Bible Discussion Thread

Many years ago, I saw a inexpensive cross that I felt was very special and I bought it. Now, after studying the second commandment, I am extremely concerned - because the cross is a crucifix. I am not catholic, I'm somewhere between Baptist and Pentecostal. I've decided to take the cross to a jeweler and have it converted to a simple cross - but don't want to offend my Lord Jesus. Am I wrong?

The fact that you're becoming fixated on an object and it's causing you distress I believe indicates a need to simply give it up. Our Lord is not found in objects - this is really idolatry. And you are right in seeing it that way. You're not catholic, and catholicity is involved in worshipping relics, objects, statues - all to do with death or things not having life! Our God is the one true, living God - not found in statues or objects, but as the evidence of 'things NOT seen'. Heb. 11:1. We are to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. John 4:24 God bless!

Even tho a lot of Christians disagree with the Catholic Church practices, recent scandals and all that, they have unwittingly fulfilled a PROPHESY in Luke chapter one. My advice is do not judge!
Luke ch.1 verses 28, 30, the angel told her she was blessed among women.
In verses 46-50 see: Henceforth (from now forward) ALL GENERATIONS SHALL CALL ME BLESSED.
As we all know the Catholics have performed this prophesy. You aren't going to convince a Baptist church to do it; even Assembly of God. We only give The Virgin Mary credit at Christmas. She's in the manger scenes that we buy. How spiritual is that? DONT JUDGE. I got clobbered by the Holy Spirit a couple of times for judging.

Thank you for your thoughts and your time in commenting on my question; I do sincerely appreciate it Mick. God bless you and yours and I do hope you and your family are safe in these very trying times.

Second, yes, Mary was told when she was ALIVE & on EARTH that she was blessed because she had been chosen by God to bring His Son in human form into the world. And yes, we recognise she certainly was blessed to receive that trust. However, the Bible gives no support to a belief in a 'risen' Mary, when you study out the doctrine of death totally (which is too long to do here). Worship of any other being, creature, image or thing is clearly condemned in the Bible as idolatry. Finally, in regard to the right or wrong teachings of ANY church, Christ instructed us to rebuke and reprove wrong teaching not according to His Word. I stand with Him: If it's wrong, it's WRONG! 2 Tim. 4:2

I did not say the Catholic religion had it all right. You're judging. Scripture says don't do it.rnIt was the Holy Spirit that opened up Luke 1 to me. I used to think like you are.rnAll generations of catholic believers have done something NO ONE in other religions barely ever do. She is Jesus's mother. She was chosen. She spoke what had been spoken to her by the angel.rnALL GENERATIONS of people will call her BLESSED. It's a prophesy! Don't mess with Gods prophesies. Apostle John called her blessed. Have you ever wondered about Luke Ch. 1 ?

Mick, I think I've already dealt with your accusation of me 'judging'. Please don't simply keep on making the same allegation - you need to read my emails again about spiritual DISCERNMENT, which we MUST have, as God Himself tells us. As to the Papacy 'fufilling prophecy' I strongly recommend you do a thorough study on Daniel & the Revelation because we are in the last remnant of time before Jesus returns, and the Papacy sure DOES fit all prophetic descriptions of her role. Specifically, she is the 1st beast of Rev. chapter 13. Once you understand that prophecy everything will become abundantly clear, I pray. Over and out ..

I'm going to try and wipe out of my mind that you called Jesus's mother a beast.rn:(

Hebrews 5:14 - But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to DISCERN both good and evil. 1 Corinthians 2:14 - But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them , because they are spiritually DISCERNED (We need the Holy Spirit to give us CORRECT discernment or we will lose our way).
1 Kings 3:9 - Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may DISCERN BETWEEN GOOD AND BAD: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people?" When a Christian discerns the WRONG way, he/she is to turn away from it.

Mick, I'll have to reply in a few screens as this site doesn't allow for lengthy replies. First, on 'judging' - One thing I find with many Christians today is that they confuse discernment (a gift of the Holy Spirit given to us to use, when we are converted) with judgment. No, we are not to judge others as to their sins & personal mistakes, but we most certainly are to discern between truth and error, between wrong doctrine and correct doctrine, between true and false - or we will all of course end up on the scrap heap! We have to DISCERN the way of danger from the path of safety in our Christian walk. The Bible is FULL of instruction to us to discern wrong from right!

Read v.1 you will see the word signified. The Book of Revelations is full of signifiers. What does your cross signify to you? To me, It signifies the pain and suffering that Jesus suffered because of other peoples sinful ways of life. People seem to forget that we are reading a SPIRITUAL book. To understand what one is reading, one must stay focused on the INNER Body not on the OUTTER body.

As long as you don't worship it or pray to it because it is a thing and can not hear or speak. Wearing a cross so people will know you are a follower of Christ is not wrong I think.

the cross is the grave image you should throw it out it is a curse to own one. Look this up on the internet it is true!!

the physical is only momentary. we should not be thinking physical rather we should be thinking of what we can not see.

Michael, that cross is only an earthly artifact that says I believe in Jesus. Unless you worship that cross it doesn't matter what the design is. There is only ONE to worship and that is God. Hope this helps.

The one thing that we have to do, is pray, because the Lord don't want us to be in between anything, the Bible said, that we have to live holy every day of our lives, when we read a scripture, and don't know what it means, then we have go to God in the name of Jesus in prayer and ask him what he is saying to us that we may understand his word, so that we can live it every day, I pray this helped.

have you not read the commandment in its entirety?NO graven Image and Nothing in the likeness Of the Heavens or Host there in Neither Of the earth or the Host there in. when Jesus said"If any would come after me Let him first deny his self pick-up his cross and follow me.He did not mean that literally. anything grievous in its nature is not something strung around my neck. remember the millstone..

Romans 14:21-24. It's my opinion that if something feels wrong to you then avoid that while being sensitive to others. I personally do not interpret a cross as a graven image. Is anything physical relating to God an idol or graven image then? Like a Bible? What if the Bible has a cross on it, is it now bad? What if you have a Bible verse framed and hung on your wall- bad too? How far does one take it? So any Christian objects are bad, and non-Christian objects good then you basically de-Christianize everything in your life and that seems like something satan would want.