ANSWERS: 27
  • An idol is an image, a representation of anything, or a symbol that is an object of passionate devotion, whether material or imagined. Yes, it would be an idol. Now, according to the OT at Exodus 20:4-6 and the NT at 1 John 5:21 and Acts 17:29, should we have idols? If we venerate, love, worship, or adore it, then that would make it idolatry. In Response to mironos: The cross does not represent christ. The 'cross' was his so called instrument of torture / death. Do you even know your bible?(sorry i'm feeling a little peeved) If one of your loved ones was shot to death, would you wear a tiny gun around your neck or hang a gun in your home to remind you of that loved one? The cross should be something repugnant to true christians.
  • Like all "considered" questions, the answer has to include: "considered by whom?" For the vast majority of people, pictures, sculptures, etc. of Jesus or the crucifixion or the cross are simple reminders of something we want always in view... spiritually if not literally. The images themselves are not venerated or worshipped. For others it is like an identification symbol: I want to be associated with my church so I wear a cross. For these, possessing or wearing a cross is not an idol. There are surely many who do venerate and even worship their symbols, in which case most would consider them idols. There also groups, like the Amish, for most of whom all pictures or sculptures of people or things are considered "graven images" (for all practical purposes, idols). ___________ Note: I do not accept Max-Power's authority to speak for God. The question did not ask "considered by God." The vast majority of sincere scholars and theologians throughout the ages disagree with Max-Power's position.
  • No, and it’s called freedom to choose. A matter of preference. Idolatry is a term used by many religions to describe the worship of a false deity, which is an affront to their understanding of divinity. Many religions consider the beliefs or practices of other religions to be idolatrous. The Christian view of idolatry may be divided into two general categories. The Catholic and Orthodox view (not necessary limited to the Eastern Orthodox or Oriental Orthodox communion) and the Protestant view. The Puritan Protestant groups adopted a similar view to Islam, denouncing all forms of religious objects whether in three dimensional or two dimensional form. The problem springs from differences in interpretation of the Decalogue commonly known as the Ten Commandments. "You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments." (RSV Exodus 20:3-6). Eastern Orthodox believe this commandment was superceded (though no biblical text declares this) by the incarnation of Jesus, and that exceptions were made even in the time of Moses, such as the graven images of cherubim over the Ark of the Covenant or the bronze serpent mentioned in the book of Numbers. Protestants believe the commandment is eternal and still in force. Catholic and Orthodox Christians use religious objects such as Icons, incense, the Gospel, Bible, candles and religious vestments. Icons are mainly in two and rarely in three dimensional form. These are in dogmatic theory venerated as objects filled with God's grace and power -- (therefore Eastern Orthodoxy declares they are not "hollow forms": {see idol} and hence not idols). Evidence for the use of these, they claim, is found in the Old Testament and in Early Christian worship http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idol_worship#Christian_views_of_idolatry
  • Short sweet and to the point, if you pray to it, or ascribe spiritual power to it, or think it will protect you from evil, then yes it is an idol. If you wear it to identify yourself a Christian, or just because you like the way it looks, then no it is not an idol.
  • No it is a reminder, everytime one looks at a cross, or a statue or a piture it is a reminder of what Jesus did for us. It is no diffrent than having a piture of a loss loved one on your wall.
  • I believe the cross is a pagan symbol. It's debatable as to what Christ was hung on during His crucifixion. It may have been a steak. Christ gave symbols to observe during his last meal. The cross was not one of them. There is instructions in the Old Testament for God's people not to use Idols and customs of the heathens to worship him. In the New Testament He said to worship him in spirit and truth. Now I have a question. What does it mean to "worship" God? There aren't very many instructions in the Bible on how to worship God. We are told to pray, usually in private and sometimes raising our hands, to sing hymns and to teach. In truth we worship Him with the way we live our lives. When we give our lives over to him and try to live in a way that is pleasing to Him, that is what He desires. It is a contrite heart that He wants us to develop. That is the main thing that He stressed when He was here. The first commandment is to love God with all your might, and the second is to love your neighbor. Mostly we show love towards God when we show love towards our fellow man. Do we need symbols of a cross or anything else to do that. The cross has become a symbol of, "hey look at me, I'm a Christian." Is that how God desires us to advertise. Who are advertising, God, or ourselves? There is no true Christian meaning to the cross symbol, it is a type of an idol when used in conjunction with religion. I don't mean to offend anyone, I only want to try to get people to think about it.
  • Stupidstitions..err superstitions little more..a bit like a lucky rabbits foot.
  • I consider an idol to be "a material effigy that is worshipped (wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn)" I do not worship the cross. It serves as a reminder, to me, of the price Christ paid for my sins.
  • As pointed out already, it depends on who you ask. If there was consensus on what God's opinion was, this question would not need to be asked. It's not "what the bible says" that is so often debated, but what it means. Obviously the bible does not mention crucifixes specifically, so from the literal perspective, the bible does not say. Every attempt to apply what the bible says to such a thing is speculation. It amazes me when people try to tell other people what their intent is. To be an idol implies worship. No man can tell another man what his intent is. If a person is not worshiping an item, it is not an idol. Plenty of non-believers have worn them and they certainly are not worshiping it.
  • Max Power, In response to the overwhelming majority of these responses, are you ready to reformulate your ideas on the meaning of the cross?
  • If you think it has any power then it is an idol. An idol can be a graven image that you think has some power or it can be money, your children, anything at all that you hold in higher esteem than you do God.
  • I wouldnt think so...Its just a symbol that represents the death of christ...or a way of remembering Christ. But all in the same. Christians celebrate the death of jesus...and do plays of him dying, or like the PASSION movie...where they watch him being tortured. Yeah its all good stuff, but ya know. I dont wanna remember that. I remember what he did for me. He died, he rose...and he gave us rebirth...BUT.... I would much rather remember his life, what he taught, who he taught to....his parables, his love...and what he is doing now. I do not want to see the man I love most getting a sword stuck through him, getting whipped...stuck, and beat...no, NOT AT ALL. And the cross often reminds me of that. Nope... Instead the symbol around necks should be a dove or something...representing REBIRTH, like when he was baptised...
  • Nope it's considered a symbol, unless you are extremely guilt ridden and have to make yourself feel badly about everything you do.
  • not necessarily. most people don't worship it. rather it's like the ancient Christians who surreptitiously traced the shape of a fish in the sand: it's a symbol to tell others you're a Christian, in case they want to say that they are, as well.
  • no...I have a pearl cross that my dad gave to my mom when she was 16...i never saw her wear it...she gave it to me on my graduation when i was 17...i wear it all the time...it has nothing to do with idolatry it is sentimental...
  • Like everything else in the christian faith...it's subject to personal interpretation
  • If you find yourself forgeting the reason for your symbol, you are idolizing.
  • If you pray to the cross, or kiss it for a blessing, or bow down to it, or give any power at all to whatever object it is an idol.
  • It depends. If you worship the cross or a crucifix then it is an idol. I have never met anyone who worshipped a cross. The MOST important thing that Jesus did for us was die for our sins to give us the gift of everlasting life. He did rise from the dead but rising from the dead did not open the gates of heaven for us, dying for our sins did. The crucifix in no way denies the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ is the MOST important point in all of history. The crucifix reminds us of this moment. The following Scriptures even suggest that Jesus wants us to lift up his image: Numbers 21:8-9 states: And the LORD said to Moses, "Make a saraph and mount it on a pole, and if anyone who has been bitten looks at it, he will recover." Moses accordingly made a bronze serpent and mounted it on a pole, and whenever anyone who had been bitten by a serpent looked at the bronze serpent, he recovered. And in John 3:14-15, Jesus says in correlation: "And just as Moses lifted up the [image of a] serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life." With love in Christ.
  • Yes!. It is an " image" (Exodus 20:4-5) “You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. 5 You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion, bringing punishment for the error of fathers upon sons, upon the third generation and upon the fourth generation, in the case of those who hate me;
  • Nah, just a graven image.
  • No, of course not, how bizarre it is just jewellery. I wonder where these kind of strange ideas come from, certainly not from the bible. It is almost laughable to think perhaps there may be a person(s) walking around looking at people's jewellery and making such a false judgment without even knowing the person.
  • depends on what type of cross . and why it's there .
  • I don't believe the cross to be an idol. It, to me is just an outward statement about my internal faith and wonderful love for God and my Savior Jesus Christ. It is a reminder of the ultimate terrible sacrifice the one true perfect man made for the rest of us. I do not worship the symbol, yet I worship the man who was on that symbol and then arose and ascended into Heaven to go to God on our behalf for forgiveness and redemption. I do not in any way believe wearing a reminder of the Savior's ultimate sacrifice is idolatrous. God Bless you all. :)
  • No, an idol is something worshiped. A cross is a symbol.
  • In line with Romans 14:4, I guess we will all have to judge for ourselves, as there are many that imply that they are not reminded of the Divine Being when they are carrying it. There are scriptures that might have bearing on the matter though. (Exodus 20:4-5) “You must not make for yourself a carved image or a form like anything that is in the heavens above or that is on the earth underneath or that is in the waters under the earth. 5 You must not bow down to them nor be induced to serve them, because I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion, bringing punishment for the error of fathers upon sons, upon the third generation and upon the fourth generation, in the case of those who hate me; (Habakkuk 2:18) Of what benefit has a carved image been, when the former of it has carved it, a molten statue, and an instructor in falsehood? when the former of its form has trusted in it, to the extent of making valueless gods that are speechless? (Acts 17:29) “Seeing, therefore, that we are the progeny of God, we ought not to imagine that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone, like something sculptured by the art and contrivance of man. (Revelation 9:20) But the rest of the men who were not killed by these plagues did not repent of the works of their hands, so that they should not worship the demons and the idols of gold and silver and copper and stone and wood, which can neither see nor hear nor walk; (2 Corinthians 5:7) for we are walking by faith, not by sight. (1 John 5:21) Little children, guard yourselves from idols. (Galatians 6:5) For each one will carry his own load.
  • Whether it's considered one or not, it is.

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