Skulls/Crossbones and Pics of Death -- why r christians against those images?

[sk8brdkd]

ok, maybe not exactly pics of death but, i haven't been in a very good mood the last few days just bc of a situation. So, on facebook before, I uploaded 2 pics one as my cover photo and one as my profile pic -- the one on my cover photo is a skull w/ flames shooting out the top of it n the other one is "almost" a regular skull and crossbones image but, it has razor sharp teeth.

I'm mainly doing it bc of halloween and i like the images plus the mood i'm in. I know if a few of my christian friends see those images, they're gonna get me on it but, at the moment, idc as I really don't see anything wrong w/ those images.

I know as christians we shouldn't be glorifying death in any way, shape or form, however, i don't see myself glorifying them.

If i glorified these images, i'd keep them as my cover photo/profile pic year round. I am only planning to keep them on for a few days tho, I did d/l a few other halloween images that i may upload tomorrow for halloween.


anyone else know where i'm coming from or do you just see this as totally wrong?

I also own a hoodie that has a green skull on it. I absolutely love that hoodie plus the skull looks pretty cool too. I am not sure why so many christians r totally against these images. I think some are cool. Some do go a little overboard but, for me personally, i see nothing wrong w/ them.

I honestly don't think God cares if i wear a skull hoodie or if i have a skull and crossbones pic on my fb wall but, that's me.

 

[Near]

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14 NKJV)

Well as long as you're not sinning, wearing a hoodie with a skull is alright.
It's like wearing a hoodie with a picture of a head.

Heart purity, being redeemed from a lawless life, those things are what matters.

As for people who say a person cant stop sinning... they really have no right to judge on something that's not even a sin.

For example, I like listening to music, but it's not christian music, but it's not a sin either.
I can be holy and listen to music too... as long as I'm not sinning.

 

[David Sylvian]

I think it is very incorrect to say "so many Christians are against these", as most do not say anything and see it for what it is. You are talking about overly overtly religious types that would state otherwise. You do realize a huge percentage of the population in western nations, in free nations, are christian... this is not two thousand years ago. Christians are not 10% of the population.

 

[seeingeyes]

So no one, including the Christians you know, has complained about the skulls that you have put up, yet you are here asking why others are totally against these images?

Look friend, the only condemnation you are getting is from yourself.

 

[Spunkn]

Skulls, crossbones etc are normally associated with heavy metal death bands, cults, demons, etc.

It doesn't mean that skulls are "evil", it's just normally what they're associated with. So in a sense, when you are wearing a skull T-shirt, people tend to automatically assume what it means.

Doesn't mean it's out right "wrong" to wear those T-shirts, however I do believe they give off the wrong impression of who you are.

So in this case, it's not about whether or not it's right or wrong to wear the T-shirt, but it's about is it a good idea?

That's up to you.

 

[Inkachu]

ok, maybe not exactly pics of death but, i haven't been in a very good mood the last few days just bc of a situation. So, on facebook before, I uploaded 2 pics one as my cover photo and one as my profile pic -- the one on my cover photo is a skull w/ flames shooting out the top of it n the other one is "almost" a regular skull and crossbones image but, it has razor sharp teeth.

I'm mainly doing it bc of halloween and i like the images plus the mood i'm in. I know if a few of my christian friends see those images, they're gonna get me on it but, at the moment, idc as I really don't see anything wrong w/ those images.

I know as christians we shouldn't be glorifying death in any way, shape or form, however, i don't see myself glorifying them.

If i glorified these images, i'd keep them as my cover photo/profile pic year round. I am only planning to keep them on for a few days tho, I did d/l a few other halloween images that i may upload tomorrow for halloween.


anyone else know where i'm coming from or do you just see this as totally wrong?

I also own a hoodie that has a green skull on it. I absolutely love that hoodie plus the skull looks pretty cool too. I am not sure why so many christians r totally against these images. I think some are cool. Some do go a little overboard but, for me personally, i see nothing wrong w/ them.

I honestly don't think God cares if i wear a skull hoodie or if i have a skull and crossbones pic on my fb wall but, that's me.

I don't think you need to get obsessively legalistic about this, but what you need to examine are 1) your motives for enjoying these images and 2) how they may affect your testimony to the lost and to fellow believers. The moment you say "Well, it's what "I" like, so "I'm" going to do what "I" want".... you've lost your witness.

Also, asking yourself the simple question "Is God OK with me having images of death on my clothes/FB wall"? If you can honestly say yes, then stop worrying about it. If you have doubts, then rethink your choices.

 

[Spunkn]

Extreme example - I could walk around outside town with a cone shaped sheet on my head with two eye holes cut out of it.

Someone's probably going to get upset at me more than likely....

Why? It's just a sheet on my head.

That particular way of using it has an image and a representation of something else behind it.

To me it may have absolutely no meaning, but to others...I might as well be punching them in the face.

 

[sk8brdkd]

So no one, including the Christians you know, has complained about the skulls that you have put up, yet you are here asking why others are totally against these images?

Look friend, the only condemnation you are getting is from yourself.

that is not what i said. In the past, when i initially bought my skull hoodie, i got a lot of christians telling me how wrong it is to wear something like that. I even wore it to church --- probably not the best idea bc everyone kept giving me like these horrible looks --- sorry, i like it.

As w/ fb --- i just uploaded those pics a couple of hours ago. So far, the only ones who have "liked" them were all non-christians

 

[sk8brdkd]

Skulls, crossbones etc are normally associated with heavy metal death bands, cults, demons, etc.

It doesn't mean that skulls are "evil", it's just normally what they're associated with. So in a sense, when you are wearing a skull T-shirt, people tend to automatically assume what it means.

Doesn't mean it's out right "wrong" to wear those T-shirts, however I do believe they give off the wrong impression of who you are.

So in this case, it's not about whether or not it's right or wrong to wear the T-shirt, but it's about is it a good idea?

That's up to you.

First, w/ your second post, i understand what you're talking about.

As w/ this one, i actually love listening to heavy metal and i do know that skulls represent it but, when i was uploading those pics, it didn't even cross my mind to represent the skulls w/ the heavy metal. I was only thinking of how unhappy i was and how the skulls represented my mood these last few days. I only own that one skull hoodie --- i don't own anything else w/ skulls on them. I'm not going to make a habit of it, just bc of i know how it's represented but, for me, personally, i see nothing wrong w/ them.

 

[Yesterday987G]

Extreme example - I could walk around outside town with a cone shaped sheet on my head with two eye holes cut out of it.

Someone's probably going to get upset at me more than likely....

Why? It's just a sheet on my head.

That particular way of using it has an image and a representation of something else behind it.

To me it may have absolutely no meaning, but to others...I might as well be punching them in the face.

Great points, Spunkn

I think that the people in this young man's church were probably wondering why he wore the hoody and if he was being forced to go. I have learned in my walk with the Lord that the closer I get to Him, the more I want to be righteous, be like Him. I remember a time when I wore Metallica t-shirts and a leather biker jacket. I wanted to be cool, tough, intimidating. Now, I just want to shine like Jesus.

 

[Yesterday987G]

I am sorry I called you a young man . That was my first post......quite embarrassing, dear. Please don't feel like you are being judged, I don't think it is that, or at least I hope you are not getting judged by your hoody because that is not very Christian-like. Jesus tells us not to worry about the outside of a cup until the inside is clean. He also tells us not to worry about what we are going to wear.

 

[seeingeyes]

that is not what i said. In the past, when i initially bought my skull hoodie, i got a lot of christians telling me how wrong it is to wear something like that. I even wore it to church --- probably not the best idea bc everyone kept giving me like these horrible looks --- sorry, i like it.

As w/ fb --- i just uploaded those pics a couple of hours ago. So far, the only ones who have "liked" them were all non-christians

Ok, well here is a bit of advice: If you choose to do things differently than others, then you need to be prepared for others to think that you are different.

That's just a simple fact of life.

You do not get to cover yourself in various skulls and have these people think of you as 'normal'.

You can either give up the skulls and start wearing T-shirts from the Jesus-junk store or you can wear the skulls you like to wear and be prepared to handle the blow back from certain individuals with grace.

The choice is yours.

God bless

 

[DiscipleHeLovesToo]

ok, maybe not exactly pics of death but, i haven't been in a very good mood the last few days just bc of a situation. So, on facebook before, I uploaded 2 pics one as my cover photo and one as my profile pic -- the one on my cover photo is a skull w/ flames shooting out the top of it n the other one is "almost" a regular skull and crossbones image but, it has razor sharp teeth.

I'm mainly doing it bc of halloween and i like the images plus the mood i'm in. I know if a few of my christian friends see those images, they're gonna get me on it but, at the moment, idc as I really don't see anything wrong w/ those images.

I know as christians we shouldn't be glorifying death in any way, shape or form, however, i don't see myself glorifying them.

If i glorified these images, i'd keep them as my cover photo/profile pic year round. I am only planning to keep them on for a few days tho, I did d/l a few other halloween images that i may upload tomorrow for halloween.


anyone else know where i'm coming from or do you just see this as totally wrong?

I also own a hoodie that has a green skull on it. I absolutely love that hoodie plus the skull looks pretty cool too. I am not sure why so many christians r totally against these images. I think some are cool. Some do go a little overboard but, for me personally, i see nothing wrong w/ them.

I honestly don't think God cares if i wear a skull hoodie or if i have a skull and crossbones pic on my fb wall but, that's me.

i could ask if you think Jesus would do that, but you've probably heard that before .

i guess the best answer i have is what Paul said about eating meat offered to idols at the risk of offending or misleading those who aren't as strong in their faith:

Rom 14:21-23 KJV
(21) It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
(22) Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
(23) And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.

and then there's this:

Col 3:1-17 KJV
(1) If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
(2) Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
(3) For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
(4) When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
(5) Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
(6) For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
(7) In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.
(8) But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
(9) Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;
(10) And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
(11) Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.
(12) Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
(13) Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.
(14) And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.
(15) And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.
(16) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
(17) And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

this is also the answer on how to put on a very good mood - put on the 'new man'

 

[TheDag]

Ok, well here is a bit of advice: If you choose to do things differently than others, then you need to be prepared for others to think that you are different.

That's just a simple fact of life.

You do not get to cover yourself in various skulls and have these people think of you as 'normal'.

You can either give up the skulls and start wearing T-shirts from the Jesus-junk store or you can wear the skulls you like to wear and be prepared to handle the blow back from certain individuals with grace.

The choice is yours.

God bless

perhaps some advice on how one could lovingly correct those people who make those assumptions.

 

[PaladinValer]

ok, maybe not exactly pics of death but, i haven't been in a very good mood the last few days just bc of a situation. So, on facebook before, I uploaded 2 pics one as my cover photo and one as my profile pic -- the one on my cover photo is a skull w/ flames shooting out the top of it n the other one is "almost" a regular skull and crossbones image but, it has razor sharp teeth.

I'm mainly doing it bc of halloween and i like the images plus the mood i'm in. I know if a few of my christian friends see those images, they're gonna get me on it but, at the moment, idc as I really don't see anything wrong w/ those images.

I know as christians we shouldn't be glorifying death in any way, shape or form, however, i don't see myself glorifying them.

If i glorified these images, i'd keep them as my cover photo/profile pic year round. I am only planning to keep them on for a few days tho, I did d/l a few other halloween images that i may upload tomorrow for halloween.


anyone else know where i'm coming from or do you just see this as totally wrong?

I also own a hoodie that has a green skull on it. I absolutely love that hoodie plus the skull looks pretty cool too. I am not sure why so many christians r totally against these images. I think some are cool. Some do go a little overboard but, for me personally, i see nothing wrong w/ them.

I honestly don't think God cares if i wear a skull hoodie or if i have a skull and crossbones pic on my fb wall but, that's me.

The reason why so many get upset is because of a very serious bit of poor theology called "pietism".

The fact of the matter is, Christianity would not exist if it weren't for the brutal torture and bloody execution of a completely innocent Individual. The idea that death is some sort of evil does not square with historic, orthodox, authentic Christianity.

Enjoy Halloween and don't let anyone make you feel guilty. Shame on them.

 

[DiscipleHeLovesToo]

Deu 30:15-16 KJV
(15) See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
(16) In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

 

[PaladinValer]

Deu 30:15-16 KJV
(15) See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil;
(16) In that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in his ways, and to keep his commandments and his statutes and his judgments, that thou mayest live and multiply: and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest to possess it.

I suggest looking up the Rule of Commutation.

 

[DiscipleHeLovesToo]

I suggest looking up the Rule of Commutation.

what book, chapter, and verse of the Bible is that in?

 

[DiscipleHeLovesToo]

seriously, Christianity wouldn't exist if Christ had only died, would it?

but He rose again; isn't Christianity about resurrection? isn't Christianity about life?

 

[PaladinValer]

what book, chapter, and verse of the Bible is that in?

It is logic.

P^Q^R^T
P^Q^T^R
P^R^Q^T
P^R^T^Q
P^T^Q^R
P^T^R^Q
Q^P^R^T
Q^P^T^R
Q^R^P^T
Q^R^T^P
Q^P^R^T
Q^P^T^R

And the other various combinations all say the same thing.

I am, of course, referencing your verse 15. By the rule, those four bolded words can be moved to make any different combination and say the same thing because the value of "and" makes them ALL have to be true in order for the entire statement to be true.

Thus, saying "life and evil and good and death" is of the same value as "life and good and evil and death".

The position of the words doesn't change their value; we're not talking about "if" statements.

seriously, Christianity wouldn't exist if Christ had only died, would it?

but He rose again; isn't Christianity about resurrection? isn't Christianity about life?

Where did I use the word "only"?

Find it, or otherwise retract the accusation.