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Baptist Crossing Themselves in Prayer

Discussion in '2005 Archive' started by Kiffen, Feb 23, 2005.

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  1. Kiffen

    Kiffen Member

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    I really enjoy Ken Collins Worship website. One of the interesting articles is "How to Cross Yourself". He even notes that some Baptists cross themselves.

    http://www.kencollins.com/how-01.htm

    I have known Baptists who wear collars and even liturgical vestments, Genevan robes etc....but not crossing themselves. It would not surprise me however in that Baptists are a very diverse community. I have absolutely no problem with the practice in that it goes back to the 2nd Century and the symbolism of crossing is powerful.

    Personally I like the symbolism in the Eastern Orthodox practice of crossing more than the Western practice (Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and a few other Protestants) but that is just me. [​IMG]

    Back to the topic. Do You Know of any Baptists who Cross themselves? Just a curious question to this forum of diverse Baptists.
     
    #1 Kiffen, Feb 23, 2005
  2. Plain ol' Ralph

    Plain ol' Ralph New Member

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    When my underarms itch and my nose runs. at the same time.
     
    #2 Plain ol' Ralph, Feb 23, 2005
  3. Kiffen

    Kiffen Member

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    Do you do the Western or Eastern mode of it? [​IMG]
     
    #3 Kiffen, Feb 23, 2005
  4. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

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    I don't cross myself because my Lord and Savior is no longer on the cross.

    Hallelujah!
     
    #4 I Am Blessed 24, Feb 23, 2005
  5. mioque

    mioque New Member

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    About half of the members of my church are former Roman Catholics, so yes plenty.
     
    #5 mioque, Feb 23, 2005
  6. delly

    delly New Member

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    I'm with you on this one, Sue.
     
    #6 delly, Feb 23, 2005
  7. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

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    I went to a RCC church AND school and crossed myself at least a million times during my growing up years and it didn't get me one step closer to Heaven...
     
    #7 I Am Blessed 24, Feb 23, 2005
  8. El_Guero

    El_Guero New Member

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    Don't think I know any that do so on purpose ...
     
    #8 El_Guero, Feb 23, 2005
  9. natters

    natters New Member

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    It doesn't get you any farther away, either. [​IMG]
     
    #9 natters, Feb 23, 2005
  10. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

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    If you're not getting closer to Jesus - you ARE getting farther away.

    We do not have a 'stand still' faith...
     
    #10 I Am Blessed 24, Feb 23, 2005
  11. natters

    natters New Member

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    So potlucks and handshakes get us farther away from Jesus?
     
    #11 natters, Feb 23, 2005
  12. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

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    What on earth are you talking about??? :confused:

    We don't go to potlucks and shake hands thinking that will get us to Heaven!

    Making the sign of the cross is a 'religious' thing and when I was in the RCC, it was something one HAD to do.
     
    #12 I Am Blessed 24, Feb 23, 2005
  13. natters

    natters New Member

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    I'm talking about custom and tradition. If someone thinks crossing themselves will get them closer to heaven, of course they are wrong. But if someone doesn't think that, but instead does it as a custom or simply a reminder of what Christ did, there's nothing wrong with that. We Baptists put crosses on our pulpits, our Bibles, our bumper-stickers, our necklaces and so on. If one views crossing themselves in a similar fashion, there is nothing wrong with that.

    Some Baptists kneel when they pray. Others stand when scripture is read out loud. Others say grace before meals. Others light candles during advent. These are similar actions in my opinion.
     
    #13 natters, Feb 23, 2005
  14. mioque

    mioque New Member

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    Cross bumberstickers are simply tacky, our head preacher has a bumbersticker on his car that reads:" I only break for Jezus.", now that's class ;)
     
    #14 mioque, Feb 23, 2005
  15. Saveferris

    Saveferris Guest

    "I went to a RCC church AND school and crossed myself at least a million times during my growing up years and it didn't get me one step closer to Heaven..."

    You can read the Bible your whole life and never get once step closer to heaven either. I have several agnostic and athiest friends who are far more familiar the scriptures than many Christians I know. The sign of the cross is symbolic and ancient used by Christians for nearly as long as there have been Christians. Tradition has an appropriate place in the life of Christians.

    While the use of the crucifix is another debate it is not used by Catholics et.al. because they believe Christ is still dead and hanging on a tree somewhere on the other side of the world. It is used as a reminder of what He did do for us 2000 years ago lest we forget and opt only to remember that he was also raised and ascended into heaven. The Christian heritage is not all warm and fluffy and the Apostle Paul taught us about suffering. It is not done without purpose by the Christian, but instead is offered up (Colossians 1:24). The crucifix can be a reminder that we are not alone when we suffer.
     
    #15 Saveferris, Feb 23, 2005
  16. Plain ol' Ralph

    Plain ol' Ralph New Member

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    Then you are protestant, we are NOT!!
     
    #16 Plain ol' Ralph, Feb 24, 2005
  17. Kiffen

    Kiffen Member

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    Don't understand that. Baptists are protestants.

    Back to the subject.

    Saying don't cross myself because my Lord and Savior is no longer on the cross. is irrelevant to the subject. No Christian Church denies the Resurrection be they Catholic, Protestant, Eastern Orthodox etc...Luther himself defended and encouraged the practice as a reminder to us that we are saved by Faith Alone in Christ Alone.

    As has been stated the practice of crossing oneself is a ancient practice that predates Roman Catholicism and was practiced by Christians as early as the Second Century as Tertulliam notes. So it is not a Catholic thing and the majority of the World's professing Christians practice it.

    We could get on the subject of "Prayer Circles" in Baptist Church worship which has it's origins in Druid religion that no doubt was Christianized over the centuries or even the practice of "Raising hands". Raising hands while certaintly espoused in Scripture is probably not done in the same way as Ancient Judaism did it by us today.

    The key things is that there is freedom in worship as long as that worship is done in Spirit and in truth and does not violate scripture.
     
    #17 Kiffen, Feb 24, 2005
  18. mioque

    mioque New Member

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    Plain ol' Ralph
    "we are NOT!! "
    '
    Who is we?

    And more importantly do I smell some envy towards a church that actually has an effective outreachministry towards unsaved Roman Catholics?

    I think I do :rolleyes: [​IMG] :D
     
    #18 mioque, Feb 25, 2005
  19. Craigbythesea

    Craigbythesea Well-Known Member

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    Thank you for this exellent post! And thank you also to the rest of you who defended the body of Christ rather than take shots at it.

    [​IMG]
     
    #19 Craigbythesea, Feb 25, 2005
  20. I Am Blessed 24

    I Am Blessed 24 Active Member

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    I was simply stating why I did not 'cross myself'. I have no objection if others want to do it.

    It may not be an RCC 'thing', but that is where I learned it, so I was speaking out of my own experience.

    I also think there are saved and unsaved catholics, just like there are saved and unsaved in any other denomination. I DO think, however, that the number of the RCC's saved is considerably lower.
     
    #20 I Am Blessed 24, Feb 25, 2005
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