The Use of Cross

Many Catholics—who consider the cross to be an object of worship, and Protestants—who use the cross as a symbol of Christ, believe that the cross has been used since the days of the Early Church. However, there is no record of the cross being erected on the Early Church, or of such a pattern being made into an ornament. Historically, the cross first appeared in a church or chamber in 431 A.D., and it was first erected on the top of a steeple in 586 A.D. Thus, veneration of the cross was only a religious custom that appeared after Christianity had begun to absorb paganism.

We have to understand the true meaning of the cross, as it was written in the New Testament. The Bible does not boast of the cross itself on which Christ was crucified, but instead, the Bible boasts of Christ, who was sacrificed on the cross, shedding His blood for our sins.

Gal. 6:14 『May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.』

1 Cor. 1:17-23 『...lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God....but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles...』

The cross itself has no power and it cannot grant us salvation. The instrument itself, on which Jesus was sacrificed, is not important. It is only through the precious blood of Jesus that we can receive the forgiveness of our sins.

Eph. 1:7 『In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace...』

Some who boast of the cross say, "If there had not been a cross, there would have been no blood-shedding, no atonement for our salvation, and the prophecy that Jesus would be sacrificed as the Passover lamb, shedding His blood, would not have been fulfilled. Therefore, the cross—on which Jesus shed His precious blood—is the boast of Christians, and a symbol of faith." If this argument were true, they would accept the following false logic as well: "If there had not been no Jews and no Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Jesus and instigated His crucifixion, the prophecy about Jesus shedding His precious blood would not have been fulfilled. Therefore, even Pilate—who executed Jesus—should be respected because he was the person who fulfilled God’s prophecy. He should be venerated as a symbol of salvation in addition to the cross." However, Jesus spoke of Judas Iscariot as follows:

Mark 14:21 『"The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."』

The cross is merely a cursed tree (Gal. 3:13), used by the Romans as a tool of execution. Those who hung Jesus on that tree will be tortured in everlasting hell.

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