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Hollywood131
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"The shape of the [the two-beamed cross] had its origin in ancient Chaldea, and was used as
the symbol of the god Tammuz in that country and in adjacent lands, including Egypt. By the middle of the 3rd cent. A.D. the churches had either departed from, or had travestied, certain doctrines of the Christian faith. In order to increase the prestige of the apostate ecclesiastical system pagans were received into the churches apart from regeneration by faith, and were permitted largely to retain their pagan signs and symbols. Hence the Tau or T, in its most frequent form , with the cross-piece lowered , was adopted to stand for the cross of Christ."
-An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words(London, 1962), W.E. Vine, p.256.
The Greek word rendered "cross" in many modern Bible versions is stau-ros'. In classical Greek, this word meant merely an upright stake, or pale.
Concerning first-century Christians, History of the Christian Church says: "There was no use of the crucifix and no material representation of the cross."-(New York, 1897), J.F. Hurst, Vol I. p.366.
What does God's word say about the making of images used as objects of worship?
Lev.26:1, JB: "You must make no idols;you must set up neither carved image nor standing-stone, set up no sculptured stone in your land, to prostrate yourselves in front of it; for it is I, Yahweh, who am your God." (No image before which people might bow in worship was ever to be set up.) Knowing this, would it be appropraite to worship with crosses, Rosery beads, and other idols?
May images be used simply as aids in worship of the true God?
2 Cor. 5:7,NAB: "We walk by faith, not by sight."
Isa. 40:18, JB: "To whom could you liken God? What image could you contrive of him?"
Isa. 42:8, JB: "My name is Yahweh, I will not yield my glory to another, nor my honour to idols."
Jer. 10:14,15, JB: "Every goldsmith blushes for the idol he has made, since his images are nothing but delusion, with no breath in them. They are Nothing, a laughable production."
Does it really make a difference if a person cherishes a cross, as long as he does not worship it?
How would you feel if one of your dearest friends was executed on the basis of false charges? Would you make a replica of the instrument of execution? Would you cherish it, or would you rather shun it?
In ancient Israel, unfaithful Jews wept over the death of the false god Tammuz. Jehovah spoke of what they were doing as being a 'detestable thing.'(Ezek. 8:13,14) According to history, Tammuz was a Babylonian god, and the cross was used as his symbol. From its beginning in the days of Nimrod, Babylon was against God and an enemy of true worship. (Gen. 10:8-10; Jer. 50:29) So by cherishing the cross, a person is honoring a symbol of worship that is opposed to the true God.
the symbol of the god Tammuz in that country and in adjacent lands, including Egypt. By the middle of the 3rd cent. A.D. the churches had either departed from, or had travestied, certain doctrines of the Christian faith. In order to increase the prestige of the apostate ecclesiastical system pagans were received into the churches apart from regeneration by faith, and were permitted largely to retain their pagan signs and symbols. Hence the Tau or T, in its most frequent form , with the cross-piece lowered , was adopted to stand for the cross of Christ."
-An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words(London, 1962), W.E. Vine, p.256.
The Greek word rendered "cross" in many modern Bible versions is stau-ros'. In classical Greek, this word meant merely an upright stake, or pale.
Concerning first-century Christians, History of the Christian Church says: "There was no use of the crucifix and no material representation of the cross."-(New York, 1897), J.F. Hurst, Vol I. p.366.
What does God's word say about the making of images used as objects of worship?
Lev.26:1, JB: "You must make no idols;you must set up neither carved image nor standing-stone, set up no sculptured stone in your land, to prostrate yourselves in front of it; for it is I, Yahweh, who am your God." (No image before which people might bow in worship was ever to be set up.) Knowing this, would it be appropraite to worship with crosses, Rosery beads, and other idols?
May images be used simply as aids in worship of the true God?
2 Cor. 5:7,NAB: "We walk by faith, not by sight."
Isa. 40:18, JB: "To whom could you liken God? What image could you contrive of him?"
Isa. 42:8, JB: "My name is Yahweh, I will not yield my glory to another, nor my honour to idols."
Jer. 10:14,15, JB: "Every goldsmith blushes for the idol he has made, since his images are nothing but delusion, with no breath in them. They are Nothing, a laughable production."
Does it really make a difference if a person cherishes a cross, as long as he does not worship it?
How would you feel if one of your dearest friends was executed on the basis of false charges? Would you make a replica of the instrument of execution? Would you cherish it, or would you rather shun it?
In ancient Israel, unfaithful Jews wept over the death of the false god Tammuz. Jehovah spoke of what they were doing as being a 'detestable thing.'(Ezek. 8:13,14) According to history, Tammuz was a Babylonian god, and the cross was used as his symbol. From its beginning in the days of Nimrod, Babylon was against God and an enemy of true worship. (Gen. 10:8-10; Jer. 50:29) So by cherishing the cross, a person is honoring a symbol of worship that is opposed to the true God.
