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| The cross | |
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Jesus clearly tells us at John 8:32 "and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” | |
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You may assume that Christians were the first to use the cross. The Encyclopedia Americana, however, speaks of "its ancient usage by both Hindus and Buddhists in India and China, and by the Persians, Assyrians, and Babylonians." Similarly, Chambers's Encyclopaedia, (1969 edition) says that the cross "was an emblem to which religious and mystical meanings were attached long before the Christian era." Indeed, there is no evidence that early Christians used the cross in their worship. During the early days of Christianity, it was the pagan Romans who used the cross! Says The Companion Bible: "These crosses were used as symbols of the Babylonian sun-god and are first seen on a coin of Julius Caesar, 100-44 B.C., and then on a coin struck by Caesar's heir (Augustus), 20 B.C." The Roman nature-god Bacchus was at times represented with a headband containing a number of crosses. In 312 C.E., Constantine, ruling the area now known as France and Britain, headed out to war against his brother-in-law, Maxentius, of Italy. En route he reportedly saw a vision a cross on which were the words "Hoc vince," meaning, "By this conquer." After his victory, Constantine made the cross the standard of his armies. When Christianity later became the state religion of the Roman Empire, the cross became the symbol of the church.
The Truth is: | The cross is of pagan origin also, God does not approve of the use of images. |
The crucifix
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We now know the pagan origin of the cross | What can we learn from the Bible about the crucifix
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