Is the Cross Idolatry

[oyster67]

Best thing I ever did was stop church. I felt controlled.

You and I are both automatically part of Christ's Church if we are born again members of His body. The local brick and mortar building down the road is not the Church. CC is a legitimate place for us to get together and worship the Lord...

PTL!

Matthew 18:20
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”

Perhaps the best reason to go into one of those steepled houses on Sundays is to minister to the sick and dying hypocrites that comprise the overwhelming majority there. Time is often better spent studying God's Word at home than feeding on the lard that is dispensed at many "churches-so-called".

 

[Dino246]

Well, the OP dropped an hand grenade and left the building.

No need to continue the thread.

 

[Pilgrimshope]

Poor John on Patmos.

Aren't we by one Spirit connected to all others in the Spirit? Aren't we by One Spirit immersed (actually fit and placed) into one Body?
Are we "connected" on Sundays and Wednesday only? Or should it be a way of life?

Also, if we attend a Sunday box that has arbitrarily created a division in the Body of Christ are we promoting the one Body of Christ or something else?

“with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4:2-6‬ ‭KJV‬‬

No mentions of any particular denominational beliefs I think it’s more about what Jesus taught and sent to the world then now and forever and who believes it

 

[Pilgrimshope]

Mary artwork and paintings are beautiful. There are many of her holding her Son.

Called “ pieta” or “ pity “ began being depicted in the 1400-1500s Italian art

 

[ewq1938]

The Apostles were not ordinary people, they could raise the dead, heal the sick, and perform miracles. They were possessed by the Holy Spirit, therefore, they could not lie or make mistakes. So when you read in Acts chapter 5 verse 30. Peter says that Jesus died hanging on a tree. Later in Acts 10 verse 41, Peter again says Jesus was hanged on a tree. Two times the Apostle Paul says that Jesus was nailed to a tree- the idea of the holy cross becomes suspect.

No, it doesn't.

Joh 19:16 Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
Joh 19:17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha:

G4716
σταυρός
stauros
stow-ros'
From the base of G2476; a stake or post (as set upright), that is, (specifically) a pole or cross (as an instrument of capital punishment); figuratively exposure to death, that is, self denial; by implication the atonement of Christ: - cross.
Total KJV occurrences: 28


Act 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.


G3586
ξύλον
xulon
xoo'-lon
From another form of the base of G3582; timber (as fuel or material); by implication a stick, club or tree or other wooden article or substance: - staff, stocks, tree, wood.
Total KJV occurrences: 19

 

[Aaron56]

I wonder if "church attendance" questions mostly arise from those who profit from the offering plate or from those who get their identity from maintaining the building.

Just a thought.

 

[Niki7]

it could be worse. sometimes one and done is preferable. it depends on what is contributed.

actually it indicates no response to a baiter is needed .... are you the thread monitor? (not really asking)

 

[stilllearning]

The Apostles were not ordinary people, they could raise the dead, heal the sick, and perform miracles. They were possessed by the Holy Spirit, therefore, they could not lie or make mistakes. So when you read in Acts chapter 5 verse 30. Peter says that Jesus died hanging on a tree. Later in Acts 10 verse 41, Peter again says Jesus was hanged on a tree. Two times the Apostle Paul says that Jesus was nailed to a tree- the idea of the holy cross becomes suspect. What better way to get Christians to commit Idolatry, then to introduce a false story of the cross. People don't recognize this as Idolatry because after all ( Jesus died for our sins on the Cross )) the Cross represents Jesus. NO IT DOES NOT according to the Apostle Paul Lines in the New Testament that refers to Jesus and the cross, have been planted to deceive you. You can only know for certain that the Words and Prophecies of Jesus and the Apostles are true.

The practice came by way of the Phoenicians so known by the Greeks, the Punic's so known by Rome. Or as they called themselves Canaanites, since they were direct descendant's of Canaan the son of Ham. They nailed folks to trees, as well as poles, as well as crosses.

Rome picked up the practice from their coming in contact with the Punic's. Two of the more common infractions for this capital punishment by Rome was for those that rebelled against the authority of Rome and thieves.

 

[Magenta]

The practice came by way of the Phoenicians so known by the Greeks, the Punic's so known by Rome.
Or as they called themselves Canaanites, since they were direct descendant's of Canaan the son of Ham.
They nailed folks to trees, as well as poles, as well as crosses.

Rome picked up the practice from their coming in contact with the Punic's. Two of the more common infractions
for this capital punishment by Rome was for those that rebelled against the authority of Rome and thieves.

I also found this page (<= link) to be informative .
hangedonatree

 

[stilllearning]

I also found this page (<= link) to be informative .
hangedonatree

Thanks Mags Not saying this is doctrine but one thing that always made me wonder if there is a connection is we known that Canaan was cursed by Noah. The Jews came across them of course after the Exodus, entering into the promise land, which the worse may have been Jezebel. So anyway when cursed is anyone who hangs on a tree was written the Jews would have been in direct contact with the practice by the Phoenician's.

So anyway have never had the time as of yet to do a deeper dive into this practice by Canaanites. However, have always been curious as to the deeper cultural meaning. As the bible many a times really comes more alive when you understand the history or cultural significance behind why something was written. Well for me at least.........LOL Thanks for the link you have great day.

 

[Nehemiah6]

What better way to get Christians to commit Idolatry, then to introduce a false story of the cross.

A cross would be constructed out of a tree. So there is no conflict there. The OT uses the term "tree" so the apostles resorted to that term. But Roman practice included crosses, so that too is correct. But there is no need to go to an extreme and say "This is idolatry". For the preaching of the cross* is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor 1:18)
*Strong's Concordance
stauros: an upright stake, hence a cross (the Rom. instrument of crucifixion)
Original Word: σταυρός, οῦ, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: stauros
Phonetic Spelling: (stow-ros')
Definition: an upright stake, a cross (the Rom. instrument of crucifixion)
Usage: a cross.
HELPS Word-studies
4716 staurós – the crosspiece of a Roman cross; the cross-beam (Latin, patibulum) placed at the top of the vertical member to form a capital "T." "This transverse beam was the one carried by the criminal" (Souter).