What do you all think about my blog “header” (the picture)? I really like it, because it conveys and captures the title of my blog well — The Stumbling Block. Beyond that, it has Luther pointing to the cross of Christ, which again resonates deeply with me . . . Luther’s theologia crucis (‘theology of the cross’) has been very impactful, and continues to be, upon my life as a Christian. But sometimes I find myself conflicted, in the sense that this picture has Jesus on the cross, being crucified . . . this is rather “crucifixy,” but theologically this is not my intention for its usage. Anyway, what do you all think about this banner header? Does the imaging of Jesus on the cross pose problems for you?
‘Imaging’ Jesus on the Cross
16 Friday Jan 2009
Posted in "My" Theology, Crucis, House Keeping
The Face Of Christ 
There was a bit of a media storm over here when a nearby church took down its crucifix and replaced it with an empty cross.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/sussex/7816941.stm
Now maybe the argument goes ‘An empty cross speaks of hope beyond the death of Jesus.’ But I’m not sure an empty cross speaks of resurrection. An empty tomb yes. But it’s interesting that that’s never caught on as an image.
My problem was with the stated reasons given by the minister:
“The crucifix expressed suffering, torment, pain and anguish. It was a scary image, particularly for children. Parents didn’t want to walk past it with their kids, because they found it so horrifying. It wasn’t a suitable image for the outside of a church wanting to welcome worshippers. In fact, it was a real put-off.
“We’re all about hope, encouragement and the joy of the Christian faith. We want to communicate good news, not bad news, so we need a more uplifting and inspiring symbol than execution on a cross.”
Now that’s *not* a good reason to take down a crucifix.
To be honest I don’t mind crucifixs – Paul said he ‘placarded’ Christ crucified before the very eyes of the Galatians (3:1). Seems funny to prefer the method of execution to the One dying.
Thanks for sharing that, Glen.
I totally agree with you. People want the good news w/o the bad news, and as long as we are in this fallen world, and in these fallen bodies, we need to know the bad news (we live with every day) has been and is being made the good news through Christ’s whole life (II Cor. 4:10). In this sense I have no problem with the crucifix, although, theologically I do have a problem with the crucifix.
Now, you are half-catholic (Anglican) 😉 . . . so I’ll have to take your thoughts on crucifixs with an ounce of suspicion 🙂 .
Oh yeah,
and when Paul speaks of the “cross of Christ,” he typically uses it as metonymy which signifies the whole act and event: starting with the physical cross and climaxing at the resurrection (cf. I Cor 15:1-4; etc.). So to look at the cross, with Christ on it, is a necessary and prerequisite of thinking of Christ resurrected and glorified. So your thoughts have substance to them, Glen.
Bobby, when I see a crucifix I am usually automatically reminded of Catholic symbolism. They see the crucifix as an example by which we should also suffer, but completely miss the atonement of Christ being our substitute.
That being said, I see no reason for relics in the Church of Christ and the crucifix is ultimately that, IMHO. I see your point of using the crucifix as a focal point to remember Christ’s sufferings, but I just don’t think it’s scripturally valid. That goes for images and pictures of Jesus as well. As humans we are prone to idolatry and these “helps” more often than not turn into stumbling blocks.
The Christian faith is first and foremost a spiritual relationship. Religion however has reduced it to an impotent physical act of rite and formality; both of which Christ Himself railed against.
But I am not saying this to judge you; just being honest and open. You are subject to your conscience as I am to mine.
God bless,
Jim
Jim,
thanks for your honesty. As far as relics and worship, I also don’t see a problem with them if they are not “used” for the purposes of worship (decalogue).
I wonder if we could simply frame such “images” within the realm of “art,” albeit realizing of course that this “art” is intended to capture the ugliness and beauty of things spiritual. Isn’t art only human expression of what lays latent to and subjectively within each of us? Isn’t the human psyche such that it is natural to try and “picture” the invisible, and if these pictures are suddenly given physical expression, is it now inherently idolatrous? Isn’t the church itself to be an ikon or image of the invisible God in Christ imbued with the power of the Spirit? Are “images” inherently and necessarily idolatrous, or is it the approach that we bring to these images that makes it idolatrous? Don’t Protestants often do this with the empty cross, as Glen highlighted? Don’t Protestants do this with the Bible itself, we usually have no qualms using images of the scriptures?
Just thinking out loud. I do thank you, and Glen, for providing this feedback.
My wife gave me an image of Jesus on the cross on a necklace. I dont worship it. I’m proud to wear it as a way of saying to everyone who I am.
I love Jesus, I wear a symbol of his sacrifice for me for every one to see. I love my children too, take photos of them and look at them with joy.
Its a good thing to display what you love. It does not mean you have fallen into idolatry.
Hi Gav,
thanks for sharing, as you’ll notice, I’m in the middle of changing my theme right now. I agree with you, but I also don’t want to offend some of my readers.
Did you make your way over here from Glen’s site?
Hey Bobby.
Yep. I followed your link over to here. I’m not a “blogger”, but have been on a bit of a learning curve with you guys in the last week that has started off by shaking my faith, but then taking me deeper and stronger in my faith with my God with more investigation.
PS I liked your last header better….but while a header will help introduce a message of who you are…..it will not define it.
Cheers and God bless
Gav,
well I’m glad you made your presence known! And thank you for your insight on my blog, I’m a bit OCD with this for some reason (I get bored really easy, and am a perfectionist).
If you wouldn’t mind sharing, what is it that “shook” your faith?
If you don’t want to say on the blog, you could email me at:
icor22@hotmail.com
I dont mind sharing Bobby….Im a relatively a new christian, about 3-4 yrs, anyway, I was lead to Glen’s site through a sermon he gave a couple of years ago at All Souls Langham Place. I checked it out, it took me a while, but here I am. I am not into blind faith at all. Not long ago I asked Glen on his blog about billions of yrs against christian views of a few thousand….hence the brain pain that followed.
My view was billions of years last week. After lots of anguish and giving myself a hard time for not having faith, needlessly, I have now taken the position of after investigating this site: http://www.clarifyingchristianity.com/
(It doesnt have so many big words as you guys use)
>On the fence leaning slightly towards 6-10 thousand years
>certainly don’t believe in the mAcro but do believe mIcro evolution
>know that dino’s did exist while people were walking around
>don’t know why the universe is so bloody big and I don’t think anyone else does either! Go Codepoke!
My grey matter has been getting a floggin lately!
Cheers and God bless
Hey, What does “OCD” mean?
Gav,
thanks for sharing, I’m glad you came across Glen, he is a good brother, and has Godly insights.
I’m not into blind faith either 🙂 .
I’ll have to check out that site later (the one you link to).
>As far as the age of the earth, I lean ‘young’, but think I could be wrong.
>We all must believe in micro, but certainly not macro (no empirical proof, and the mechanism of ‘natural selection’ just won’t work that way)
>Indeed, Job mentions something that sounds like a dino.
>I’m not really inclined to take the approach Code does here, he/she seems to want to split ‘faith’ from ‘reason’ (a la the Immanuel ‘Kantian’ way — will have to explain later). As far as the vastness of the universe, I like to look at that, and think about how much grander Jesus must be (and is) as its Creator (cf. Ps 8).
It’s good for the brain to hurt, you know “no pain, no gain” 😉 .
Really good to interact, Gav . . . keep pushing into Christ, you can never go to far with Him (cf. Jn 17:3)
I better run to bed, its 4:25am here in the States (pst) . . . I work the swing shift, but even this is late for me 🙂 .
In Christ,
BG
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, I jest with that a bit 😉 .
Good night