About Marvin Howard Expertise I consider myself to be a "doctrine specialist" if there is such a thing. I offer scripture to support or refute (as needed) any doctrine practiced within what is commonly termed "Christianity" today. I am willing to try questions on prophecy and history, though they are weak points. I have learned a little, however. Also, as I am disabled, I have time to research many things. For example, I can find a congregation of the church within twenty miles of your ZIP Code if one exists. If traveling, I can locate a congregation for your visit.
I am accountable in this ministry to a group of Christians. I will share my answers with them for review. If a question is private, I will redact the names for privacy.
Experience I became a Christian on April 7, 1969. I have been a substitute, spur-of-the-moment preacher for thirty years. I am currently the minister for the congregation in Braswell, GA. My sermons have always contained at least fifty percent scripture. On occasion, I have preached in seven states, and four foreign nations. This is beside my online ministry.
I hope to never mislead anyone saying I'm a member of one group, when I'm really in another as one here does. By his own admission, he isn't a member of the church, but of the "Christian Church" (sic) denomination. If I can be honest, I don't know why others would want to lie.
I have a question that I'd like answered. What is the Church of Christ's view on wearing crosses? Is it wrong to do so? Please let me know and thank you in advance.
Sincerely,
Roy
ANSWER: Hi!
Roy, thank you for the opportunity to answer this for you. Before I do, it seems you are missing a critical piece of information about the church. We do not have a doctrine that we created or that is peculiar to us. All we preach is the Bible. Often this contradicts doctrines invented by other religions that mimic or imitate Christianity.
1st Corinthians 10:1-14, "Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry."
Roy, according to God, nine of the ten commandments were carried into the New Testament with zero to moderate change. The tenth was changed in a major way; that being the sabbath observances (c.f., Hebrews 4:9). For a detailed study on the subject, please see the BLOG I did at the following URL:
Roy, this lays the foundation for the answer to your question. The question is, "What is idolatry?" If you examine the context of our first passage above, it references the Old Testament by speaking of the things of Moses, people following the Rock in the wilderness, and saying these things were for our examples. Well, at the end of our passage, we find the warning to flee idolatry just as the Hebrews fled. What is the definition of idolatry that was given to the Hebrews?
Exodus 20:2-6, "I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments."
Idolatry is not only the practice of worshipping false gods; idolatry is the practice of making any image, of anything, either in Heaven, on earth, or in the sea, which may be associated with such false worship whether worshipped or not.
This includes the decorated trees of Jeremiah 10:1-5. This includes the use of the ankh. This was the symbol of life to the Egyptians. The cross used by the Romans and Persians for crucifixion really only had 3 points; it was shaped as a capital "T." The four point cross is a historically documented derivative of the ankh. It was adopted by catholicism as they tried to include paganism in "Christianity" without causing the pagans to repent. (The same is true of the decorated trees of Jeremiah that are said to have something to do with the birth of Christ.) To this day, the catholics will use the four point cross and the ankh interchangeably.
That you may see the difference visually, please examine the pictures at the following links:
The final decision will be yours, but it is my estimation that the making (and the wearing) of crucifixes is idalatry; nothing but Roman paganism disguised as Christianity to cause the loss of many sould in denying their salvation. Blind protestantism follows the course of their mother (c.f., Revelation 17:5) and accepts much of the paganism that riddles every denomination.
We are not to bow before the cross, for it is not God. We are not to bow before it because it does not have God upon it today. If the literal Christ were on a literal cross today, it would be acceptable to bow before it, as you would be bowing before the Lord. He is not, so the point is moot. The image of Christ on a cross is equivalent to an empty cross. Remember, we are not to have images of things in Heaven; and this includes the Christ.
We are to remember what happened on the cross (and after) every Sunday (c.f., Acts 20:7) as we take communion. We have no authority to use another means of bringing this to our remembrance; such as claimed by the catholic religion. Christianity differs drastically from catholicism on this most major issue.
Roy, again, thank you for the chance to answer this. If I can be of further service to you, please do not hesitate to ask.
In His Service,
Marvin Howard
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QUESTION: Hi Marvin!
Wow! What a thorough response! Let me say thank you for such a well thought out and documented answer to my seemingly simple question.
OK, I felt that would be the answer I'd be given and am no way going to dispute it. However, I have another question along similar lines that I'd like to ask you.
Doesn't Christmas, Easter and Halloween all have pagan roots? If so then aren't we, as Christians, wrong to allow ourselves to celebrate such holidays? I understand that catholicism allowed such holidays to make conversion of non catholic pagans easier. And as you said, in doing so they weren't required to repent. So, if catholicism is wrong in allowing such holidays (even though they "converted" them to Christian holidays) then aren't we for celebrating them?
By the way, NO I am not catholic. I have just recently been baptized in a church of Christ! And of course as a new member of Christ's church I have a lot of questions! Hopefully I won't become a bother to you! My questions are sincere.
Again, thank you for such a wonderful reply to my question. I look forward to hearing from you again.
Sincerely,
Roy
Answer Hi!
Brother Roy, do not worry about overtaxing me. When my school workload gets too heavy, I place myself on vacation at AllExperts. When I am free, I am more than happy to help you.
Actually, I see you as being reverse from most people in the church. Most will accept crosses before they accept the other paganisms that masquerade as Christianity. In either case, there are some in the church that are stuck on first principles, and refuse to go any further into the study of God. Whatever you learn and do, please manke sure you do it the way God wants, regardless of any others; even members of the church.
I do not put much effort into combating Halloween, for that is plain to see and denounced by many; even denominationalists. I am in agreement with you. To see what I have already written about the winter solstice and spring equinox, please see these links:
To see what I give as a reliable source (written by a denominationalist, but posted on my BLOG) on the origin of Valentine's Day, please see this link:
Please remember, the religion of this fellow is skewed, but his history is correct to the best of my knowledge. please keep that in mind as you read.
Brother Roy, I know there are many things you are going to ask. I do not mind, or I would not be volunteering on this site. Please feel free to ask whatever you need to know.
