Crucifix Jewelry

[Caedmon]

I've heard many nonCatholic Christians say that they don't wear crucifix jewelry containing a corpus because "Christ is risen, not still on the cross".

Are nonCatholic Christians "allowed" to wear crucifix jewelry with a corpus? Why or why not?

[eldermike]

To me the key to this is how we ourselves see it. The same bronze snake that the Lord told Moses to make for healing later became an idol of worship and therefore was destroyed years later by Hezekiah. I think this speaks for itself better than I ever could. I wear a cross on a chain, it was a gift and it's not an object of worship to me so I have no need to destroy it. If it had Jesus on it would make no difference to me, it's just an object either way. IMHO



NU 21:8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.



2KI 18:1 In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. 2 He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. 3 He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. 4 He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan. )

[ZiSunka]

I don't think there is anything wrong with remembering Christ's sacrifice on the cross. If that is why you wear your crucifx, it's okay.

Some catholics (don't flame me, I'm talking about my family members) wear a crucifix as a "lucky charm" that shows the angels that they are catholic and deserve special protections. That's wrong. Wearing an object won't get you any specially blessings from God.

[eldermike]

Lamb,

I think you got it right.

[TruelightUK]

I agree with Lambslove: wearing a crucifix (or indeed a cross without a corpus) simply as a kind of talisman or lucky charm is superstitious nonsense - akin to wearing a rabit's fort or horseshoe. To wear either as a sign and reminder of Christ's sacrifice for my sins and the sins of the world is a time-honoured tradition, which points to the very heart of the Gospel. Of course, we are to remember that Christ is risen - the cross was not the end, and the grave could not hold him - but I don't think wearing a crucifix necessarily blinds us to this fact, while it may - possibly, for some - highlight the centrality of his atoning death more than does an 'empty' cross.

Anthony

[AngelAmidala]

I'm a non-Catholic, and the cross I wear is gold and it has Jesus on the cross in silver.

I wear a cross because I like to, because I am proud to be a Christian, and because it does remind me of all that Jesus did for us.

I chose this particular crucifix because out of all the crosses I looked at, this one spoke the most to me...ever since I was in 4th grade when I saw a picture of one.

[Blessed-one]

eldermike and lambslove have got the point. It depends on how we look at it, and hopefully it won't become an idol as was viewed by the Israelites in the OT.

i don't wear a cross, tried to, but it inched...

[Andrew]

I dont wear a cross cos i find it uncomfortable esp when sleeping.

Secondly, the cross around your neck aint gonna help you when you're scared, only faith in your heart -- that's what matters most.

And yes, I prefer an empty cross shld I use one becos Christ is now at the right hand of the Father, no longer on the cross. :)

[DaveKerwin]

christ on or off the cross... WHO CARES!!!!

Wearing a cross is less effective these days, because heathens wear them too.

I remember one time a girl said she liked my cross that I was wearing (it was hanging in top of my shirt). I think she said it to spark up conversation with me, but I turned it around on her and asked her what the cross meant to her. She didn't understand what I was saying, so I asked again, and then we talked for a half hour about christ. It was cool.

[ZiSunka]

Remember that Hokus Pick song "I Believe"?

One line of it goes this way:

So look into the story
And then you will see
Why this cross that I'm wearing
Means something to me

Wearing a cross invites people to ask what it means to you.

Next time you see someone with one, ask them, "What does that mean to you?" It might start a life-changing conversation with them!

[Wolseley]

Well, I am a Catholic, and I wear a crucifix all the time; sometimes along with a saint's medal, sometimes without.

In the Air Force, I had one on my dog tag chain, and when a supervisor of mine saw it, he said, "Do you know that's a graven image?"

And I said, "Do you know you're absolutely right?"

He sort of stared at me with his jaw gaping open while he absorbed the fact that I had just sliced the legs out from underneath his argument, and I said, "It is an image, and it is engraved. But it's not my God. I don't worship this little piece of metal. I worship Christ, Whom this little piece of metal represents. This is not an idol I bow down to; it's just a picture."

I don't know whether I convinced him or not (probably not), but he didn't press the issue any further. (Most likely in no small part because in the Air Force, you can land in serious trouble for doing that. ;) )

[Caedmon]

Cool Wolseley :cool:

[jukesk9]

I wear a crucifix and a saint medal....always under my shirt. No one sees it except for my family when I walk around shirtless (right before bed...sorry I don't do jammies!). Anyway, I don't wear it for luck. I wear it as a reminder of my faith and of Christ's sacrifice. He died so that I may live.

[tericl2]

I used to wear a cross (sans Christ) but the chain broke! I also used to carry a nickel on my key chain that had a cross cut out of the center. i carried them as a reminder of my faith. They didn't work very well. i have found it is much more effective to "hide his word in my heart".

[greekgal]

I have a crucifix dangling from my rear view mirrow.

[TruelightUK]

I have one on the wall of my study, looking over my shoulder as I type this!?!

Anthony

[Caedmon]

I would like to get a small crucifix(what's the cross without Jesus?!), but I'm worried that I might get lumped in with all the people that just wear them as a fashion trend. I don't want anything too big or impressive, just something to remind me and others of Christ's sacrifice. I need some advice.

Oh, I just thought about this... Are there any high quality crucifices made from wood that I could purchase? This would cut down on the cost and maybe seperate me from those that wear a crucifix for fashion.

[Caedmon]

Originally posted by DaveKerwin
I remember one time a girl said she liked my cross that I was wearing (it was hanging in top of my shirt). I think she said it to spark up conversation with me, but I turned it around on her and asked her what the cross meant to her. She didn't understand what I was saying, so I asked again, and then we talked for a half hour about christ. It was cool.

I like that Dave. If I get a crucifix, I can use it like that as an evangelism tool, and that's cool. Hey, I'm a poet and didn't know it. :eek: :D

[Godslilgurlalways]

If I wore a cross it would be an empty

1)One b/c my Jesus isn't on the cross anymore

2) I serve a risen savior not a dead one

3) he is alive,

Another thing for me is how would I explain to a non-christian why I have a picture of a dead Jesus if I feel he is alive how come I don't have an empty one to show he rose from the dead?

[genestealerbroodlord]

Im not to keen on wearing a cross as i see it as a cruel implament of punishment used to try to kill Jesus and to kill many early christians. It would be like wearing a gun or knife symbol around your neck.

I prefer to wear the fish symbol as this was used by the early christians as a means of identification. I also sometimes wear a wristband with WWJD on it.

[86k10]

If I wore a cross it would be an empty

1)One b/c my Jesus isn't on the cross anymore

2) I serve a risen savior not a dead one

3) he is alive,

Another thing for me is how would I explain to a non-christian why I have a picture of a dead Jesus if I feel he is alive how come I don't have an empty one to show he rose from the dead?
You feel exactly the way I do, I serve a risen saviour who is coming back real soon to take us home, why portray him like he is still dead.

[CrazyforYeshua]

If you want to use a cross as a witnessing tool, wear one that is inside a Star of David-that's what I wear. They're definitely something people will ask about.

[prophecystudent]

I agree with Lambslove: wearing a crucifix (or indeed a cross without a corpus) simply as a kind of talisman or lucky charm is superstitious nonsense - akin to wearing a rabit's fort or horseshoe. To wear either as a sign and reminder of Christ's sacrifice for my sins and the sins of the world is a time-honoured tradition, which points to the very heart of the Gospel. Of course, we are to remember that Christ is risen - the cross was not the end, and the grave could not hold him - but I don't think wearing a crucifix necessarily blinds us to this fact, while it may - possibly, for some - highlight the centrality of his atoning death more than does an 'empty' cross.

Anthony
To quote the believers in the Left Behind series, "WE DON'T DO LUCK!!"

I wear a cross (without the image of Christ on it) because I believe it honors Him and shows people that I am a believer. I do not worship the cross, not the one I wear, or the one on which He died.

The cross, to a believer, is a reminder of who they are and what Christ did for us.

The protestant cross does not have Him on it, because our cross shows the COMPLETED WORK OF CHRIST.

Fred

[JVarner83]

You feel exactly the way I do, I serve a risen saviour who is coming back real soon to take us home, why portray him like he is still dead.


If he wouldn't have died one the cross we wouldn't have life, we remember what he did on the cross.

what do you want us to wear then? A empty tomb on a keychain?

I don't have a problem at all with people showing off Jesus on the Cross, thats the GOSPEL

[Windlord]

Paul preached Christ and him Crucified.

Peace,

Windlord.

[KillerV]

I see nothing wrong with it. I would love to see my empty tombs jewerly though.;)

[KillerV]

what do you want us to wear then? A empty tomb on a keychain?

Thats exactly what I want to see!

[86k10]

If he wouldn't have died one the cross we wouldn't have life, we remember what he did on the cross.

what do you want us to wear then? A empty tomb on a keychain?

I don't have a problem at all with people showing off Jesus on the Cross, thats the GOSPEL
Sounds good to me, at least it shows he is alive and not still in there. It would be a great conversation piece too.

[Godslilgurlalways]

You feel exactly the way I do, I serve a risen saviour who is coming back real soon to take us home, why portray him like he is still dead.


Glad to know someone agrees with me:)

[wiggbuggie]

well hear is how i see it and what I got from scripture, any kind of picture of Jesus and crosses is unnesserery because the scripture read do not make any images of God or of heaven to worship.

[ronmathison]

1 Corinthians 2:2


"For I determined to know nothing among you


except Jesus Christ,


and Him CRUCIFIED."

[KillerV]

well hear is how i see it and what I got from scripture, any kind of picture of Jesus and crosses is unnesserery because the scripture read do not make any images of God or of heaven to worship.

That is if you are actually worshiping the picture/cross..etc..