Methodists and the Crucifix

[yogosans14]

I know most (almost all) Methodist churches dont have Crucifixes, but my ? is would I be frowned upon for wearing one in a UMC

Im not Catholic at all, I just like the crucifix lol

 

[JesusFo11ower]

I don't think anyone will judge you. Fact is though that it is against the bible to have Jesus on the cross. Then again, any graven image is. I think as long as you don't make it an idol you'll be fine.

 

[yogosans14]

I don't think anyone will judge you. Fact is though that it is against the bible to have Jesus on the cross. Then again, any graven image is. I think as long as you don't make it an idol you'll be fine.

Thanks. I disagree that having Jesus on a cross is against the bible, paul said he preached Jesus CRUCIFIED.

 

[Historicus]

Thanks. I disagree that having Jesus on a cross is against the bible, paul said he preached Jesus CRUCIFIED.

There is nothing in our theology nor biblically forbidding the use of a crucifix. There are United Methodist congregations who have them - and many individual United Methodists use and wear them. As you mention, Paul indeed said that we preach Christ crucified. For historical reasons you're just more likely to see United Methodists use an empty cross to reflect our belief in the resurrection as that has been our tradition. When you do see an empty cross in our sanctuaries - there is often the letters "IHS" on the cross - the first letters of Jesus' name, to identify it as Christ's empty cross and not simply the cross of anyone put to death by the Romans. I personally have no issue with using either the crucifix or the empty cross and have both.

 

[JesusFo11ower]

Thanks. I disagree that having Jesus on a cross is against the bible, paul said he preached Jesus CRUCIFIED.

But having a model of what Jesus may or may not look like is violating having graven images of heaven and earth.

 

[GraceSeeker]

But having a model of what Jesus may or may not look like is violating having graven images of heaven and earth.

No, it's not. I don't think you accurately understand the meaning of those passages if this is what you think.

 

[GraceSeeker]

I know most (almost all) Methodist churches dont have Crucifixes, but my ? is would I be frowned upon for wearing one in a UMC

Im not Catholic at all, I just like the crucifix lol

Have you ever seen the crosses handed out to those who complete the Walk to Emmaus -- an official United Methodist spiritual life retreat?

They have an outline drawing on them that represents Christ on the cross. Given that this is a common practice and United Methodists, both lay and clergy, are encouraged to attend these events and then to wear the crosses that are presented to them as a reminder of their participation, I hardly think that you should be frowned on for wearing a crucifix (even a more traditional one) in a UMC. If you are, it is by someone who hasn't thought it through very carefully.

 

[BryanW92]

Have you ever seen the crosses handed out to those who complete the Walk to Emmaus -- an official United Methodist spiritual life retreat?

They have an outline drawing on them that represents Christ on the cross. Given that this is a common practice and United Methodists, both lay and clergy, are encouraged to attend these events and then to wear the crosses that are presented to them as a reminder of their participation, I hardly think that you should be frowned on for wearing a crucifix (even a more traditional one) in a UMC. If you are, it is by someone who hasn't thought it through very carefully.

I wear my Emmaus cross at least one Sunday a month and no one has ever been offended by it.

 

[RomansFiveEight]

I wear my Chrysalis (Emmaus for Youth) Cross every single day. One might consider it a "plain, austere crucifix". While it doesn't depict a 3D Jesus on top of the cross like most Crucifixes; it does absolutely have Jesus (or a symbol of him) on the Cross

Some of my parishioners are former Catholics and wear a Crucifix. I personally prefer a barren cross, or a cross with symbols; because I think the resurrection is the crucial component here. (And, if I'm honest; I kind of think Crucifixes are Gaudy. But that's purely preference and nothing more) That doesn't mean I'm opposed to a Crucifix. It's just my own preference. There might actually be a Crucifix hanging on a wall in my apartment somewhere that my wife put up, I think.

The UMC absolutely has no aversion to the crucifix; it's just not our 'norm'. I even know of Churches who have 'convertible Crucifixes', and during special seasons of the year they have a Crucifix; and other seasons (after Easter for example) the cross is a bare cross. (Essentially; the figure of Jesus is 'removable'; even though that kind of sounds terrible in writing!)

The opposition of the Crucifix is one of those things many protestants oppose and have a ton of reasons why but the reality is; it's just not their norm and there's no reason for it. The theological reasoning for opposing it came AFTER they began opposing it. The truth of the matter? It's too 'catholic' for some of them. But the UMC tends to be a church that is a lot more 'Catholic friendly'. Heck; even some of our Clergy (myself included) occasionally wear a collar.

 

[VolRaider]

I have one in my room. There's no fuss over it. You just won't see it displayed in the church because the free cross is the cross of choice in the UMC.

 

[GraceSeeker]

I served a UMC congregation that had the stations of the cross permanently on display. These were definitely Catholic because the Catholic Church gave them to us when they shut their doors. But no one ever objected. Actually, they were rather proud of them.

I served another church that not only had the "removable" Jesus (who rather than speaking of as being removed, we spoke of as being "added" during Lent). But it also had a "removable cross" and we took the whole thing down to be replaced by a rising/ascending Jesus for the season of Easter.