Protestants and the Crucifix

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Mickey:
I was just told by a group of Baptists that Catholics do not believe in the resurrection because they depict Christ on the cross! I was speechless (only for a second), and dumbfounded. Do you think that different baptist churches may teach their members different things?
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Wow, that is interesting that they would say that to you. I guess it depends on the person. I believe that a crucifix with Christ on the cross is symbolic of the great sacrifice that was made for us, and I think that is beautiful. I can’t imagine how anyone would think otherwise. Please don’t take what they said to heart. Just keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. I’ve been told by people from other denominations that I am going to hell for one reason or another, and was informed by others of the same denomination that that is not the common belief of their church. As for other Baptist churchs, I am not sure how they feel about that but now I am curious so I will ask. I’ll let ya know what I find out!
Blessings in Christ,
Amanda
 
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Mickey:
I was just told by a group of Baptists that Catholics do not believe in the resurrection because they depict Christ on the cross! I was speechless (only for a second), and dumbfounded. Do you think that different baptist churches may teach their members different things?
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I don’t really think that they “teach” it in the sense of sitting in a classroom and instructing it as a formal part of the curriculum.

To my understanding it’s “taught” the same way alot of prejudicial information is taught - in off-hand remarks. I.e. “Catholics wear a cross with Jesus still nailed to it, why?” “Because, they focus on Jesus’ death. But we worship a risen Lord, that’s why our cross is empty, because we believe that Jesus is alive.” In this exchange there is some truth and some ignorance (the crucial point is that of course Catholics believe that Jesus is alive - but it gets left out.). I think that ignorance is passed on like that.

I spend alot of time with Protestants and much of it is defending Catholic belief (believe it or not), because there is alot of misunderstanding.

Peace
 
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EA_Man:
I don’t really think that they “teach” it in the sense of sitting in a classroom and instructing it as a formal part of the curriculum.

To my understanding it’s “taught” the same way alot of prejudicial information is taught - in off-hand remarks. I.e. “Catholics wear a cross with Jesus still nailed to it, why?” “Because, they focus on Jesus’ death. But we worship a risen Lord, that’s why our cross is empty, because we believe that Jesus is alive.” In this exchange there is some truth and some ignorance (the crucial point is that of course Catholics believe that Jesus is alive - but it gets left out.). I think that ignorance is passed on like that.

I spend alot of time with Protestants and much of it is defending Catholic belief (believe it or not), because there is alot of misunderstanding.

Peace
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I agree with this. Misinformation becomes prejudice, and before you know it, everything is upside down. :whacky:
 
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amanda_nicole82:
Wow, that is interesting that they would say that to you. I guess it depends on the person. I believe that a crucifix with Christ on the cross is symbolic of the great sacrifice that was made for us, and I think that is beautiful. I can’t imagine how anyone would think otherwise. Please don’t take what they said to heart. Just keep in mind that everyone has their own opinion. I’ve been told by people from other denominations that I am going to hell for one reason or another, and was informed by others of the same denomination that that is not the common belief of their church. As for other Baptist churchs, I am not sure how they feel about that but now I am curious so I will ask. I’ll let ya know what I find out!
Blessings in Christ,
Amanda
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Thank you Amanda. I would be interested to hear what others may think.

GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST!
GLORY FOREVER!

Peace,
Mickey
 
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Mickey:
I was just told by a group of Baptists that Catholics do not believe in the resurrection because they depict Christ on the cross! I was speechless (only for a second), and dumbfounded.** Do you think that different baptist churches may teach their members different things?**
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Of course they do Mickey. Remember, that for all Protestants (not just Baptists only) each individual person is their own personal theologian, holding to the authority of no one other than themselves on what is or is not scriptural.

Having spent about 20 years in the Baptist church myself it was easy to see that not only is there a difference in teaching between Baptist denominations (Southern, Independent, Missionary etc …), but also between same denomination churches in the very same city … even amongst the members of any one church!

A little personal story to point this out that goes along well with the topic: The Baptist Church (Southern Baptist) my family began attending when my mother chose to leave the Catholic Church had a beautiful painting behind the Baptismal that depicted a hilly field. A river wound through the painting right in such a way as to be portrayed flowing into the Baptismal. Standing at the front of the painting in the river was Jesus with a “Come to Me” gesture (best I can think to describe it). This was a truly beautiful painting depicting the Love of Christ and His desire for us all to come to Him.

The first year we attended this Church however, there came a controversy over the painting. It seems a good number of the congregation did not like this beautiful painting since they felt that with Jesus in the painting it was a method of idol worship! Eventually a vote was taken, with a slight majority favoring the removal of the painting 😦 The painting was taken down and sent to someone to have it ‘fixed’ and when it came back, Jesus had been removed from the painting and the area he had stood in was filled in to make it look like a painting of the field and river only.

For me, I felt only that a beautiful depiction of Our Lord Jesus had been destroyed for the silliest of reasons. The story does give me great joy in the Catholic Church though, where I can be assured that nothing will be torn down or destroyed simply because a small majority of people decide to, based on their own personal ideas.
 
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EA_Man:
But we worship a risen Lord, that’s why our cross is empty, because we believe that Jesus is alive."
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I wonder how they reconcile that with the fact that, at the Resurrection, Jesus didn’t come back to life off the cross, He came back to life out of the tomb.
Crazy Internet Junkies Society
****Carrier of the Angelic Sparkles Sprinkle Bag
 
Sgt Sweaters:
I was buying a crucifix today, to wear, and realized that I’d never known a Protestant to do the same. I know all the rhetoric about “we serve a risen Savior, not a dead one.” That’s not what I’m looking for.

All the while I was a Protestant, I never had a problem with the crucifix; I did my share of paintings/drawings of it when I still considered myself an artist. But it never crossed my mind to wear or hang one.

So, my question is, are there any Protestants here that wear a crucifix? Hang one in your home? Just curious.

God bless.

+Joel
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Nope no problem with the crucifix. Currently I do not have either one of them.

Right now it is a matter of picking a couple out since there are so many out there on the market. Can anyone recommend a safe and secure website to purchase them?

🙂 Melissa
 
I’ve never been around anyone who had a crucifix as a Protestant, however its one of the things that makes the most sense in Catholicism (I know its not a big theological issue like some, but still) - I mean - why do we as Protestants have crosses instead of crucifixes? The cross did nothing for us - Jesus did! I understand the ideas behind Protestant views, but if you’re afraid of not emphasizing the Resurrection, then why are you showing the cross anyway really… I mean the cross would have become empty when Christ’s body was taken off it, whether he rose again afterwards or not…

Though the odd thing is that as a Protestant - I never saw any crucifixes, yet I never heard any teaching saying they were wrong or really anything about it…its just a subject that is never talked about… but then I went to Protestant churches that never once said any of the anti-Catholic statements I’ve learned about on the internet since deciding to convert to Catholicism…
 
I grew up in the Methodist church, and have had close ties to the Baptist, Lutheran and Church of Christ churches. I have NEVER seen a Protestant wear a crucifix…All the Protestants I know consider the cucifix to be a Catholic symbol.

We just buit a 1500 seat new church…It has a huge crucifix suspended over the altar…The “old” church (which was “new” only about fifteen years ago) had a large wooden empy cross on the wall behind the altar. It was hard to look at, because we knew it was a “Protestant” cross…The crucifix, that came from the “old” chuch was in the chapel.

When we began plannig for the new building the congregation made it VERY clear that we wanted it to reflect our Catholic faith in a way the old new church did not…and that’s what we got… at least to a large extent.

I still remember being told…at church camp…that Catholics worshiped a dying Christ…and when I asked my pastor how the Catholic Church “worked”, he told me that it didn’t…
 
I knew this Baptist guy many years ago that wore not only a crucifix but a St. Christopher medal. He said he really liked St. Christopher because he took care of little kids. I didnt know too much about my Faith nor scripture back then, but I just thought it was kinda strange.
 
My mom got me a Saint Christopher necklace when I moved out on my own. 🙂
 
My aunt, who used to be married to a Catholic, has a crucifix hanging on her wall at home. My husband has a saint pin(christopher?) on his visor in his car. (His mother is Catholic and gave it to him)

I have no problem with the crucifix, bare cross whatever… I do not think that Catholics don’t believe in the resurrection.
However, I can see how others can mistakingly think that Catholics put more emphasis on the death instead of the resurrection. (No stone throwing please)
Just an example.
I saw the movie Passion of the Christ. It was fabulous. It was a great movie that showed the true (as close as cinema can come) horrors that our Saviour had to deal with. I cried and with each whiplash, nail hammering I felt every sin I had ever done that put him there. I do have one complaint.
After spending an hour on Christ’s suffering, the resurrection scene lasted 15 seconds.
This I feel is how most protestants (at least baptists) feel that Catholics see christ. They focus on his suffering and death and gloss over the resurrection. We focus on his resurrection and gloss over the suffering.
Jesus dying and suffering is nothing if he is not risen. I’m not saying Catholics don’t believe that, but can you see how we might see your focus to be different from our own?
 
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mellysue:
Jesus dying and suffering is nothing if he is not risen. I’m not saying Catholics don’t believe that, but can you see how we might see your focus to be different from our own?
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Yes. I have often heard your sentiment from Protestants. My feeling is different. I don’t mean to be facetious when I say, that the idea of the omnipotent God raising Himself from the dead is not all that impressive. OTOH, the idea of the omnipotent God suffering they way it is depicted in The Passion, for us who constantly and regularly spurn Him, is an idea that really is shocking.
 
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deb1:
I think that it depends on the denominations. Most Baptists, for example, wouldn’t wear a crucifix. I always liked the crucifix when I was Protestant, even when I was Independent Baptist, but I can’t say that I ever wore one.
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In our home growing up (and even today) my mother (devout Baptist) has a crucifix in her and my dad’s bedroom. When I was about 12 yrs old my father gave me a crucifix and my sister (he’s a devout Baptist also) one also. I treasure it even today and wear it around my neck. I’ve never seen anything wrong with it. It’s a reminder of His sacrifice for us.

The only people I knew of that spoke against this kind of thing was a friend of mine who was “Church of God” - very conservative bunch. He would tell me that Christ isn’t there any more and that I should rather have an empty tomb - :rolleyes:

I still wear my crucifix today and cherish it.

Peace…
 
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amanda_nicole82:
Well I am Baptist - Southern Baptist at that - and I have no problem with wearing and displaying a crucifix. I have a bracelet with a crucifix charm on it that I love to wear (not as a fashion statement). I love to share my faith in Christ with others and I am not ashamed of wearing or displaying a crucifix. Also, when I get some money I have had my eye on a crucifix wall statue that I really want for my house! I have never heard of Protestants who have problems with wearing or displaying a crucifix - why would a Christian have a problem with that?
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Ditto
 
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KWilliam:
Of course they do Mickey. Remember, that for all Protestants (not just Baptists only) each individual person is their own personal theologian, holding to the authority of no one other than themselves on what is or is not scriptural.

Having spent about 20 years in the Baptist church myself it was easy to see that not only is there a difference in teaching between Baptist denominations (Southern, Independent, Missionary etc …), but also between same denomination churches in the very same city … even amongst the members of any one church!

A little personal story to point this out that goes along well with the topic: The Baptist Church (Southern Baptist) my family began attending when my mother chose to leave the Catholic Church had a beautiful painting behind the Baptismal that depicted a hilly field. A river wound through the painting right in such a way as to be portrayed flowing into the Baptismal. Standing at the front of the painting in the river was Jesus with a “Come to Me” gesture (best I can think to describe it). This was a truly beautiful painting depicting the Love of Christ and His desire for us all to come to Him.

The first year we attended this Church however, there came a controversy over the painting. It seems a good number of the congregation did not like this beautiful painting since they felt that with Jesus in the painting it was a method of idol worship! Eventually a vote was taken, with a slight majority favoring the removal of the painting 😦 The painting was taken down and sent to someone to have it ‘fixed’ and when it came back, Jesus had been removed from the painting and the area he had stood in was filled in to make it look like a painting of the field and river only.

For me, I felt only that a beautiful depiction of Our Lord Jesus had been destroyed for the silliest of reasons. The story does give me great joy in the Catholic Church though, where I can be assured that nothing will be torn down or destroyed simply because a small majority of people decide to, based on their own personal ideas.
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In all the Baptist churches I have belonged to there has always been an empty cross behind the pulpit and in front of the baptismal pool. However, there were never any paintings or statues. I never heard preaching against such things (that I remember) but it is just a cultural thing. Churches hand down certain traditions to younger generations and it snowballs. It’s too bad this is the case. I would have never objected to a crucifix or paintings or sculptures. I guess I was just a weird Baptist growing up 😃
 
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mellysue:
However, I can see how others can mistakingly think that Catholics put more emphasis on the death instead of the resurrection.
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Without the suffering, there is no Resurrection.
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mellysue:
After spending an hour on Christ’s suffering, the resurrection scene lasted 15 seconds.
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The movie was titled, “The Passion of Christ”. I am hoping that Mr Gibson does another movie called, “The Resurrection of Christ”. 🙂
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mellysue:
This I feel is how most protestants (at least baptists) feel that Catholics see christ. They focus on his suffering and death and gloss over the resurrection.
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This is an unfortunate misunderstanding. Do you have any idea how long Catholics celebrate the Resurrection of Christ? It doesn’t end after Easter (Pascha). We celebrate it every day for forty days–until Pentecost. It is very balanced! Forty days for lent (the Great Fast) and forty days for Pascha (the Resurrection).

God bless you,
Mickey
 
You know, I just realized that a bunch of my friends when told I was returning to the Catholic Church keep harping on the “I worship the Risen Lord”, to which I kept agreeing.

I have to wonder if they weren’t in some way trying to tell me that the Catholic Church somehow didn’t worship the risen Lord?

LOL I am just glad the Good Lord kept me ignorant of much of the anti-catholicism until after I made the journery home.😛

God Bless,
Maria
 
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MariaG:
LOL I am just glad the Good Lord kept me ignorant of much of the anti-catholicism until after I made the journery home.😛
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Amen, sister 😃
 
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