quote:

ORIGINAL: kisstheson

"...We aren't telling the whole truth if we focus on only the one aspect. Without the resurrection, there is no hope for life everlasting. The whole story must be told. "

Of course, which is the reason for this thread. Its important that we don't leave the cross out of our "preaching" and living the Christian life AND that we remember trhe sufferings of Christ. Without His suffering there would be no resurrection. I have had christians actually tell me that don't want to think about the Passion.

Since when have we disdain for what Christ suffered for us?

"I saw a lamb standing as though it had been slain." revelations

quote:

more than one christian has stated that the cross is in fact not that important, it's really just Jesus and the resurrection that we need to remember.
THAT is not biblical. that is a dangerous shift in thinking.

quote:

ORIGINAL: deliveredarling

quote:

more than one christian has stated that the cross is in fact not that important, it's really just Jesus and the resurrection that we need to remember.
THAT is not biblical. that is a dangerous shift in thinking.

Can you show me a biblical passage that backs up the object of a cross is important in Christianity. Please show where it is commanded of Christians to have or display in churches.

I really need you to show me this so I can adjust my dangerous shift in thinking.

In your search, you just might find yourself as having a shift in thinking.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kisstheson

Ever look at the sanctuaries of some modern churches? There may be a globe or international flags hanging around but there is no cross.

Why are we dissing the cross?

Why is it no longer the focus of our attention?

Why doesn’t the sufferings of Christ spur us on to love, forgiveness and good deeds?

In our efforst to reach out and be seeker friendly why are we hiding the cross?

I have heard people say, "Its because its a religious symbol and turns people off."

ours is the modern age where the cross became an offense in christendom.

When did christians stop wanting to hear about the sufferings of Christ?

This is the first time ever in the history of "the Church" the cross was not the center piece of our religion and lost its power to inspire love and devotion.

quote:

many modern churches are no longer displaying the cross.

quote:

Only in this generation are christians not seeing the significance of the cross...

remember this old hymn?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
the emblem of suffering and shame;
and I love that old cross where the dearest and best
for a world of lost sinners was slain.
Refrain:
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross,
till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
and exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
has a wondrous attraction for me;
for the dear Lamb of God left his glory above
to bear it to dark Calvary. Refrain

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
a wondrous beauty I see,
for 'twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
to pardon and sanctify me. Refrain

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
its shame and reproach gladly bear;
then he'll call me some day to my home far away,
where his glory forever I'll share. Refrain

quote:

Ever look at the sanctuaries of some modern churches? There may be a globe or international flags hanging around but there is no cross.
Why are we dissing the cross?
Why is it no longer the focus of our attention?
Why doesn’t the sufferings of Christ spur us on to love, forgiveness and good deeds?
In our efforst to reach out and be seeker friendly why are we hiding the cross?
I have heard people say, "Its because its a religious symbol and turns people off."
ours is the modern age where the cross became an offense in christendom.
When did christians stop wanting to hear about the sufferings of Christ?
This is the first time ever in the history of "the Church" the cross was not the center piece of our religion and lost its power to inspire love and devotion.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kisstheson

"...We aren't telling the whole truth if we focus on only the one aspect. Without the resurrection, there is no hope for life everlasting. The whole story must be told. "

Of course, which is the reason for this thread. Its important that we don't leave the cross out of our "preaching" and living the Christian life AND that we remember trhe sufferings of Christ. Without His suffering there would be no resurrection. I have had christians actually tell me that don't want to think about the Passion.

Since when have we disdain for what Christ suffered for us?

"I saw a lamb standing as though it had been slain." revelations

quote:

ORIGINAL: OLEEguacamole

the cross as a modern day object has no power, true. most people well know that. for christians it is a symbol of something astoundingly important. a visual representation.

the object not being a part of decor is not necessarily a sign of a shift in thinking, but then again in this so far small thread, more than one christian has stated that the cross is in fact not that important, it's really just Jesus and the resurrection that we need to remember.
THAT is not biblical. that is a dangerous shift in thinking.

quote:

ORIGINAL: OLEEguacamole

a cross does not always have a dead jesus.

we are not obligated to display a cross as a physical reminder of the work of the cross, but we are obligated to remember it continuously. we are not to think only of the resurrection.

quote:

ORIGINAL: SonInMe1

quote:

many modern churches are no longer displaying the cross.

Why would christian churches display the device Christ was tortured and killed upon? Its no dis not to display the cross.

Its a dis not to preach Jesus Christ. A church can be Christ centered without displaying a dead Christ on a cross..and there is some substantial belief that displaying a dead Jesus means the church is also dead...without power....without life.

Our church, I think, does not "display" a cross though there is one in the sanctuary. One communion the pastor described all of the sin in our lives and then asked us to write our sins on a piece of paper. Then we were invited to come forward and literally nail our sins to a cross they provided. Then we took communion.

I can tell you...that...was a powerful symbolism.

quote:

ORIGINAL: OneJohn410
You want to obligate me to something...

quote:

ORIGINAL: OneJohn410

Hi Kissthesone,
Here's your original text:

quote:

Ever look at the sanctuaries of some modern churches? There may be a globe or international flags hanging around but there is no cross.
Why are we dissing the cross?
Why is it no longer the focus of our attention?
Why doesn’t the sufferings of Christ spur us on to love, forgiveness and good deeds?
In our efforst to reach out and be seeker friendly why are we hiding the cross?
I have heard people say, "Its because its a religious symbol and turns people off."
ours is the modern age where the cross became an offense in christendom.
When did christians stop wanting to hear about the sufferings of Christ?
This is the first time ever in the history of "the Church" the cross was not the center piece of our religion and lost its power to inspire love and devotion.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kisstheson

"...We aren't telling the whole truth if we focus on only the one aspect. Without the resurrection, there is no hope for life everlasting. The whole story must be told. "

Of course, which is the reason for this thread. Its important that we don't leave the cross out of our "preaching" and living the Christian life AND that we remember trhe sufferings of Christ. Without His suffering there would be no resurrection. I have had christians actually tell me that don't want to think about the Passion.

Since when have we disdain for what Christ suffered for us?

"I saw a lamb standing as though it had been slain." revelations

You want the cross to be preached, and Christ's sufferings remembered. Otherwise there is disrespect for the cross? You also want everyone to always be mindful of what is involved with a crucifixion, lest we think Jesus died the easy way for us? And you count other believers as being disdainful if they don't want to dwell on that.

Here again, disrespecting a torture device is a strange concept. What respect should be given a cross? More importantly, at what level of understanding about a cross does your faith declare someone as being in the right with God? Are the crosses in churches to take on certain appearances? Unfinished wood? Nice shiny brass?

The last I checked, it was still Christianity, and not Crosstianity. <b>The cross has never been the centerpiece of Christianity.</b> That place is for God, friend. Maybe if you wear a cross on a necklace of whatever appearance you want, then you can get past this.

OneJohn410

quote:

ORIGINAL: kisstheson

quote:

ORIGINAL: OneJohn410

Hi Kissthesone,
Here's your original text:

quote:

Ever look at the sanctuaries of some modern churches? There may be a globe or international flags hanging around but there is no cross.
Why are we dissing the cross?
Why is it no longer the focus of our attention?
Why doesn’t the sufferings of Christ spur us on to love, forgiveness and good deeds?
In our efforst to reach out and be seeker friendly why are we hiding the cross?
I have heard people say, "Its because its a religious symbol and turns people off."
ours is the modern age where the cross became an offense in christendom.
When did christians stop wanting to hear about the sufferings of Christ?
This is the first time ever in the history of "the Church" the cross was not the center piece of our religion and lost its power to inspire love and devotion.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kisstheson

"...We aren't telling the whole truth if we focus on only the one aspect. Without the resurrection, there is no hope for life everlasting. The whole story must be told. "

Of course, which is the reason for this thread. Its important that we don't leave the cross out of our "preaching" and living the Christian life AND that we remember trhe sufferings of Christ. Without His suffering there would be no resurrection. I have had christians actually tell me that don't want to think about the Passion.

Since when have we disdain for what Christ suffered for us?

"I saw a lamb standing as though it had been slain." revelations

You want the cross to be preached, and Christ's sufferings remembered. Otherwise there is disrespect for the cross? You also want everyone to always be mindful of what is involved with a crucifixion, lest we think Jesus died the easy way for us? And you count other believers as being disdainful if they don't want to dwell on that.

Yes. Jesus Himself asked us to do this in rememberance of me. Why wouldn't the ones who are his followers want to be reminded of His greatest gift? When we forget His sufferings we tend to get mad at God when He doesn't "serve us" the way we want Him too. Many of us don't underatnd the purpose behind suffering. We forget that Jesus told us to take up our corss and follow Him. We harbor unforgiveness and bitterness because we have forgotten Him who said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do. We need the balance of the cross and the resurrection.

Here again, disrespecting a torture device is a strange concept. What respect should be given a cross?

It should be displayed as a reminder of what Jesus did for us. More importantly, at what level of understanding about a cross does your faith declare someone as being in the right with God? Are the crosses in churches to take on certain appearances? Unfinished wood? Nice shiny brass?

The last I checked, it was still Christianity, and not Crosstianity. <b>The cross has never been the centerpiece of Christianity.</b>

You have got to be kidding. from the earliest beginnings of the faith the cross was the primary symbol of Christianity and was found in many churches. Only in the 21st century are some christians jumping to this conclusion.


That place is for God, friend. Maybe if you wear a cross on a necklace of whatever appearance you want, then you can get past this.

OneJohn410

_____________________________

This is my Beloved. This is my friend. (Song of Solomon)

quote:

ORIGINAL: kisstheson

quote:

ORIGINAL: OneJohn410

Hi Kissthesone,
Here's your original text:

quote:

Ever look at the sanctuaries of some modern churches? There may be a globe or international flags hanging around but there is no cross.
Why are we dissing the cross?
Why is it no longer the focus of our attention?
Why doesn’t the sufferings of Christ spur us on to love, forgiveness and good deeds?
In our efforst to reach out and be seeker friendly why are we hiding the cross?
I have heard people say, "Its because its a religious symbol and turns people off."
ours is the modern age where the cross became an offense in christendom.
When did christians stop wanting to hear about the sufferings of Christ?
This is the first time ever in the history of "the Church" the cross was not the center piece of our religion and lost its power to inspire love and devotion.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kisstheson

"...We aren't telling the whole truth if we focus on only the one aspect. Without the resurrection, there is no hope for life everlasting. The whole story must be told. "

Of course, which is the reason for this thread. Its important that we don't leave the cross out of our "preaching" and living the Christian life AND that we remember trhe sufferings of Christ. Without His suffering there would be no resurrection. I have had christians actually tell me that don't want to think about the Passion.

Since when have we disdain for what Christ suffered for us?

"I saw a lamb standing as though it had been slain." revelations

You want the cross to be preached, and Christ's sufferings remembered. Otherwise there is disrespect for the cross? You also want everyone to always be mindful of what is involved with a crucifixion, lest we think Jesus died the easy way for us? And you count other believers as being disdainful if they don't want to dwell on that.

Here again, disrespecting a torture device is a strange concept. What respect should be given a cross? More importantly, at what level of understanding about a cross does your faith declare someone as being in the right with God? Are the crosses in churches to take on certain appearances? Unfinished wood? Nice shiny brass?

The last I checked, it was still Christianity, and not Crosstianity. <b>The cross has never been the centerpiece of Christianity.</b> That place is for God, friend. Maybe if you wear a cross on a necklace of whatever appearance you want, then you can get past this.

OneJohn410

*deleted. repeated post.

_____________________________

This is my Beloved. This is my friend. (Song of Solomon)

quote:

ORIGINAL: kisstheson

quote:

ORIGINAL: OneJohn410

Hi Kissthesone,
Here's your original text:

quote:

Ever look at the sanctuaries of some modern churches? There may be a globe or international flags hanging around but there is no cross.
Why are we dissing the cross?
Why is it no longer the focus of our attention?
Why doesn’t the sufferings of Christ spur us on to love, forgiveness and good deeds?
In our efforst to reach out and be seeker friendly why are we hiding the cross?
I have heard people say, "Its because its a religious symbol and turns people off."
ours is the modern age where the cross became an offense in christendom.
When did christians stop wanting to hear about the sufferings of Christ?
This is the first time ever in the history of "the Church" the cross was not the center piece of our religion and lost its power to inspire love and devotion.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kisstheson

"...We aren't telling the whole truth if we focus on only the one aspect. Without the resurrection, there is no hope for life everlasting. The whole story must be told. "

Of course, which is the reason for this thread. Its important that we don't leave the cross out of our "preaching" and living the Christian life AND that we remember trhe sufferings of Christ. Without His suffering there would be no resurrection. I have had christians actually tell me that don't want to think about the Passion.

Since when have we disdain for what Christ suffered for us?

"I saw a lamb standing as though it had been slain." revelations

You want the cross to be preached, and Christ's sufferings remembered. Otherwise there is disrespect for the cross? You also want everyone to always be mindful of what is involved with a crucifixion, lest we think Jesus died the easy way for us? And you count other believers as being disdainful if they don't want to dwell on that.

Here again, disrespecting a torture device is a strange concept. What respect should be given a cross? More importantly, at what level of understanding about a cross does your faith declare someone as being in the right with God? Are the crosses in churches to take on certain appearances? Unfinished wood? Nice shiny brass?

The last I checked, it was still Christianity, and not Crosstianity. <b>The cross has never been the centerpiece of Christianity.</b> That place is for God, friend. Maybe if you wear a cross on a necklace of whatever appearance you want, then you can get past this.

OneJohn410

whoops!