Cross for early Christmas gift from Mother in law... eck

Butterflyleia85

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving with my husband's family and we spent the night. The next morning we had a good breakfast and decorated the tree. And my mother in law (my husband's step mom, who I adore and love) gave out early christmas gifts... ornaments, and a wow wow huge christmas cross to hang on the wall! Geez It looks really cool actually kinda goes with the latin decor look. Anyways my problem is wow I still guess I'm hung up on the cross thing. I still feel the need to avoid things I feel will disrespect God. And yeah I feel hanging this cross will be so disrespectful.

Any thoughts on the matter? I feel like packing it away and when ever she comes over bring it out during christmas time. Ha

Heaven

The vast majority of Christians view the cross as a symbol of the greatest and ultimate expression of love. Perhaps start with this and see how you feel about it in the next little while.

Butterflyleia85

Aww really!?! She is really the most kindest lady I have ever met, so sweet and just such loving character... Wow well I'm so happy she feels that way if that's true... 'greatest and ultimate expression of love... really!?! I just am so happy now! Man I hope I reacted better then I felt. I felt kinda weird like a sharp nerve down my spin.. like I'm doing something wrong by excepting this... but I couldn't refuse heck I trying to learn these whole christmas thing. lol

But now I really want to do something special for her... she is really religious. What do Christians that aren't JW do in showing apressiation??

carla

Do some research on the Cross and what it means to Christians. The History channel (or maybe it was 'The Naked Archeologist') just had a thing on it and how it was used by early Christians.....some believe Ezekiel 9:4 was a foreshadowing of the Cross. I can tell you this, I do not know one person who 'worships' a cross even if they pray at the feet of one, they are not worshipping the cross itself. Put all you have been taught by the jw's away and start fresh learning, then make your decision. In the meantime sounds like you love MIL so hang the thing when she come to visit for the holidays later if you remove it then you can either explain or make something up.

You want to do something nice for her? She will tell you it isn't necessary and she didn't give you a gift to get one in return! naw, she will accept graciously anything you would like to give her. It doesn't have to be something 'religious' but if you insist maybe a cross necklace? or make her something special food-wise or search Google and handmake her something. Send her a personal Christmas card thanking her for your lovely husband and what a great job she did with him?

Does she know about your jw past? that would make life much easier for you.

wasblind

Good morning Butterfly,

Jesus came to atone for our sins, him dying on the cross, torture stake or what every they want to call it

was the only way to give us a second chance, it had to be done, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 states : ".........that Christ died for our sins according to scripture, and that he was buried, yes, that he has been raised up the third day according to the scriptures."

1 Corinthians 15: 17 states: " Further, if Christ has not been raised up, your faith is useless, you are yet in your sins."

the cross is a symbol of unconditional love, because he died not only for the ones who followed him, but for the unbelievers also

the JW's compare the cross to a wrecked car that a loved one has died in, and say that you wouldn't want the wrecked car around as a reminder

what they fail to say is that when people die in car accidents it's not to atone for the sins of mankind.

"they are not worshipping the cross itself"

Good point Carla

Witness 007

Get a small "Ken" doll and dress him like Jesus and nail him on.....she'll love it!

wasblind

" Get a small "Ken" doll and dress him like Jesus and nail him on.....she'll love it! "

no she won't she'll assume that you are making fun of her belief

Broken Promises

Wasblind,

Witness007 was making a joke.

PSacramento

Paul said that he boasted nothing but the Cross and Jesus curcified.

The cross is NOT a stumbling block for Christians but a symbol of ultimate love and grace.

It is NOT an idol to worship or something to pray to, it is a symbol of what Christianity can mean ( love, self sacrifice, etc).

I don't know of any Christian that prays to a cross or worships a cross.

It is no more inappropriate then that star of David or the tetragramaton etched/carved into a building or any other syombol used to identify oneself with a particular group.

BurnTheShips

Butterflyleia85, I second what some have said here regarding what the cross signifies to Christians.

The Watchtower misrepresented it.

Some of what you are feeling may just be an overlay of JW programming regarding the symbol.

However, your home is your home. You should not allow yourself to feel obligated to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable. Religious expression is something very personal, and should always be done freely, and your personal choices should be respected.

As for me, very few things make me feel uncomfortable anymore, whether they are Christian or of a different religion.

The Watchtower led us astray about a great many things.

BTS

Cross for early Christmas gift from Mother in law... eck

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