Christmas Mass in Rome

The Eucharist is supposed to be the reminder of what the Christ did, HE said so! He never once said "keep me on the cross to remind you of what I did for you". But he did tell the apostles after the breaking of bread and drinking of the cup, "as oft as ye do this, do it in remembrance of me".

The reminder is the broken bread and the wine. the image of a man on the cross is idolatry, as it is a graven image.

I am confident that the Apostles did not carry a crucifix to remind them of what Jesus did, and they gave no instruction for the first century church to do that either. Not one of their writings give instruction to engrave or carve images of Jesus on the cross. It is grossly UN-CHRISTIAN, and UN-JEWISH to carry idols and to have them on display in the gathering places and in our homes. If you are Christian as you say you are. Cease and desist this vile practice. For the one Christians are named after declares the Law stands!

I see no difference in Catholics with Crucifixes, and Greeks with their idols of their goddess Diana, or the Romans with their idols. They're all the same. They are all violating commandment #2 out of 10. by making graven images, and #3 out of 10 for kneeling before those carved or graven images to say their prayers. By the Holy Name of Jesus that is what you do when you kneel and genuflex as you enter the sanctuary that has a Crucifix at or near the table of worship in the front of the church. I have personally witnessed it hundreds of times.

The last time I looked at a crucifix, it certainly appeared to be a carved or molded image of a man on a cross. Now I know it isn't Jesus on that cross, because Jesus is alive and seated at the Father's right hand IN HEAVEN. So that leaves nothing more than the image of a man who is of this earth.

And since Jesus told us that he did not come to do away with the law, and that those who violate even the least of the commandments will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven, guess who gets to do "pots and pans" for eternity? Seems to me, the answer is the Pope and the Priesthood of the Roman Catholic church for not doing away with the Crucifix, "a graven image".

 

Good point! However, the Cross is an instrument of death, a tool, an emplement used for a specific purpose. When empty, is represents nothing more than what a pair of pliers, or hammer, hanging on the wall represents. When Christians look up and see the empty tool, we know what it is used for, but we also know it is not in use, it is idle!

With the graven image of a man hung on the cross, it becomes an Idol, because in Christian circles everyone knows the man on the cross represents Jesus whom we are instructed to worship, and to which every knee shall bow. The connection is made in the form of an idol and when one kneels "in prayer" before that image, one is paying homage to the idol.

When one kneels before an empty cross, we are paying homage not to the cross, but to the one who is no longer on the cross. The cross becomes our symbol and banner of victory because Jesus lives, victorious over death, after having died upon that instrument. The empty cross remains an instrument, a tool, upon which death occured, but which has no power over life, just a worthless chunk of wood.

 

Jesus said 'Consider the lilies of the field...', I suppose the answer to the question is how much is enough? Who needs all the wealth when your God is the God of creation that owns all there is anyway?

Owning property? Are we talking real estate or "personal property"? The adornments of what I saw on TV, in my opinion are excessive opulence. Perhaps modest real estate holdings if fitting, after all the gathering place needs to be free from civil incumberences, a stable place that attendees know where meetings will take place.

Church dress should not be an expression of ones wealth....period.

The bible does not speak against private property ownership nor does is speak against fine clothing. However, it depends on why one wears their finest or most expensive clothing to church. If for show, one should not, if for status, one should not. If one's clothing all bears the mark of wealth, then wear the most modest. Church is not the place for "my dog's bigger 'n yours" stuff.

The distance that I am willing to take the issue is "everything in modesty", "everything tempered", don't make of yourself a mark for criticism.

 

No. I am glad you go out and attend worship services with other Christians. I think that is great.

In honesty, I would rather you settle among a congregation close to your home in your community, so you can become a part of your parishes life. This can be very enriching. I am talking about all the wonderful people that you eventually feel like family with, and the personal leverage we gain in deep relationships. Youngsters and teenagers will question all of this religion eventually. You can be a bulwark in thier life. </font>[/QUOTE]Thank you, but I've been there and done that. I get most of what you suggest simply by being Christian. Membership in a congregation is not may cup of tea.