The Death Penalty

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by jfrog

We like irony and the cross is the ultimate expression of that. Our hope for eternal life was made possible by one of the worst life taking devices ever...

JFrog nails it!

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Cindy

His death+=Life.

[AreYouReady?]

Originally Posted by Cindy

Though all were used as instruments of carrying out the death penalty, we wouldn't wear any of them but one on a chain around our neck. Or hang it up in our house, or put one on top of our churches. So why is the Cross different than the Gas Chamber, the Electric Chair, or Lethal Injection?

The Cross symbolized His death by crucifixion. One who wears a cross is sending a message to others about what they believe I suppose.

But we don't worship a dead-on-the-cross Christ, but we worship a risen Savior. Perhaps they haven't figured out how to manufacture a piece of jewelry showing a risen Savior?

However, for reasons of my own, I would not wear a cross on my body.

Also, do a google search on the origins of the church "steeple". We as Christians know little about where our customs come from.

[Lafon]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

We as Christians know little about where our customs come from.

For an answer to this question I would recommend reading "Pagan Christianity." It provides the answers to many questions about our modern customs and practices. I think you'd be quite surprised [as was I] at their source.

[AreYouReady?]

Yes, that is a good site to start with, Lafon.

It caused me to rethink many of the "celebrations" I participated in. I consider Thanksgiving my one true holiday.

However, I do not disparage anybody else if they choose to participate in the holidays. I consider this to be a very personal conviction.

[Lafon]

Originally Posted by AreYouReady?

...I do not disparage anybody else if they choose to participate in the holidays. I consider this to be a very personal conviction.

I agree wholeheartedly!

[Digging4Truth]

We've been taught and conditioned to see the cross as we do. The actual admiration of the cross, I believe, comes from the marriage of paganism & christianity that the catholic church is so popular for. Varying forms of the cross have been used as a symbol worn & carried long before Jesus died on one in forms such as the Egyption Tao, the Ankh etc. It was worn by vestal virgins of ancient pagan rome and used by Buddhists and revered as the symbol of Bacchus the Babylonian Messiah.

Constantine saw "the sign of the cross" in his vision. This isn't surprising since Constantine was a worshipper of Mithra and they also revered the cross.

But... in Christianity... once a practice becomes revered... or even worse... heart warming... then it is a permanent fixture and few will hear anything short of complete adoration of the practice.

[Austin]

Originally Posted by Cindy

Though all were used as instruments of carrying out the death penalty, we wouldn't wear any of them but one on a chain around our neck. Or hang it up in our house, or put one on top of our churches. So why is the Cross different than the Gas Chamber, the Electric Chair, or Lethal Injection?

You know, if we could have taken a walk into Jerusalem on the day before and the day after the crucifixion of Jesus. If we could have; we would have seen hundreds of crosses and stakes with people's bodies impaled on them. Some of those bodies were there for days and were rotting away.
The Romans were good at scare tactics and that is exactly what the cross represented.
It is the institutionalized religious world that has place importance upon it as a sacred symbol.
But in doing so, why didn't they also place importance upon the whip with the cattails of steel that was used on his back to represent our healing.
When the Apostle Paul refers to the cross of Christ, he is referring to the suffering and death of Christ but most of all he is referring to the OT scripture, " Cursed is everyone which hangs on a tree" which indicates, he became a curse for us freeing us from the curse which was contained in the Law.
The Bible is clear on graven images either like things in heaven or in the earth. And cautions us on putting any personal emotional feeling into such things.

[Lafon]

Been doing lots of thinking since first reading and responding to the manner in which I view the "Cross." Here's something that came to mind just this morning as I was musing the matter -

Christ Jesus was born, lived, and died while the provisions of the "Old Covenant" God had instituted between Himself and sinful mankind was in effect. In accordance with the provisions of this "Old Covenant," one received remission of their sins by placing the only acceptable token of atonement which God would accept - the "blood," which represented the "life" of an innocent "living" creature [animal] upon an altar. Because this act served only as a "temporary" means of atonement, then once each year it had to be repeated in order to receive atonement for whatever sins the repentant one had done. All this was done to point to that moment which was to come when the "blood" of an "Innocent Human" - the Lord of Glory - would become a "permanent" token of atonement, thereby instituting the everlasting provisions of God's "New Covenant" between Himself and sinful mankind.

God accepted the "temporary" token of atonement, the "blood" of innocent animals, that is, until the moment would come to pass in His divine plan for mankind, when He would cause an "altar" to be built [the "Cross of Calvary,"] which would serve as a place where He could pour out His own "pure blood."

This being said, I now recognize and acknowledge the "Cross of Calvary" as an "altar" - God's "altar" where He poured out His own blood, which would serve forevermore as the only token of atonement for the sins of all mankind. One's obedience to the instructions contained in the apostle Peter's words found recorded in Acts 2:38, is the way (manner) in which God's atoning "blood" serves as an acceptable sacrifice which we, as sinners, are privileged to offer to Him for the remission of our sins and which enables us to be reconciled to our Creator & Savior!

So, what does the "Cross of Calvary" represent to me? An "altar" - God's "altar."

[TGBTG]

Originally Posted by Lafon

Been doing lots of thinking since first reading and responding to the manner in which I view the "Cross." Here's something that came to mind just this morning as I was musing the matter -

Christ Jesus was born, lived, and died while the provisions of the "Old Covenant" God had instituted between Himself and sinful mankind was in effect. In accordance with the provisions of this "Old Covenant," one received remission of their sins by placing the only acceptable token of atonement which God would accept - the "blood," which represented the "life" of an innocent "living" creature [animal] upon an altar. Because this act served only as a "temporary" means of atonement, then once each year it had to be repeated in order to receive atonement for whatever sins the repentant one had done. All this was done to point to that moment which was to come when the "blood" of an "Innocent Human" - the Lord of Glory - would become a "permanent" token of atonement, thereby instituting the everlasting provisions of God's "New Covenant" between Himself and sinful mankind.

God accepted the "temporary" token of atonement, the "blood" of innocent animals, that is, until the moment would come to pass in His divine plan for mankind, when He would cause an "altar" to be built [the "Cross of Calvary,"] which would serve as a place where He could pour out His own "pure blood."

This being said, I now recognize and acknowledge the "Cross of Calvary" as an "altar" - God's "altar" where He poured out His own blood, which would serve forevermore as the only token of atonement for the sins of all mankind. One's obedience to the instructions contained in the apostle Peter's words found recorded in Acts 2:38, is the way (manner) in which God's atoning "blood" serves as an acceptable sacrifice which we, as sinners, are privileged to offer to Him for the remission of our sins and which enables us to be reconciled to our Creator & Savior!

So, what does the "Cross of Calvary" represent to me? An "altar" - God's "altar."

I like this thought...