How would you feel?

Yeah I'd be sickened if everyone were wearing a symbol of my son's death.

I know a worldwide church of Jesus Christ that doesn't display the cross -- ever. Unless in a reverent painting depicting the events on the hill the day he was crucified.

But they believe in Christ, teach of Christ, and strive to live by his teachings. People have asked how they can profess to belive in Jesus Christ without bearing the sign of the cross, and the general answer is that the love of our Savior is shown through our faith and good deeds.

I admit whenever I see the cross it makes me sad. Happy for the person wearing it (their faith, outward signs of devotion), but sad for the origin of the symbol in general.

There would be no Christianity without Judas and the Cross.

Lenny Bruce kinda posed the same question once: If Jesus had been killed twenty years ago, Catholic school children would be wearing little electric chairs around their necks instead of crosses.


If my son died to save the world, I guess his means of death displayed for all time would be as good a symbol as any. And besides that, I don't care much for those metal fish thingys on the trunk lids of cars...

People have asked how they can profess to belive in Jesus Christ without bearing the sign of the cross, and the general answer is that the love of our Savior is shown through our faith and good deeds.

Hey you sly girl! That's my church, too!

And besides that, I don't care much for those metal fish thingys on the trunk lids of cars...

Yeah, they just give me the gibblets. Or the willies. Or maybe a bit of both.

There would be no Christianity without Judas and the Cross.

But if something like this happened to your child how would you feel about them caring around a replica of the tool?

If my son died to save the world, I guess his means of death displayed for all time would be as good a symbol as any....

Shovel said it well for me.

I know a worldwide church of Jesus Christ that doesn't display the cross -- ever

Yes I have heard of this group. They have a large congregation in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.

Thanks for your comment Angela.

it's symbology (of the ultimate sacrifice) has by far transcended the original purpose of the cross as an execution device.

Yes, I understand it's symbology but if you were a lay person and had no clue of this symbol would you not think they were glorifying the object that killed him vs significance of his death? Does it then just become a conversation piece?

Thanks Shovel and Forever for your comments.

They have a large congregation in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

Huh?

Huh?

You mentioned the Church of Jesus Christ. I said oh yeah I have heard of them. They have a large congregation in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (central Asia).

But if something like this happened to your child how would you feel about them caring around a replica of the tool?

The question is impossible to answer. I am not God.

Besides, the cross was not the tool. It was the method. The tool was the fear and hypocrisy of the day. The method is remembered so that it never happens again. But I dont think that is working.

Nevertheless, I cannot answer the question as I have not lost a son, and I am not the father of the Savior. What ifs are fun, but until you have been there, they are really meaningless. What if you had a son?

You can imagine, but you cannot know until you do.

Post WWII Jews did not hide their Tattoos. They displayed them to the younger generation in hopes it would never happen again. Perhaps I would want this display for the same reason. I dont know.

I'd rather he be remembered than not... I would tear up every time I saw it.

I think it's ONE thing if one's son is accused of something he didn't do and is burned in a cage and people wear lil cages to honor him,

And totally another thing if we wear a cross that symbolizes that Christ died on the cross for us.

In the first scenario you're talking about a human being, not Christ.

While I don't know much about religion, I get it that there's a big difference between these two situations.
Enuf said

I wouldn't be around to see it....I'd go into search and destroy mode on all those who murdered my son...

But then, he's not God who can get His own justice.

The main difference between the son who was burned and Christ who was crucified is the fact that Christ gave up his life willingly. His life was not taken from Him.

The cross is a reminder of the sacrifice given. I do like the empty cross symbol. The fact that it is empty is that he's risen and glorified and is no longer on that cross. The son who was burned would not be seen walking around for 40 days after. The cross is a symbol of LOVE for mankind and VICTORY over death.

Jesus was born to die and not just die, but die for the whole world.

KFC, this isn't about the SYMBOLISM (as addressed with LW). This is just a perspective to think about.

The other thing I want to point out is that the cross (or possible stake but that's for another discussion) killed many people just like the burning cages as well. Believers make the association of that symbolism in reference to Yeshua (Jesus). If HE was killed by the chop-n-block would all the necklaces be axes instead of crosses?

I just used a more personal point using your child. The implication to Yeshua was not neccessary and with hind sight may have been more fun had I not. What would you do if people around you wore a medalion of a burning cage after seeing your son burned there? Is that an image YOU would want to see? In your mind is that showing HONOR to your son?

Some of you have missed this question with regards to your son. Keep in mind I understand it looks Hypocritical but not neccessarily to have conflicting views of it.

How would you feel if it were your own son or daughter for that matter(religion set aside)?

well I think you could look at those who received the purple hearts before or after death. What do the parents of their dead soldiers feel when they look at these purple hearts? Isn't this the same idea? Aren't the hearts a symbol of the sacrifice made? Is it something to be ashamed of or proud of?

I guess it depends on how you wish to look at it.

I choose to see this one way and you another Dude. I have three sons. If one gave his life for another human being, I'd be sad and anguished but proud of what he did. Giving a life for another is the highest calling any could make. So hiding the cross is not something I'm about to do. I wear one with pride and love for what Jesus did for me, and the cross is a reminder of this sacrifical love.

KFC would you agree that the purple heart is not the tool or method to kill the soldier. Instead of a purple heart what if they gave a medal of a grenade?

Yes, I would agree, but we all like memorials and we see memorials being formed all thru scripture as well as everyday life. It's a reminder of the past that we do not want to slip away from us.

But it wasn't the cross that killed him. It was the evil hearts of men and besides like I said they really didn't kill him without his say so. He chose the time, the place and the means. A soldier or martyr does not have this luxury, and they don't get up and walk around three days later either. The cross, unlike the cage should bring rejoicing not sadness. Because when we look at it we're reminded we have been redeemed and will live forever with him.

I'm sure Jesus understands why we wear the cross around our necks and that's what's most important. He even said for us to pick up our cross and follow him. Obviously the cross stands for sacrifice as he was telling us to do as he did not necessarily to die as he did but be willing to if necessary.

More than the symbol of death,I believe that cross signifies faith and the reason why Jesus sacrificed himself for the whole race,its just a reminder to tell us what he gave to achieve what we have today (terrorism)