The Cross As Jewelry, Decoration

[John81]

Whereas in times past the symbol of the cross was almost exclusively something worn and used by Christians, in our lifetimes it has become a symbol for rock 'n rollers, rebels, and a host of other non-Christians.

 

The sexually, and otherwise, perverse, lost sinner and singer Madonna was one of the major influences in taking the cross from the Christian domain into the domain of rock, rebellion and wickedness. Today we see various rockers, movie/TV celebrities and rebels sporting cross necklaces, earrings, t-shirts and tattoos.

 

One of the most popular tattoos is a cross, which today is sported by professing Christians as well as worldly rebels.

 

I know some Christians have long held that the use of the cross for jewelry, t-shirts and other such things was inappropriate, but most Christians have long used the cross for such.

 

Given the status of the cross symbol having become a secular symbol equated with rebellion, rock 'n roll, and wicked living celebrities, what should be our stance on this?

[Arbo]

Live and let live.  There's nothing you can do about it.

[ThePilgrim]

The name of God has been used in vain for forever.  Using the cross in such a manner is to be expected.

 

God bless,

Larry

[TheSword]

I think it should be similar to our stance on other things regarding separation. Are we wearing an overly elaborate and decorative cross as a fashion statement and something that "looks good" or draws attention to us? Or are we wearing something that simply stands as a personal profession of faith and a reminder. As in many other things, I think it comes down to who or what is being exalted.

[HappyChristian]

  I would add: no crucifix...

[swathdiver]

It's a great witnessing tool and they're wearing it!

 

A friend asked a waiter what the cross around his neck meant and he said it's reminder of granny since it was hers and she gave it to him.  That's it.  God and Jesus Christ had no meaning since his rock-n-roll hispanic church says everyone goes to heaven.

[Ukulelemike]

I am not one to display crosses, in general. I believe the display of it has gone awry in a couple ways: one, as we have just spoken, it has become a worldly fashion statement that means nothing, and, indeed, I see as a mocking of the work done on the cross, (though many, I am sure don't see it that way), and 2, that it has become, like the serpent on the pole, virtually an object of worship and adoration. 

 

 I know a man who says he won;t go to a church that doesn't have crosses displayed all about, as he believes Jesus isn't present if there are no crosses. This is the attitude I see. 

 

The symbol of the cross can be a good thing-it should remind us of the work done for us, and it should remind us of the response we should have, to take up our crosses and follow Jesus. Yet, for many, I suspect it no longer brings either to mind anymore, as we see it all the time. The Catholics put Jesus ON the cross, thus reminding themselves of Jesus when Dead, but not resurrected.

 

So, if I want to be reminded of what Jesus did, I turn to the symbol He specifically gave us: the Lord's Supper, given for the express purpose of remembering His sacrifice-the cross is never mentioned as being for us to use as a symbol of Him, other than our taking up OUR cross, dying daily for Him. I believe we have invented the idea of the cross as a symbol representing Jesus.

[JerryNumbers]

There's very many false teaching churches of all types, & many of them are quite similar to the true teaching churches that has Baptist in their names as viewed by the world, & even some of them carry the name Baptist.

 

So I guess from what some have said I should stop attending a true teaching church that has Baptist in its name for the world might totally associate me with the false teaching churches.

 

Them there's the Mormons, they claim to worship the same Jesus we do, yet the Jesus they worship is one who they claim became good enough to become a god & when the world looks at us they may see no difference in the Jesus we worship & the Jesus they worship, should I stop worshiping the true Jesus because the world might associate me with them, or & other false teachers?

 

I once met a man who wore a small angel pin on his lapel every day, at that time he worked for the county running a road grader. After seeing the pin two or three times I asked him about it. He said, "Brother Jerry I've been wearing this little pin for many years, & I've had many people asked me about it, & when they do I tell them about my Savior Christ, trying to get them to accept Him as their Savior. And whether they do or not," he reached in his pocket pulling something out handing me a small package with an angle pin in it, "Like I'm doing here I give them an angel pin, hoping even if they do not accept Jesus at this time that this pin will make them think of Him & later on they will. And I've had several who have came back to me that have. Its my way of witnessing for my Lord." 

 

And after all if one wears a cross around their neck, I never have, & if its for the right reason, their heart is in the right place, there's not a thing under the sun wrong with it.

 

I would like to go a bit further with the name we have on our churches, Baptist. Many have left off the name Baptist from their churches.  And the main reason for this is they do not want to be associated with Baptist Churches & Baptist doctrine, Baptist teachings, which is Bible teachings right from the Bible. And many of these have taken up naming their church some sort of nondenominational church. And you have no idea what they stand for, they may be of any variety of teachings. One thing for sure many of them think that the history of us Baptist is nothing but lies along with those brothers & sisters of ours who suffered & even gave their life to the Savior refused to compromise on the teachings within the Holy Bible in any manner being lies as well.

 

As for me I'm a Baptist by choice, & that's because the Baptist have always taught God's Word, & stayed true to Him & the Savior all down though the ages even though we have not always been known by the name Baptist. And if I thought it was wrong I would drop it in a moments notice, the turn in the right direction, yet that is something I have no need of doing. For anyone holding to the true Baptist teaching are worshiping God in truth & spirit, just as Jesus stated.

 

Joh 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Joh 4:24 God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

[swathdiver]

 

...And many of these have taken up naming their church some sort of nondenominational church. And you have no idea what they stand for, 

 

 

Neither do they for the most part!  

[John81]

Neither do they for the most part!  

Sadly, the same is true of our Baptist churches. Some Baptist churches are among the best possible churches one could ever attend. Then there are some Baptist churches which are as liberal as any other liberal church. In between those is a wide variety of stances.

 

We must weigh each church individually in accord with Scripture to determine whether they preach Christ and Him crucified; whether they preach salvation by grace through faith, and where they stand upon the fundamentals of the faith.

 

We can't even determine the stand of a church based upon their statement of faith anymore. Many of our churches, as well as others, still have their old, biblically sound statement of faith, but they don't abide by it anymore than the Republicans abide by their old, more conservative Party platform.

 

This is why David Cloud and others have to continually investigate, visit and update their church recommendation lists.

 

As others have pointed out, there is a falling away across America and we have to be diligent and pray for discernment to keep up with the changes.

[woolysheep]

...for they know not what they do.

[JerryNumbers]

John, There you go once again, picking on Baptist, & not naming any other churches even though they should be included too, & if they were I would not point this out. Yet with you being a member of a nondenominational church & not a IFB I shall point it out once again, just as I said I would of you picking on & putting down Baptist Churches.

 

And when & if I see it again, I will point it out again. For I want all the Baptist people on here to take notice of a nondenominational church members attitude towards us people who are Baptist by choice.

[John81]

John, There you go once again, picking on Baptist, & not naming any other churches even though they should be included too, & if they were I would not point this out. Yet with you being a member of a nondenominational church & not a IFB I shall point it out once again, just as I said I would of you picking on & putting down Baptist Churches.

 

And when & if I see it again, I will point it out again. For I want all the Baptist people on here to take notice of a nondenominational church members attitude towards us people who are Baptist by choice.

Once again you jump on nothing. I didn't pick on Baptists or anyone else. The facts are the facts. It doesn't matter what name is on a church, we have to visit them and learn about them in order to know where they actually stand and what they actually teach and preach.

 

Just as Bro Matt declared, one doesn't have to attend and IFB church to be IFB. I'm as IFB as anyone on this board, I'm a member of an IFB church, and I love every Christ honouring IFB church out there and their pastors. I was discipled and baptized by an IFB pastor.

 

This is a primarily IFB board with primarily IFB members and we all tend to specifically discuss things IFB in particular, Baptist in general, and other churches on the side.

 

For some reason you take my posts as some insult when they are nothing of the sort, yet you praise Cloud for his exposing error, music styles, dress standard issues and other things among IFBs.

 

This sentence, "Some Baptist churches are among the best possible churches one could ever attend", from my post should have made it very clear I'm not picking on Baptist churches.