Graven Image?

[Malachi4U]

I have numerous protestants tell me that my crucifix is a graven image. Christ has risen and is no longer on the cross so the cross must be empty they claim.

Now, if Christ has risen why do so many protestants put a baby Jesus in the manger? If He is risen then He is no longer a baby? He is no longer in a manger? Is it OK to make paintings of a Christ who looks like a Hollywood actor if He is risen and not in the painting?

Is this just another double standard? Is it not the same at all?

 

[justinmatter]

they also say that because we have christ represented on the crucifix, it means we still think of christ as crucified while the empty cross (which they use) denotes that christ is risen.

reminds you a bit of the belief of some non-catholics that during the mass, jesus is sacrificed again, doesn’t it?

 

[geezerbob]

I never could quite understand their use of the empty cross. Christ’s resurrection proved he was God. His death on the cross, however, paid the price for our sins and offered us salvation. Which is more important???

 

[dal11]

you might ask why they wear a cross, because it isn’t on calvary anymore either.

 

[Carl]

I suppose you might say that protestants adopt the philosophy of accentuating the positive and eliminating the negative. A comforting philosophy, no doubt. There is a *more comforting * thought … that Jesus loved us so much he let himself be nailed to the cross to save our miserable hides.

 

[mkw]

When I look at our Lord on the cross, I see the greatest act of love even known.

I find myself looking up at the crucifix, imagining in my mind the great suffering He endured for ME, a weak sinner.

A graven image?..NO

When I look at the crucifix, it overwhelms me to know that God loves each of us so much that He sacraficed His son. In part, it was my sins that nailed Jesus to the cross. Now, how can I live my life in a manner pleasing to Him. What gifts can I give Him in return for His sacrafice.

 

[Joe_Kelley]

Note that in John 3:14 And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, Jesus claims the image of the serpent to be a prototype of the crucifix.

Going to Numbers 21:9

Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he recovered.

If looking on the bronze serpent would cure one of physical ills how much more will looking on the crucifix cure one of spiritual ills.

 

[EddieArent]

The empty cross I don’t get. Our Lord was not the only one crucified. A crucifix with Jesus of Nazareth King of The Jews aptop is a reminder to us the the gift that God has given us during the sacrifice. If they claim what they do regarding resurrection and what not, why not an empty tomb? An empty cross is just that. Empty. To sort of quote Father Angelus from EWTN.

 

[PaulDupre]

We just remember Jesus as the NT Church did.

1 Corinthians 1:23
But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumblingblock, and to the Greeks foolishness;

1 Corinthians 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

Galatians 3:1
You foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?

God bless us all,
Paul

 

[Joe_Kelley]

justinmatter:

they also say that because we have christ represented on the crucifix, it means we still think of christ as crucified while the empty cross (which they use) denotes that christ is risen.

reminds you a bit of the belief of some non-catholics that during the mass, jesus is sacrificed again, doesn’t it?

Check their empty cross. Does it have nail holes and blood? Or is it pristine - never used?

 

[Church_Militant]

My favorite answer is that we have that crucifix because it reminds me at every glance what was the price of our sins and makes me personally not want to do that stuff again.

 

[mercygate]

My response to this one is that the cross/crucifix controversy is utterly overblown. The empty cross speaks of the resurrection. The crucifix speaks of the once-and-for-all Sacrifice of Christ. Both aspects of the mystery are bedrock essentials of our faith. The crucifix is no more a “graven image” than a plain cross. Nobody “worships” either one.

 

[CJE]

geezerbob:

I never could quite understand their use of the empty cross. Christ’s resurrection proved he was God. His death on the cross, however, paid the price for our sins and offered us salvation. Which is more important???

Actually, they are equally important. Christ could not have risen if He was not God. OTOH, Christ could not have redeemed us if He was not God either. So, really they are equally important.

But I agree, there is nothing wrong with depicting Christ on the cross. It reminds me of His sacrifice and my duty to live my life as He did.