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Celia
Guest
Lilith, thank you so much for sharing that story. It brought tears to my eyes. God Bless you!
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deb1
Guest
Probably the reason that you see Catholics and Protestants debating on this forum is because the Catholic Answers is an unusual place on the web. We don’t shy away from debate, or Protestansts. There are all sorts of faiths on this site: Atheists, Protestants, Wiccans. They post and we answer. It isn’t a mean spirited debate but I will admit that these boards are more open to discussion and disagreement then many other forums. That is part of the appeal.
It is nice to know thought, that as a Protestant, you aren’t threatened by the crucifix.
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jsussvsus
Guest
HiProbably the reason that you see Catholics and Protestants debating on this forum is because the Catholic Answers is an unusual place on the web. We don’t shy away from debate, or Protestansts. There are all sorts of faiths on this site: Atheists, Protestants, Wiccans. They post and we answer. It isn’t a mean spirited debate but I will admit that these boards are more open to discussion and disagreement then many other forums. That is part of the appeal.
It is nice to know thought, that as a Protestant, you aren’t threatened by the crucifix.
I don’t think that Prots are threatened by the crucifix, we are just brought up taught different. The problem is that too many people use it as a way to point out something they believe to be wrong with someone else. In an early post some said we preach Christ crucified as an example. Well 1 Cor 1:18 says that the cross is the power of God. I think both are very good points.
Thanks.
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Chazemataz
Guest
God Bless you Lillith. I agree, there is nothing wrong with the crucifix. When I was a kid, around 8, I got a blessed rosary. I looked at the crucifix with Jesus on it- and it made me sick. ‘Why would anybody want to put Jesus on a cross like those Jewish people? I thought Christians made this cross." I promoptly talked to my theologian grandfather about it. What he told me still rings in my head: "Jesus loved everybody so much that He died on the Cross for us. For God so loved the world that He sent His only son so that anytbody who believes in Him will not die but have eternal life. Jesus became the ultimate sacrifice to His Father. Jesus Himself said that "Greater love has no man than this, to give up His life for a friend.’ We are all Jesus’s friends, and are all God’s children. The cross is not a symbol of Christ’s downfall, but of His love." That was a touching story lillith.
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Church_Militant
Guest
I love my crucifixes for one very very good reason. When ever I look at one it reminds me of the terrible price that Our Lord paid for my sins and THAT makes me not wanna add to that suffering and so I seek to avoid giving in to temptation.
In short, it inspires me to seek to live a more holy life.
Pax vobiscum,
In short, it inspires me to seek to live a more holy life.
Pax vobiscum,
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Lillith
Guest
Thank you
I never really asked a question…I quoted someones question to me, and then I made a statement. No one has a problem with crosses! I wear one around my neck! This was a salvation issue for me…the crucifix taught me about the crucifixion. If it had been a cross, my mother would not have gone into detail…the whos and whats if you will, because of the fact that a man was on the cross she didn’t get away with just saying “that is the symbol for the christian’s God” I wouldn’t have heard and wouldn’t have been baptized by 16 at all…I might have later on, by not at secular materialistic sixteen (a time when my siblings were really embracing their athiesm and the freedom that it offered)
jessusvsus:
Maybe. I can only tell MY story…and I am exploding to tell it because I am so glad, Blessed, and adored by G-d…I was chosen.
jessusvsus:
I was sharing my faith story, my personal Love story with G-d… I am a real life example how the crucifix worked for thousands of years for millions of people who were unable to read the Bible for one reason or another, and I am explaining it to people who think that a crucifix is Idolitrous…
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jsussvsus
Guest
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amanda_nicole82
Guest
I believe that Jesus died for our sins on the cross, was burried, and on the third day rose again. He now sits at the right hand of God in Heaven as an interssesor for our sins. When you say He is still on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins, is that symbolic, or do you really believe that He has not gone to Heaven and is literally still on the cross? Please understand that I am not trying to argue with you, I am just trying to understand what exactly you are trying to claim that I fail to understand.
I have no problem with a crucifix. It is a symbol of the great sacrifice that God made for us and I think that is beautiful!
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Kay_Cee
Guest
Well, if we really want to emphasize the Resurrection instead of the Crucifixion, maybe Mel Gibson should have begun The Passion with the last scene, then rolled the end credits.
And, before everybody jumps all over me, yes, I’m being sarcastic.
And, before everybody jumps all over me, yes, I’m being sarcastic.
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Cleindian44
Guest
Without the Crucifixion, there is no Resurrection - who doesn’t understand that?
No one has a problem looking at the cross and knowing that Jesus has arisen. However, the empty cross (while in itself a powerful Christian symbol), does little to remind us that God gave his only son to die a excruciating death for us.
Should we tear down the Washington Monument, Mt. Rushmore, Graceland, etc.? The people that they symbolize aren’t there, but when you see pictures or visit these places, you remember what these people did and what they represented. The Crucifix should definetely be no different.
No one has a problem looking at the cross and knowing that Jesus has arisen. However, the empty cross (while in itself a powerful Christian symbol), does little to remind us that God gave his only son to die a excruciating death for us.
Should we tear down the Washington Monument, Mt. Rushmore, Graceland, etc.? The people that they symbolize aren’t there, but when you see pictures or visit these places, you remember what these people did and what they represented. The Crucifix should definetely be no different.
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gardenswithkids
Guest
The original post had such a beautiful story! Thank you for sharing it!
amanda_nicole82:
I’ll try answering your questions with my very limited understanding of this, but it may sound kind of weird and complicated. (If anyone knows how to explain this better than I do, or if anything I write contradicts with the Catholic Church teachings on this, I am open to understanding it better so please feel free to add or correct me.)
Jesus is God. God is eternal and He never changes. (I think you agree with me Amanda when I write that.) God is outside of time, yet at the fullness of time Jesus entered the world. Now, if God never changes and if He is outside of time, and God as the Second Person of the Trinity was once on a cross then…(That doesn’t mean we think the little statue on our crucifix is Jesus.)
This does not contradict with Jesus being in Heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father. We also believe that He resurrected and ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Again, He’s God. He can do all that at the same time because He is not limited by time. There was a specific, historical event when all that took place around 33 A.D. from how we measure by our time. But He is the God of all, including the God of time and history. What He did once, He continues to do because God does not change. So the saving work of Jesus Christ upon the cross two thousand years ago transcends time and continues to save us today. His Crucifixion and Ressurection are the same saving work that He continues to do today, even as He is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven.
Hi again Amanda! I hope you had a wonderful wedding!
I’ll try answering your questions with my very limited understanding of this, but it may sound kind of weird and complicated. (If anyone knows how to explain this better than I do, or if anything I write contradicts with the Catholic Church teachings on this, I am open to understanding it better so please feel free to add or correct me.)
Jesus is God. God is eternal and He never changes. (I think you agree with me Amanda when I write that.) God is outside of time, yet at the fullness of time Jesus entered the world. Now, if God never changes and if He is outside of time, and God as the Second Person of the Trinity was once on a cross then…(That doesn’t mean we think the little statue on our crucifix is Jesus.)
This does not contradict with Jesus being in Heaven, seated at the right hand of the Father. We also believe that He resurrected and ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Again, He’s God. He can do all that at the same time because He is not limited by time. There was a specific, historical event when all that took place around 33 A.D. from how we measure by our time. But He is the God of all, including the God of time and history. What He did once, He continues to do because God does not change. So the saving work of Jesus Christ upon the cross two thousand years ago transcends time and continues to save us today. His Crucifixion and Ressurection are the same saving work that He continues to do today, even as He is seated at the right hand of the Father in heaven.
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gardenswithkids
Guest
I found the verse I wish I included in my above post. It’s Hebrews 13:8:
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
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amanda_nicole82
Guest
Hi, my wedding was awesome, thanks for asking! Also, thanks for your well thought our explanation. I completely agree with you on all of that, and that is why I was confused when badebop said that is something that Protestants fail to understand. I admit that I was a bit insulted by that because I am Protestant and have no problem with the crucifix. I also understand it’s meaning and it’s importance. So lets please not tear down any monuments, and I think the Passion of the Christ is awesome just the way it is!
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Lillith
Guest
It seems that you have a fine understanding! And now…TY…'cause I understand better too!
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Lillith
Guest
Amanda…Congratulations on your new wifey-ness…
I really tried to make it clear in my original post, (and apparently I didn’t do a good job it’s so hard to communicate over the net)…when I said SOME people. I didn’t even want to use the word protestant because all Protestants don’t believe the same.
Please understand…the grouchiness that you perceive in a few posts is defensiveness not aimed at you, but at SOME people who have a problem with the crucifix
We should all try not to lump Prots. together, but out of hast and emotion it happens sometimes. I apologize to everyone who might have become offended…jessusvsus and yourself included!
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Church_Militant
Guest
Maybe we should all start wearing some kind of representation of an empty tomb with the stone rolled away from the entrance so as not to make all the n-Cs flip out or find fault. (J/K)
Seriously though, anyone that knows beans about Catholic belief would know that we are as resurrection oriented as any n-C.
Pax vobiscum,
Seriously though, anyone that knows beans about Catholic belief would know that we are as resurrection oriented as any n-C.
Pax vobiscum,
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