Christian Photographers Community

I think you must be talking about Cathlics who worship the cross or kiss it. Something like that.  I have even seen them bow down before Mary, Jesus' mom, but  I am not sure.  I know their religion is so much different then mine.  I really don't know a whole lot about other religions other then my own.  Sorry I can't help you there.

Janice ~ I am sorry to hear Earl has had a heart attack! I have had conjestive heart failure and the last time I had an EKG, the doctor said I had had a heart attack. I have never been told that before so it must have happened like Earls. Silent. I will remember him and you in prayer!

Mieka ~ Not everyone catches my good side as you did. Thank you. Now everyone knows, I do really have rabbit ears. I haven't posted much because I have been busy and by the time I read all the posts it is getting late so I haven't been taking notes to post!
I love you too! I am glad you are my friend as well as Sister In Christ!

Anthony ~ I think I will use the photo Mieka posted as my signature picture (VBG)

Larry ~ I am sorry to hear that they can't help with the blockage at this time. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers that God will help you and guide the doctors in finding a precedure that will help.

My understanding of the Fish symbol is to remind us we are to be the fishermen of people for God!

But you undarstand my question then, yes? I do see many Christians worship the cross. but if it is only a reminder of Jesus.... then it is ok?

I have a Buddah in my room today, but I am a Christian. I talk to this Buddah as one would talk to a mother nature. I know it is not a God, it is a stone. But is it wrong if I know it is not a God? Today I have only 1 God - he is I AM.  

My question is the cross???

Mr Sowers:  I think I will use the photo Mieka posted as my signature picture (VBG)

HAHAHAhahaha
(I am glad you are not mad)  

I'm really enjoying the conversation between you, Sonja, and Mieka.

Mieka, here's two verses that might help you...  We as Christians do not bow down or kiss or worship anything manmade.  We only worship our Lord and Saviour.  Most of us maybe will kneel by our bed or just sit in our chair and close our eyes to talk to our Heavenly Father.  Our kids when they were young said that we closed our eyes so that we weren't distracted by seeing man-made items while praying to God!  I thought that was a nice explanation!


Leviticus 19:4 says, "Do not turn to idols, nor make for yourselves molded gods: I am the LORD your God."

and Leviticus 26:1 says, "You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the LORD your God."

Oh, little Mieka!  You are such a deep thinker, and you
ask the most insightful questions!  Bless you, you keep us on our toes!

Mieka, anything can become an idol to us, if we put it ahead of God.  While the symbols of the Christian faith, such as crosses, fish, etc. are good, in that they remind us of what Jesus did for us on the cross, they could become an idol, or a substitute for true belief.  Anyone can buy and wear a cross, but if they have not asked Jesus to forgive their sins and come to live in their heart, it is only an empty, meaningless symbol.

I think we must be careful to always look to God, and to praise and thank Him for sending Jesus to pay the penalty for all our sins by giving freely His precious life on the cross.  We must never allow that to become just routine, and not deeply appreciate it.

Even our possessions, such as a car, or a house, or even food, can become idols in our lives, if we think more of them than we do of Jesus.  He must always be held in FIRST place in our hearts.

When Aaron made the golden calf in the wilderness and the Israelites worshipped it, God was very angry, and punished them severely.  It should always be a lesson to us, not to allow idols in our lives.

I'm not sure why you think many Christians "worship" the cross??  I don't know of any who do this.  We respect the cross, because it reminds us that it was on a cross that Jesus died for our sins, so that we may one day live in heaven with Him.  I surely hope no Christian really "worships" the cross!

That you talk to a stone Budda bothers me, but I will defer to someone else to explain to you about that.

I hope this helps to answer your questions, Mieka.  I am sure others will also have things to say on this subject.
Hugs to you!

For myself I do not even have a cross in my house.  

I think it is wrong to talk to the cross like it is God.  I also think it is wrong to talk to the cross as if it is not God.  It's just not healthy.

Do I think it is right to talk to your buddah?  I should ask first why do you want to talk to a statue that isn't real?  I hope I am not coming across to strong or mean, because my that isn't my intentions.  

Maybe someone else with more knowledge in the department can help!

Meika, your questions are very thought provoking.  Personally I don't have any symbol at all in my home or on my person.  God is an invisible God and I don't feel that I need anything to remind me of His presence - I know that He is with me because He has promised that He would be with me, so - I don't have any sign or symbol to remind me of anything.

The fish sign is slightly different because it was used by the early church during their terrible times of being persecuted.  They could not openly tell people that they were christians, so they used to wear the fish symbol so that other disciples could recognise them.  I don't have any fish symbol, but I would be prepared to have one in my car or something.  I would not pay any heed to it, but it would tell other believers that I am a christian.

It is a tough question and other people  may have different opinions, but I personally feel that we should have a faith that is strong enough to rely upon the promises that God has given in His word without feeling a need to remind us that God is with us by wearing a cross or hanging a cross on our wall at home, or decorating our churches with crosses.  We would never use such decorations in the church that I attend.

I am willing, of course, to listen alternative opinions.

Anthony.

Janet, that's a great post!

QuoteAnyone can buy and wear a cross, but if they have not asked Jesus to forgive their sins and come to live in their heart, it is only an empty, meaningless symbol.

This is just so true and I dislike so very much seeing a person who obviously doesn't love my Saviour wearing a huge cross hanging from one of his ears!     In this case, it's meaningless.

I am afraid that I have to go out now, so I can't greet everyone, but I have read the posts.  It is good to see Carmi posting and I do look forward to hearing more from you.

Jerry, it might be nice to use Meika's photo as a sig photo just for a couple of days so everyone could see the ears.  They are such a rare sight.  I think that you and I are going to have to get a good photo of one of the ladies just to get our own back a bit  How about Etta Sue or Marilyn dressed as a Mexican

Anyway, I must dash.  See you all when I get back.

Anthony.

This is a very much a help to me Ms Janet, because you say it as "I" believe it to be.

But I still see MANY Christians who bow down to a cross. And they carv and rear it as a sacred pillar, yes?
is it not what they are ask to NOT do?  

Ms Pat, this is why I ask this question. You shall not make idols for yourselves; neither a carved image nor a sacred pillar shall you rear up for yourselves; nor shall you set up an engraved stone in your land, to bow down to it; for I am the LORD your God."

Anthony, I feel strongly as you do.

QuotePersonally I don't have any symbol at all in my home or on my person.  God is an invisible God and I don't feel that I need anything to remind me of His presence - I know that He is with me because He has promised that He would be with me, so - I don't have any sign or symbol to remind me of anything.

But at the same time, I won't rebuke someone else for wearing a cross pin or necklace.  It's just that I don't.  I know that all don't feel as I do.   I just don't wear anything like this.    When in Washington, DC many years ago, we did see many poor people who didn't seem to know any better bowing down and praying to Mary's statue and crying aloud!!  This will do no one any good at all.

Some people think that they need to pray to Mary to get to God.  But it says in the New Testament "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" so no mediator is needed.  We can go right to Jesus Christ Himself and commune with Him.  And I think that's wonderful!

Well, Mieka, those must be Catholics, then, if they really do bow down to the cross, carry it around and seem to worship it.  Now, I know many Catholics are Christians, and I am not coming against them, but I do not agree with what they believe, regarding the Virgin Mary, praying the rosary, etc.  I know that they used to be told not to read the Bible, that they could not understand it and that the priests would read it for them and tell them what they need to know.  I am very glad that we are encouraged, and exhorted to read the Word for ourselves!  We CAN understand it!  It is part of the job of the Holy Spirit to enlighten the Word to us.

I think you have opened a very interesting subject here, and look forward to reading others' thoughts on it.

Pat said,

QuoteSome people think that they need to pray to Mary to get to God.  But it says in the New Testament "For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;" so no mediator is needed.  We can go right to Jesus Christ Himself and commune with Him.  And I think that's wonderful!

That's so true Pat.  We come to know God through the Lord Jesus Christ and Him alone.  A wonderful thought.

Anthony.

Ms Sonifo I should ask first why do you want to talk to a statue that isn't real?  

Hahahahaha Ms Sonifo I am strange in a way that I talk to EVERYTHING. but nothing can hear me except for God. So to me everything is God, I talk to him all day. I do not get to talk as others do, so to me this is how God helps me undarstand why things are as they are sometimes.

Mieka
If you have a problem and want to work it out try to talk with God and if that doesn't work then open the bible up and pray and ask God to show you the answers.  And as you read God will talk to you through his word.  Really it does work.  I did this a lot when I first became a christian.  I didn't know how to talk with God and so this really help me understand what to do about my problems.  I still do this today.  I also taught my children to do this.  

I am not very good at exsplaining myself in words.  As you can see.  

I have the crucifix that was in my step/fathers coffin. But i do not have it hanging in my house, it is put away, he was a catholic. I was one at one time in mylife. When iwas a Mormom I asked why there was no cross on top of their building, I was told that crosses were the instrument of death at the time of Jesus and to put up a cross would be the same as putting up and electric chair or gas chamber.

But personally for me I do have a cross necklace that I wear occasionally as a piece of jewelry that is a reminder that Jesus is no longer on the cross, but that he went to the cross for you and for me. Praise god that e is our ressurected Savior who took all our sins  etc. to that cross with him and when he came down from the cross all our sins etc were gone.

Just a little deviation but I think this is a record!

ELEVEN online at the same time and THREE guests!

Pat Scott, Al Moak, Mieka, karmat, Jane Walker, joyce robson, Marilyn, Sonifo, Anthony, Janet, Papa John

I want to share a story with all of you.  

A couple of years ago I would listen to just about any kind of music and watch whatever on T.v.  Our family wanted to change this and we prayed to God to help us change our ways and to show us what he wanted us to listen to and watch.  Well a week went by and I got in my truck, I turned on the radio and nothing but static was heard.  I pushed one of the memory buttons to turn to a different station and still just static.  I did this with all 12 memory buttons.  They were all static.  I then remembered the prayer.  I took about 10 minutes to go through all the stations and only put the christian music on the memory buttons.  And it is like that today.  I only listen to christian music.  And I know God had done that to my sterio in my truck.  How else could that had happened?  I think God will help us change if we listen to Him and take hede to what he says or is showing us.  We need to always try to stay focused so we can hear him.  God is awesome and he answers prayers.

Good morning everyone.  Well, it is still morning but already 11:05 o'clock.  I came in early and started reading when Cornelia came in and said we had a flat tire.  So I called AAA and they came and put on the spare and then we took the tire down to Sears Service Center to have it fixed.

Janice, I'm sorry to hear about Earl's problems.  We will remember him in our prayers.

I will share a little devotional I read each morning from Heartlight Magazine:

VERSE:
Set a guard over my mouth, O LORD; keep watch over the door of
my lips.
-- Psalm 141:3

THOUGHT:
How important is our speech? Jesus said it revealed what was going on in our heart. Proverbs repeatedly tells us that our words
can wound or heal. The apostle Paul tells us to speak only what will benefit those who hear us. In light of these Scriptures, this prayer of David is very appropriate. Only God can help us tame the tongue and use its power to bless. Let's invite him into our world of speech and ask him to take control of it as he does our heart!

PRAYER:
Most holy and righteous Father, I don't want my language to ever betray you or wound your children. Please help me redeem my speech and use it to glorify you, bless your children, and speak of salvation to those who do not know your Son. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

It is good to see everyone.  I can't begin to comment on all the posts.

Sonja, I really liked the piece on Mothers.  It makes you think about how important they are in our lives.  

About the discussion of idols it is interesting that Hezekiah, when he became king of Judah destroyed the various idols.  Among these was the bronze serpent Moses had made.  When Moses made it it was good because God commanded it.  But there came a time when the people began to worship it and this was wrong.  

II Ki 18:4 He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan.  (NKJ)

Nehushtan, literally "bronze serpent-idol," was the contemptuous name given by King Hezekiah to the bronze serpent made by Moses in the wilderness <Num. 21:8-9>, when people began to worship it <2 Kin. 18:4>.
(from Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary) (Copyright (C) 1986, Thomas Nelson Publishers)


It would be wrong if one has a cross to worship the cross.  I don't have a cross in my house or on my person but I don't think it would be wrong unless one worshipped it.  If one has a doubt about this he shouldn't have them.

--- Papa John              <)))><<

 

Ms Sonifo:
If you have a problem and want to work it out try to talk with God and if that doesn't work then open the bible up and pray and ask God to show you the answers.  And as you read God will talk to you through his word.  Really it does work.  I did this a lot when I first became a christian.  I didn't know how to talk with God and so this really help me understand what to do about my problems.  I still do this today.  I also taught my children to do this.  

I am not very good at exsplaining myself in words.  As you can see.    

I think you do a good job to exsplain it as you believe it. I know there are many Christians of many churches and I know some think more different than others. I do talk to God as you say you do too. It does work for me too. I wish to make certian that when I think I believe something to be for true, I like to ask it in here sometimes to make certian I believe it as other Christians do. I want to make certian I am on the path. many here know the words of God MUCH better than I do. It is a great help to me to have the help here to find the answers as they are written. I seek only the truth.

Hello all!  I will post quickly while Capt. Destructo is taking his afternoon nap!

Meeks-- Awesome questions.  Yes, I do think it is wrong to worship the cross.  God wants to be the only God in our life, and to replace his glory and power with two sticks of wood seems ludicrous.  But like you, I have seen people do it.  I was asked one time why I would wear a cross necklace when it was a device of torture and killing.  I thought for a minute, adn said, "'Cause He's not on it anymore."  (Obviously this answer wouldn't work with a crucifix).

I had other stuff to say, and forgot what it was.

Anyway.  Have an awesome day, and I will be in and out and around!

  I must run to the chapel for a short time.
I thank everyone for the thoughts on the idols. I hope to see others thoughts as they come in.

I will be back in a short time -

Karmat~It is funny you call Travis Capt. Destucto.  I call Chandraya Little Miss Destucto.  hahahaha....  Lila doesnt destroy much, yet that is.

QuoteI seek only the truth.

Ahhh, Mieka, you have the right idea.  Keep this in your heart and continue to learn from God's word.

John 8:31-32  Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  (NKJ)

- - - Papa John

Our house is a wreck.  He is in this stage where everythign has to be in the floor.  Paper, books, bowls, toys, clothes, whatever.  I think I will wait until he goes to college to clean it up!

I love my cross--It is a beautiful piece of jewelry.

I would wear it all the time.

Sometimes, I would find myself fingering it when I was troubled and you can't imagine the peace I felt.

Not from rubbing the cross but because when I look down at the cross on my neck; I recall Jesus' many many burdens and troubles that HE took upon HIMSELF for my miserable sins.

HE went through far more than we could ever handle and HE did it for us and for our eternal security.

THat is when the peace comes over me just knowing that HE died for me and the cross is my acknowledment that because of the death on the cross; I will have a secured eternity worshipping the one who made it all possible.

Awesome to think that HE would chose me to be HIS friend but HE did and I am forever grateful.

Take care and as always,
Love in CHrist,
Joyce

Hi Joyce!   Nice to see you posting.  I do hope that you are feeling so much better now!

Quote from: karmat on May 13, 2003, 01:39:51 PM
Our house is a wreck.  He is in this stage where everythign has to be in the floor.  Paper, books, bowls, toys, clothes, whatever.  I think I will wait until he goes to college to clean it up!

Ya, you better wait because you will be doing a lot of running around.  I am so picky that it is hard for me to have a messy house.  I tend to clean up at least 5 times a day.  It is never ending like laundry.  

<Sonja gets off computer to do laundry>

Did you see the new pictures of my family, Karmat?

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