Why do we have a crucifix

[catholictiger]

one of the criticisms that Protestants have of the catholic faith is that we put jesus on the cross even though he is alive they for some reason think that becuase we have a crucifix we think Jesus isn’t alive or something.

i was wondering what is the argument for the crucifix, ive never doubted that this is the truth but ive just never really looked into why.

thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut

 

[RosaryFan]

one of the criticisms that Protestants have of the catholic faith is that we put jesus on the cross even though he is alive they for some reason think that becuase we have a crucifix we think Jesus isn’t alive or something.

i was wondering what is the argument for the crucifix, ive never doubted that this is the truth but ive just never really looked into why.

thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut

I take it as a reminder of how much He loves me. Looking at a crucifix makes me think “Look what He did for me”.

Also, Jesus’ passion is memorialized at every Mass, every day. The crucifix is a symbol of His passion, death and ressurection. It is a symbol of His victory (not death) over sin.

That is just my opinion.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Why would having a crucifix mean we don’t think Jesus is alive? We’re only allowed to depict Jesus in certain stages? Do your Protestant friends only keep photos of their loved ones that are as recent as possible?

The cross is the center event of the Paschal mystery. We are saved through His blood. That’s why that moment is native to the crucifix. That doesn’t mean there aren’t other resurrected iconography out there. Perhaps your friends are not aware of this.

It sounds to me like they are just fishing for something to criticize. Or maybe they are immature in their faith.

1 Cor 1:23 we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles.

 

[catholictiger]

i don’t know the person who made this claim but i saw it on a facebook status comment (don’t have access to it now one of my friends showed it to me im not friends with the person who’s status it was posted on)

anyway they said oh and you catholics take down jesus from the cross he is alive hallelujah (this is paraphrased)

I don’t know how old the person is but im sure she is in high school or college.

i only got a quick glimpse of this don’t know if she is one of the few who believe this or if many Protestants believe this

 

[puppypatrol]

It is a common accusation of Pentecostals and Fundalmentalists (and some Evangelicals) that, because we have the Corpus still on the cross, we keep Christ crucified. They serve a “Risen Christ” What they forget is that, as was stated above, it’s the Blood that cleanses us. They also ignore the fact that, without the crucifiction, there wouldn’t have been a resurrection. You cannot have one without the other. The crucifix reminds us of the sacrifice that was made for each of us and the resurrection reminds us of what we have to look forward to, all those who follow Christ and remain faithful to the teachings of Christ and the Apostles through His Church. :heaven:

 

[Gem]

As PuppyPatrol said, it’s Christ sacrifice that saves us. His resurection gave us hope for the future and proved His power over death, but His own death is what paid for our sins.

St. Paul agrees, of course:

1 Cor 1:22For indeed Jews ask for signs and Greeks search for wisdom; 23but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

Does that mean Jesus is always dead our we wish Him dead?? No, of course not. It’s a cheap one-liner thrown off by anti-Catholics. But each of us had better be thankful that He died. Thus, the crucifix as a reminder. God’s forgiveness wasn’t free for everyone. He gave Himself in our place.

 

[Barbkw]

Apostolic Tradition, right out of the mouth of St. Paul:

"“We preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness” (I Corinthians 1:23).

Preaching “Christ crucified” is gospel preaching. The “word of the cross” is the power of God to save the lost (I Corinthians 1:18, 21; Romans 1:16).

It reveals how God forgives sinners and what sinners must do to receive God’s forgiveness (Romans 1:17; 3:21-26; Acts 2:37).

P.S. I took this off a Protestant website

 

[SonCatcher]

I suspect it is an extension of their false accusation that Catholics worship graven images.

 

[Barbkw]

Jesus’ hanging there on the cross is also our hope during our own redemptive suffering.

The Crucifix is both an emotional and a mental example for us of the depth of love that God the Father and God the Son have for us.

Jesus is the Messiah, the fulfillment that was prefigured in the Old Testament when Abraham offered Issac, by the saving power of the dead viper which Moses was told to raise, and by the passover lambs who were slaughtered to remove Israel’s sins.

The Crucifix joins together the Old Testament and the New Testament and it is a graphic example of our body’s and our soul’s connection to an eternal life with the Trinity. Jesus is the bridge.

As a revert to the faith; the Mass and the liturgy, with the Eucharist at center, with Christ on the cross, it touches my soul with a full impact.

 

[Barbkw]

One last thing, the crucifix reminds me that Jesus will raise up my soul upon my death. That I should not fear death.

“Do not be afraid any longer, little flock, for your Father is pleased to give you the kingdom.” Luke 12:32

 

[Randy_Carson]

one of the criticisms that Protestants have of the catholic faith is that we put jesus on the cross even though he is alive they for some reason think that becuase we have a crucifix we think Jesus isn’t alive or something.

i was wondering what is the argument for the crucifix, ive never doubted that this is the truth but ive just never really looked into why.

thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut

Crucifixes
(sorry I don’t have the link for this)

Q: I had a friend ask me why Catholics have Crucifixes in our churches…don’t we believe Jesus has risen? Why do we keep Him on the cross?

A: First of all, you would want to check out 1st Corinthians, chapter 1, verse 23. Paul says, “…but we preach Christ crucified…” Why does Paul preach Christ crucified? Doesn’t he know Jesus has been raised from the dead? Of course he does! But, he knows that it is through the power of the crucified Christ on the cross that the bonds of sin and death are broken. As Paul says in verse 24, Christ crucified is the “power of God”.

1 Cor 2:2, “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Again, didn’t Paul know that Jesus had risen from the dead? Of course, he did.

Paul preaches Christ crucified because an empty cross has no power. The cross that bears the beaten, battered, and bloodied body of Jesus Christ, however, that cross is the “power of God”. This is why, we “keep Jesus on the cross,” because we, too, preach Christ crucified. The Crucifix reminds us not only of God’s power, but also His love for us - giving His only begotten Son up for suffering and death.

Also, here in this life we do not share so much in the glory of the Resurrection, as we do in the suffering of Jesus on the cross; after all, we must take up our cross daily if we are to follow Jesus, as it says in Lk 9:23.
And, we must die with Christ in order to live with Him as Romans 6:8 tells us. Where did Christ die? On the cross. The Crucifix serves to remind us of these things.

One other passage to keep in mind is Galatians 3:1, “O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?” Did you catch that? Jesus was publicly portrayed, before their “eyes”, as being crucified. Sounds kind of like they may have been looking at a Crucifix, doesn’t it?

The Cross and the Crucifix
by Steve Ray
catholic-convert.com/Portals/0/Documents/CrossCrucifix.doc

 

[UnityofTrinity]

I often look at it like this: As I come into the Church from outside, I could see on the Church roof that there’s a plain cross, which tells me that Christ had risen and ascended on heaven(symbolize by the cross being pointed to the sky). But when I come into the church, I need to know first of what was the cause for the resurrection my my Risen Lord, and secondly I need to know how will I be able to come to that same place with my Risen Lord, and it is by that Crucified Christ upon that Cross.

 

[mark_a]

one of the criticisms that Protestants have of the catholic faith is that we put jesus on the cross

They’ve accepted the Trinity, the Incarnation, and countless other Catholic teachings.

They need *some *way to differentiate themselves.

 

[SonCatcher]

They’ve accepted the Trinity, the Incarnation, and countless other Catholic teachings.

They need *some *way to differentiate themselves.

 

[Farsight001]

one of the criticisms that Protestants have of the catholic faith is that we put jesus on the cross even though he is alive they for some reason think that becuase we have a crucifix we think Jesus isn’t alive or something.

i was wondering what is the argument for the crucifix, ive never doubted that this is the truth but ive just never really looked into why.

thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut

When someone says something like that to you, just turn it around on them.

them - “Catholics keep Jesus on the cross and forget that he rose!”
you - “you take Jesus off the cross and forget that he died for us!”
them - “of course we don’t forget that he died for us!”
you - “and neither do we forget that he rose”

If they don’t get the point, then its pearls before swine.

 

[puppypatrol]

when someone says something like that to you, just turn it around on them.

Them - “catholics keep jesus on the cross and forget that he rose!”
you - “you take jesus off the cross and forget that he died for us!”
them - “of course we don’t forget that he died for us!”
you - “and neither do we forget that he rose”

if they don’t get the point, then its pearls before swine.

perfect!!!

 

[JonNC]

=catholictiger;6972402]one of the criticisms that (some) Protestants have of the catholic faith is that we put jesus on the cross even though he is alive they for some reason think that becuase we have a crucifix we think Jesus isn’t alive or something.

i was wondering what is the argument for the crucifix, ive never doubted that this is the truth but ive just never really looked into why.

thanks for your (name removed by moderator)ut

For clarification, and with your indulgence, I have added the word “some” to your question. One of my most treasured possessions is the small crucifix my father wore when he was alive (he was a Lutheran pastor). It is always with me, first and foremost to remind me of the suffering and death on the cross of the Christ who died for us (and without which the empty tomb could not have occurred), and secondly as a measure of thanks to God for Dad’s efforts, as a servant of Christ, to raise me in faith.

I have an acquaintance who is a Catholic priest. On his car mirror hangs an empty cross, and on mine a crucifix. I take that as evidence that we share one Gospel, despite our differences, as we both preach Christ crucified.

Jon

 

[catholictiger]

For clarification, and with your indulgence, I have added the word “some” to your question. One of my most treasured possessions is the small crucifix my father wore when he was alive (he was a Lutheran pastor). It is always with me, first and foremost to remind me of the suffering and death on the cross of the Christ who died for us (and without which the empty tomb could not have occurred), and secondly as a measure of thanks to God for Dad’s efforts, as a servant of Christ, to raise me in faith.

I have an acquaintance who is a Catholic priest. On his car mirror hangs an empty cross, and on mine a crucifix. I take that as evidence that we share one Gospel, despite our differences, as we both preach Christ crucified.

Jon

thanks fine and yes i agree we are closer then many people think hopefully one day we will agree with the truth that Christ gave us

 

[scriabin]

I think it’s always a good thing to build bridges to protestants by finding things we have in common, things we can all agree on. Most of our previous posts have been about things that protestants really can’t argue with–“the crucifix reminds me of His sacrifice.”

But I think the real heartfelt issue that the protestants in my family and co-workers have is that they hate the Mass. The crucifix is the mass. The one and same sacrifice. And what offends them even more is that we believe we participate in His one and only sacrifice every Sunday and daily mass.

They would argue along these lines:

“Jesus is the only one that can offer Himself. It happened when He was crucified 2000 years ago. He offered Himself to the Father in heaven and then sat down at His right hand. The sacrifice is over. The offering to the Father is over. How dare we Catholics believe that we can share in His offering? How can your sufferings be united with His and be redemptive? How blasphemous!”

The mass is our participation with Jesus’ sacrifice. It is also our participation of His offering to the Father. Every altar has to have a crucifix nearby. The crucifix and mass are the same thing and it offends, outrages, and disgusts protestants.

 

[JonNC]

I think it’s always a good thing to build bridges to protestants by finding things we have in common, things we can all agree on. Most of our previous posts have been about things that protestants really can’t argue with–“the crucifix reminds me of His sacrifice.”

But I think the real heartfelt issue that the protestants in my family and co-workers have is that they hate the Mass. The crucifix is the mass. The one and same sacrifice. And what offends them even more is that we believe we participate in His one and only sacrifice every Sunday and daily mass.

They would argue along these lines:

“Jesus is the only one that can offer Himself. It happened when He was crucified 2000 years ago. He offered Himself to the Father in heaven and then sat down at His right hand. The sacrifice is over. The offering to the Father is over. How dare we Catholics believe that we can share in His offering? How can your sufferings be united with His and be redemptive? How blasphemous!”

The mass is our participation with Jesus’ sacrifice. It is also our participation of His offering to the Father. Every altar has to have a crucifix nearby. The crucifix and mass are the same thing and it offends, outrages, and disgusts protestants.

Ok, interesting. Is that what you got from my post?

Jon