7.28.2006

Too much Cross?

The Church Marketing Sucks website just posted results to a poll in which respondents were asked which symbols are overused by the church. Not surprising, the Cross is the big winner. Second place goes to the Dove.

So, that begs the question, so do we really overuse the Cross? It is after all the symbol that epidomizes the saving act of Jesus Christ, the central event of our faith.

But do we turn people off with the Cross? Has it come to mean something different for people in our culture? Or have we, the church, given it some new meaning that makes our culture uncomfortable?

If the Cross is no longer our best option as the symbol for our faith, what symbol is?

I don't have answers to these questions, but I'd love to hear what anyone else out there thinks.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

why do you christians feel like you need a symbol? it is un nessecary in my opinion. i know christians through out history have clung to some kind of symbol, but do you realy have to have omne at all. just a question?

Anonymous said...

personally, if you read into history of modern christianity, you will find that most symbols are paganistic...such as the cross.
i think you should purchase the book 'the two babylons' by alexander hislop. this book actually contains interesting information on symbols and so many other things related to modern christianity and paganism, the two are combined and it's unreal! religion isn't a symbol....a cross, well, if you read the book you shall find out the cross and it's meaning.
check out this site:
http://www.remnantofgod.org/whoreofbabylon.htm#quotes

no, im not here to convert you, but i just wanted to share this with you. no harm in that, right?
you know ryan heltemes? how is he by the way?

Markus Watson said...

Interesting point about the cross being a pagan symbol. Technically, I guess it is a Roman symbol (signifying execution, which I'm sure struck fear into people who lived in the Roman Empire), which was adopted by early Christians to represent the centrality of Jesus' death on the cross.

No worries about "converting" me. I'm all about open discussion. I think one of the marks of a "stretchychurch" is one that isn't afraid to talk about uncomfortable issues.

And Ryan's doing great. Although he got a little freaked out when I showed him your comment because he has no clue who you are! Kinda funny...

Anonymous said...

Yeah I figured he'd do that. But no harm done, no worries for him, so..........it's a small world after all isn't it? Here you go, looking for info and debate/discussions about religion, and woops, there it is...someone's name you recognize. "It's a small world after all, it's a small...well, you get it...

Anonymous said...

Yeah I figured he'd do that. But no harm done, no worries for him, so..........it's a small world after all isn't it? Here you go, looking for info and debate/discussions about religion, and woops, there it is...someone's name you recognize. "It's a small world after all, it's a small...well, you get it...

Anonymous said...

But seriously, what is your opinion on taking the Bible literally? I find that the more I read it, the more I see so much more....I discover, I realize, I .....it's amazing. Modern Christianity is tainted you know, and it goes back to it's paganistic roots. What do you think? Do you wonder why people are so confused about religion? Could it be there is so much hipocracy? Too much? Yeah, I think that's it. But if you are to do as the Berean's did, and find the truth on your own, (with some good concordances and dictionaries....with a little understanding of certain Greek and Hebrew words), you yourself can PROVE ALL THINGS! Amazing.