Using a Cross or Crucifix?

GodsMercifulLove said:

Hi guys, just been doing a bit of thinking and was wondering; do you prefer the use of a Cross or Crucifix and why?

This is not a debate, merely a request for opinions

God bless you all.

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itdepends said:

Years ago, the cross or the crucifix rarely used to bother me ... it was a traumatic symbol and event, but I viewed them as helping others to remember what Jesus had done, etc. I viewed it as a symbol that reminded people of the cost of their freedom, the mercy shown to them. I even used to make them and give them as gifts.

After finally growing with God over the years, and seeing Christ personally in others and situations and learning more and more about His love ... I now cannot stand to see crosses and crucifixes. It's like being reminded of something horrific that happened to someone you love, admire, respect, feel the long-suffering of. I view it as a barbaric symbol of torture that crucified my hero, who was innocent, and was celebrated by those who wanted to humiliate him and didn't understand whom they were torturing. At times, I equate it with the Pharisees decorating the tombs of the prophets their ancestors murdered.

I would no sooner want to have a cross hanging on my wall with the figure of my tortured child, or tortured loved ones either.

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Christian7PraiseJesus said:

That's interesting.... If one learns about the Roman catacombs and early Christian history within the context of the societies of Ancient Greeks, Ancient Romans, Mesopotamians, Assyrians, Acadians, Ancient Egyptians... IMO even showing the cross or crucifix is a privilege worth experiencing.

Personally, I know all about Nero (Roman emperor who executed many, including many Christians, the poor, his mother, his wife, atrociously SLAVES). The ancient Romans, Greeks, Mesopotamian, ect. all had among their wrongs, repulsively SLAVES for thousands of years, child labor, a fixed ascribed at birth socioeconomic hierarchy, endless continuous and bloody warfare, women without ANY rights, lifelong emperors who killed each other often, poor nonexistent healthcare, the sick elderly and disabled treated as trash, men who couldn't vote if they didn't own property, no education or literacy except for the privileged, and unequal brutal punishments skewed against the poorer classes.... I know of the numerous roman emperors who persecuted Christians until Emperor Constantine 300 years later A.D. when they finally let them worship in public.

During this entire 300 year devastation against humanity by humanity, Christians had to hide their crosses with other symbolic meanings which could "blend in" better with the paganistic Roman ruler's beliefs.

Here's a good website for information on the early Christian symbols seen in the catacombs from 30 A.D. - 313 A.D. <htt p: // w ww. jesuswalk. com / christian-symbols/> (remove ">" and "<" and paste into url)

"The Cross in Christian Art and Monuments

During the period of persecutions before Constantine I, we generally don't find the cross on monuments and catacomb sepulchres. It is nearly always disguised -- as an anchor [often the horizontal "stock" at the top reminded Christians of the cross], later a trident, or the mainmast of a ship.1 Other disguised forms of the cross include monograms such as what is called the St. Andrew's cross, in the shape of the Greek letter chi." ...[Other examples of symbols are the good shepherd for JESUS, fish/Ichthus representing JESUS's name, peacocks, and doves for the Holy Spirit]

...Chi and Rho are the first two letters (&#935;&#929;) of "Christ" in Greek &#935;&#929;&#921;&#931;&#932;&#927;&#931;. (Christos). Sometimes it is called the Monogram of Christ or Chrismon or Labarum. While it was used very early by persecuted Christians in the catacombs, when Constantine I was struggling to become emperor, he used the symbol at the front of his armies and was victorious (see below)

The Chi-Rho is often shown with the Greek letters Alpha (A) and Omega (lower case &#974; or upper case &#937, the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Jesus refers to himself: "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." (Revelation 22:13).

[it depicts]...the symbol of the Saviour's name, two letters indicating the name of Christ by means of its initial characters, the letter P being intersected by X in its centre...."

Here are some good videos about the early Christian art (and its symbolism for representing Jesus, God) in the Roman catacombs:

Rome, Italy: Catacombs and Appian Way (Before or around 100 A.D)
(Shows the Chi Rho, fish, open arms, anchor, ect minute 2:17 on)
<http s: // w ww. youtube. com/watch? v=cIHGlj_MoxY>

Catacombs of San Callisto, Rome
(Shows the good shepherd, minute 0:56 on, good history on the catacombs)
<http s:// w ww. youtube . com/watch ?v=EZ3IPc1bUuI>

Jesus in Early Christian Art (200-500 A.D - much later than previous videos)
<htt ps: // w w w.youtube . com /watch? v=rtmjwXf28Zs>

With this knowledge, IMO it is an absolute privilege to show the cross and crucifix in public, in light of the centuries it took to be able to show it by early Christians, and the horrendous treatment they had to endure under the Roman emperors. IMO Christians should also be loud and proud about their faith, spreading Jesus's (God's) love for ALL and His mercy (and His fight against the Ancient Roman/human ways of brutality! Jesus was God in human form (God's ultimate theophany - Jesus! The Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End!) showing us the PERFECT and sinless example to live by! He was the "I AM" as in Exodus!).

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Seele said:

My preferred symbol is the Ichthys fish though.

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itdepends said:

For me it's not about the history of others, it's about it being something horrific that happened to someone I love and wish didn't suffer.

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