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ORIGINAL: x_SoliDeoGloria_x

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ORIGINAL: PopsiLufsJesus

they kneel before an actual cross, like idol worship?

but to bring up more to this...let us move away from the cross as a physical idol ...

What about the idols that we bow before everyday. The internet, the TV, food, people, our jobs, etc etc...

Crosses are just among many things that people put before God...

I think you're mixing apples with oranges here. Many people put things like the internet, food, jobs, before God. But if they want to have a cross in their church or in their home or around their neck, I don't think that this means that they are putting the cross before God. Don't you think that they might just be using it as a reminder of Christ's atonement, as Christians have been doing for centuries?

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ORIGINAL: PopsiLufsJesus

because anything can be put before God...worshipping symbols isn't uncommon

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Don't you think that they might just be using it as a reminder of Christ's atonement, as Christians have been doing for centuries?

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How can a christian put the cross before God when the cross is meant to point us to God?

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So then take the cross, break its arms and throw it in the thrash.

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ORIGINAL: kisstheson
I just shake my head in disbelief...a person kneels before a cross, say at an altar call, when the invitation is given for salvation, they are not worshipping the cross. How many times do I have to say it? The cross is a REMINDER His sacrifice.. It's what it represents. Never in past generations have christians said, "I don't prefer a cross in my house of worship. Show me the importance of a cross." Read some church history. This is most grievious. You said in one of your replies that churches are not talking about the Messiah's blood enough, so go ahaed, keep asking your questions, "what's the big deal about displaying the cross?"

Maybe if the government comes in and starts having community cross burnings, maybe then you'll understand.

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ORIGINAL: growingseed

Peter made the mistake of saying lets us build three shrines for this ocasion, and was rebuked, there are no symbols that the Lord requires us to worship. There are buildings that chose to have a representation of such an event which have brought them to understand the father. But since he seek those that will worship him in the spirit, then anything man made is not a requirement of salvation. Nor does it mean that you will become righteous or cleansed when you bow, look, raise your hands, sing, and pray to a symbol. So the point is whether there is a cross or not it's a perspective of how we worship.

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ORIGINAL: sisrev

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ORIGINAL: kisstheson
I just shake my head in disbelief...a person kneels before a cross, say at an altar call, when the invitation is given for salvation, they are not worshipping the cross. How many times do I have to say it? The cross is a REMINDER His sacrifice.. It's what it represents. Never in past generations have christians said, "I don't prefer a cross in my house of worship. Show me the importance of a cross." Read some church history. This is most grievious. You said in one of your replies that churches are not talking about the Messiah's blood enough, so go ahaed, keep asking your questions, "what's the big deal about displaying the cross?"

Maybe if the government comes in and starts having community cross burnings, maybe then you'll understand.

You keep saying that the cross is just a reminder, but you get so offended when someone else states that they don't need such a reminder.

You waiver between discussing the cross as an object, and the doctrine of the cross.

You say to read church history, but the same church history states that the cross was not used as a symbol of Christianity until almost tow hundred years after the death of Christ. Why are you not bewailing the decline in usage of the icthus?

Why, when someone asks for scripture, do you point to church history? Do you equate church history with scripture?

You say that people are only kneeling before the cross because it happens to be in front of an altar, but there are many churches where they do much more than that, yet you fail to address that issue.

Having an imitation of the real cross in the front of the church is a tradition, no more, no less. If you like the tradition, fine, continue with it. If someone else prefers something different, don't judge them for lack of agreement with your taste in church decor.

I, in fact, see the exact opposite. I think crosses have become so common, in jewelry, for instance, that they have become a meaningless fashion accessory and not a statement of faith. Do I wear one--some yes, sometimes no. I know what it symbolizes to me, but I don't go around wringing my hands over the state of the church just because everyone else isn't wearing one. Sound silly? So is getting all worked up because some church puts a globe & flags up in the front the church instead of a cross. Maybe they do that based on the scripture that states that "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations", and the globe and the flags are symbols of just that. If a cross can be reminder of the cross then a globe and flags can be symbols of missions minded church where they spend time, effort, and resources to see the gospel spread beyond just the four walls of their buidling. And isn't that what Christ's death on the cross was all about?

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ORIGINAL: delete123

I know I am late in the game of this topic, but I am only going to write these words to a song I sing, by Phillips, Dean, and Craig:

When I look back at what I thought was living, I'm amazed at the price I chose to pay. And to think I ignored what really mattered, because I thought the sacrifice was too great.
And when I felt like giving in, I found the *cross* was calling even then
and even though it took dying to survive, I never felt so much alive

Chorus: Refer to Galatians 2:20

As I hear the Savoiur call to daily dying I will bow beneath the weight of Calvary. Let my hands surrender to His piercing purpose, that holds me to the cross yet sets me free.
*** I will Glory in the Power of the Cross*** for things I thought for gain I count as loss. And in His *suffering* I identify and by His *Resurrection* power I am alive

Chorus

And I will offer all I have so that His Cross is not in vain, for I found to live is Christ and to die is truly gain

Chorus:
His *Cross* will never ask for more than I can give, for it's not my strength but His, there's no greater sacrifice
See Galatians 2:20

I did not post the entire song for copyright purposes and referenced the chorus from scripture.

It appears to me that the Cross is worthy to be remembered. For new believers having the cross at the "altar" call, may give a better understanding of the event and appreciate more the grace that has been abounded them.
CRH

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ORIGINAL: kisstheson
Put up a sign with a circle, put the cross in the middle and X it out. That should make you feel better.

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ORIGINAL: sisrev

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ORIGINAL: kisstheson
Put up a sign with a circle, put the cross in the middle and X it out. That should make you feel better.

Snarkiness is unbecoming. Why not really read what people are stating and address the issues that they raise? I can see this is an exercise in futility.

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ORIGINAL: kisstheson

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ORIGINAL: sisrev

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ORIGINAL: kisstheson
Put up a sign with a circle, put the cross in the middle and X it out. That should make you feel better.

Snarkiness is unbecoming. Why not really read what people are stating and address the issues that they raise? I can see this is an exercise in futility.

I do read everyone's posts carefully. I find the way some people are talking about the symbol of Christ's Passion most grievious and alarming. I know the symbol of the cross was not in use until after the first two hundred years of Christianity. The fish was the secret sign of the faith because the cross would land someone in prison or death. But once the cross became our sign it was cherished for two thousand years. No one questioned or even thought about having a cross in their place of worship. It's a bad trend. This is not the only area where some christians are becoming more "seeker friendly." Their loosing their belief in hell, the belief that Jesus is the only way, same sex marriage etc. Statistics prove this. No cross, no talk about the blood...only the resurrection. And some are even loosing that belief as well and are calling the resurrection a spiritual rising.

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Jesus used bread and wine as symbols of his blood and body.

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ORIGINAL: kisstheson

If the communists or Islam takes over they will all to gladly do away with the cross.

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"Anyone who would follow Me must deny himself and pick up his cross."

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Do you hear rhat Jesus

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ORIGINAL: SonInMe1

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"Anyone who would follow Me must deny himself and pick up his cross."

I...presume...you know the true meaning of this and are just grasping at straws to support your position biblically...when there is none.

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Do you hear rhat Jesus

This is a presumption that your position would be supported by Jesus.

My guess is...no.