Posted on 04/03/2015 4:48:06 AM PDT by NYer
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 he 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”. So, we “keep Jesus on the cross” because we too preach Christ crucified. And the crucifix reminds us of 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?
I presume you are referring to Exodus 20:4-5. In fact, five chapters later God commands the Israelites to make two golden statues of angels as part of the lid of the ark of the Covenant (Ex 25:17-19). That’s an image of something from heaven. Then, in 1 Kings 6, God commands that graven images of flowers and palm trees be made, as well as 15-foot tall statues of cherubim. And in Numbers 21, God commands that a bronze serpent be made and uses it to heal the Israelites. It was preserved for 800 years and then destroyed when some began to worship it (2 Kgs 18:4).
Catholics do not worship statues, because only God is deserving of adoration. The Catechism of the Catholic Church is adamant in affirming this (CCC 2112–2114). When a Catholic bows to a statue, he is not worshiping it any more than King Solomon worshiped Bathsheba when he bowed to her in 1 Kings 2:19. In other words, the honor given to images does not detract from the honor that is due to God. After all, if one member of the body is honored, the others should share in its joy (1 Cor 12:26).
Rather Christianity is a grafting onto the olive tree known as Israel.
The closet image is from the famous “Shroud of Turin”.
Rather the Christian is GROWING in other parts of the world, in Africa and in Asia.
Interesting. You quote a parable of Jesus to justify the need to return to return to the Old Covenant.
I think the bigger question is why do non-Catholics gloss over that part?
Sure, he could’ve just ascended into Heaven, but without his sacrifice, there would be no redemption. We should never forget that.
Me either. Our church is such a reverent setting because of our huge crucifix.
I assume you are referring to non-Christians.
I've never met those folks in the body of Believers. Never.
Because they keep sacrificing Him several times a day ...for them it is not “finished”
Were YOU redeemed by the cross? Was anyone redeemed?
Never attended a Catholic baptism, but a good friend converted to Roman Catholicism and was baptized by immersion - on a Good Friday.
Nope. I'm talking about those Christians who focus solely on the empty cross … forgetting about the fact that Jesus took on all of our sins and bared the punishment due us. And without that sacrifice, there would be no resurrection. And about those that think it's bad that Catholics to honor Christ on the cross.
**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 he 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.**
BTTT!
Why was the curtain in the Jewish temple rent from top to bottom at the hour of Christ's death?
Let us pray likewise for the faithless Jews: that the Lord our God may remove from their hearts the veil of unbelief: and that they may come to the knowledge of Jesus Christ our Lord. Let us pray.
Almighty and eternal God, who drivest not away from Thy mercy even the faithless Jews: hear our prayers, which we offer for the blindness of that people: that acknowledging the light of Thy truth, which is Christ, they may be delivered from their darkness. Through the same Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God. world without end.
R. Amen.
Like I said, I don’t know those folks.
Faith and Works.
Good. I’ve met a few.
Wut?
Awesome reply! God bless you!
FYI: it’s an option. Otherwise the water is poured over the head, NOT sprinkled.
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