so much, and while I don't like it, I understand the meaning behind it for Christian use.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I'm happy to say that my parish doesn't have this image, and that I've never seen it in any parish, and I hope to never see it in any parish; but I have done some research since posting, and I suppose the symbolism of God's being omnipresent and all seeing, along with the Most Holy Trinity, isn't a bad thing; but with that said, I don't like what it once stood for and how it's used by the occult and masons, albeit in a very slightly different fashion, making the triangle more of a pyramid. I realize that without Christ the Cross that we so very frequently use is just a torture device, and so Christ is what makes the image/icon holy and different, but at least the Cross has true meaning, deep meaning; this thing, not so much, and while I don't like it, I understand the meaning behind it for Christian use.

When one understands the iconography and the meaning of such things one can explain why they are Christian. Such things need not be stumbling blocks; they can be stepping stones!

Here's one other example:

In the thread "Evangelicals and Liturgical..." I mentioned my friend from work; some time back when he first visited our Chruch, he saw this symbol in an icon of St. Peter, painted on the scroll he was holding. He thought it was a satanic cross, and he thought the crossed keys were a symbol of the Catholic Chruch. I explained the traditions surrounding St. Peter and the Scripture reference and he got it. These things do give us an importunity to teach!

 

[Sword of the Lord]

I couldn't tell you how many times I have had to explain the upside down cross and the X-shaped cross. It's sad that people automatically associate them with satanism, but satanism stole these symbols from us, from our traditions.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I couldn't tell you how many times I have had to explain the upside down cross and the X-shaped cross. It's sad that people automatically associate them with satanism, but satanism stole these symbols from us, from our traditions.

They have indeed, as they have by substituting a pyramid for the triangle of the trinity; thus breaking the link with the Trinity.

 

[Sword of the Lord]

Well that's not surprising considering it's on American currency.

 

[LilLamb219]

I have never seen the Eye of Providence in any LCMS church I've attended or the ELCA church I used to attend.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

I have never seen the Eye of Providence in any LCMS church I've attended or the ELCA church I used to attend.

Do you still have your old LCMS Catechism with Explanation; the one with the blue cover? Look inside, there are all kinds of little symbols and icons throughout. In the section which looks at the attributes of God, you will see the 'all seeing eye' depicted there.

 

[EvangelCatholic]

There are many examples of the all-seeing God in European parishes

 

[LilLamb219]

Do you still have your old LCMS Catechism with Explanation; the one with the blue cover? Look inside, there are all kinds of little symbols and icons throughout. In the section which looks at the attributes of God, you will see the 'all seeing eye' depicted there.

My version was by Fortress Press, not the blue cover one. There are no pretty illustrations in it.

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

My version was by Fortress Press, not the blue cover one. There are no pretty illustrations in it.

See what you missed out on! Does your husband still have his?

 

[LilLamb219]

haha My husband is RC

 

[MarkRohfrietsch]

haha My husband is RC

Well, so much for that.

Anyway take my word for it...

It looks a bit like this: