In mycritique of Keith MathisonsShape of Sola ScripturaI argued that the early church fathers did not hold tosola scripturabut to both Scripture and Tradition. By no means. We begin our prayers with the sign of the cross. In making such a sign, we remind ourselves that God is with us in those happy moments, such as a baptism or a blessing, and the more sober and tender ones on the deathbed or in an Ash Wednesday service. . Hath any one insulted thee? Do Catholics worship idols / practice idolatry? If this individual or family were to start crossing themselves later on, I would interpret this as a sign that they are moving towards Orthodoxy. Amen. Why Do People Make the Sign of the Cross on Their Body? Thus, what may look like a quaint church ritual is actually an ancient spiritual practice of considerable potency. But when he looked at his life, and all he had accomplished, his attitude is summed up in this passage. Want to improve this question? (Gospel of St. Matthew, Homily 54, NPNF Vol. For were we to attempt to reject suchcustomsas have no written authority, on the ground that the importance they possess is small, we should unintentionally injure the Gospel in its very vitals; or, rather, should make our public definition a mere phrase and nothing more. Please see the related article, Why Shouldnt We Wear a Cross as a Sign of Being a Christian?, and our Bible study aid, Is God a Trinity? Though simple in action, the sign of the cross holds great significance in meaning and heart for Catholics today, just as it did in the early church. We may be accomplishing a lot in our careersor not. Cross over to the left shoulder. Non-Catholics can also use the sign of the cross. The gospel accounts tell us, from a physical perspective, what happened that day nearly 2000 years ago. Not all. Where Luther and his followers had an accepting attitude towards the sign of the cross and other liturgical rites, the Reformed movement had a more hostile attitude. It is a little curious that the Westminster Confession and the Larger and Shorter Catechisms do not criticize ceremonies or rites, but the fact is the Scots Confession (1560) and the Second Helvetic Confession (1566) are considered major confessional statements for Reformed churches. 2023 Baptist News Global. 21 Things We Do When We Make the Sign of the Cross - Catholic Exchange Is salvation by faith alone, or by faith plus works? The Cross: A Sign for All Christians - Phoenix, Arizona Why Do Love and Forgiveness Have to Go Hand-in-Hand? If no passage of Scripture has prescribed it, assuredlycustom, which without doubtflowed from tradition, has confirmed it. Catholic.com explains the action as. What should United Methodist congregations know about disaffiliation? BBC - Religions - Christianity: The cross The cross By Michael Symmons Roberts Last updated 2011-09-12 Michael Symmons Roberts investigates the meaning of the Christian cross and hears. Readers who are skeptical of Holy Tradition should keep in mind that Tradition like Scripture did not fall out of the sky but is rooted in the ministry of the original Apostles. 10 p. 336). The origin of the sign of the cross is unknown. Send inquiries regarding the operation of this Web site to webmaster@ucg.org. Catholics are Christians. Therefore, we would seem to be bringing in and restoring Judaism if we were to increaseceremoniesandritesin Christs Churchaccording to the custom in the ancient church. In the West, particularly among Catholics, the hand makes the sign while being open and turned upward, in a gesture of openness to Gods gifts. In time this practice became emblematic of being a Christian. Knowing the differences between the way Orthodox, Roman Catholics, and Protestants view the sign of the cross can be helpful. There was a time in my life when I was one of those who wore a cross. What Is Baptism? Why is making the sign of the cross sometimes viewed as foreign to United Methodists? This article will explore just what the cross is, and why it has the significance that it does. What Is Baptism? Taking the action of the sign of the cross and declaring outwardly in voice or spirit, in the Name of the Father, the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen rests the prayer just offered forward in faith. The cross itself carries this notion of paradox: that death can lead to life. Amen.. The Sign of the Cross in the Orthodox Tradition. Eucharistic Bread: Leavened or Unleavened? Many of the Protestant denominations that emerged in the 1800s, because they had very little or no knowledge of historic Christianity, tended to reflect the general Protestant attitude of not making the sign of the cross. But it quickly became the standard way to make the sign. . is common and universal in the Catholic Church. How to Cross Yourself (Russian Orthodox): 7 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow Modern Methodists also use the sign of the cross, as do Anglicans and Episcopalians. Can We Pray for Illumination in Our Lives? How are you spiritually blessed and what do you do with it? You make beautiful things out of us., What would it look like for Baptists to recover and reclaim the old tradition of making the sign of the cross?. The Eastern Orthodox style is more complex. In World War II, when the Allies retook a town they would take down the Nazi flag and raise the flag of the original state. Sign of the Cross Direction - Orthodox Church in America He is retired and currently enjoys his gardens and backpacking. This form of prayer gesture and blessing dates to the earliest days of the church and can even be implied as coming from Jesus command in Matthew: Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, (Mt 28:19). A study of history shows that the cross symbol predates Christianity. But one thing is sure: Christians of differing traditions can share in the gift of reconciliation in one body through the cross (Eph 2:16). It might not be a wooden cross, but it will be something you have to carry in life that the Lord has ordained for His purposes, so Jesus says that "whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me" (Matt 10:38). As the website of the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod (lcms.org), notes, Over the centuries the practice of making the sign of the cross fell into disuse among many Lutherans. Regardless, what truly matters is whether or not were relating to other people with love. Mailing Address: PO Box 23825, Green Bay, WI 54305-3825 The person whom we consider our Savior is a person who as one of us died as all of us will do. A common Byzantine formula used while signing oneself is, Blessed is our God at all times now and always and forever. Evangelicals Come Home to Orthodoxy. Throughout the world, images of the cross adorn the walls and steeples of churches. For a time, despite Luthers teachings, Lutherans overall stopped using the sign of the cross. Second, powerful symbolic gestures, when examined up close, say more than one thing. But what does it mean when someone makes the sign of the cross? Or perhaps as a testimony? The same is true when I come to the cross in the sanctuary of the church, I am a part of, or in other locations. This essay was originally published in the August 1995 issue of U.S. Catholic (Vol. If you choose, you may also say this little prayer: I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. At the liturgy and in various sacramental rites, the priests trace the sign of the cross over persons and objects. The sign of circumcision is mentioned in Genesis 17:114 and elsewhere. Make then this sign at eating and drinking, at sitting, at lying down, at rising up, at speaking, at walking. This is the most common prayer among all Catholics, and it is used for countless occasions. Ashes and the cross come together, and we arent sure where we might find relief. The night before Ash Wednesday, I had a dream. Paganism was being overthrown not just by verbal proclamation of the Gospel but also by the manifestation of Christs kingdom through the sign of the cross. Ask The UMC Why dont United Methodists make the sign of the cross. It is also wrong to believe that the sign of the cross is something magic that protects you from harm. It means only that the one mandated use for it was at baptism. We seldom see the sign of the cross outside the more liturgical traditions, however, and some of the reasons stretch back to Reformation days. What is the sign of the cross? As I reflected on my dream in a social media post, one person suggested that to make the sign of the cross in the Roman Catholic tradition serves as a prayer to the Trinity. Its the sign of the cross, traced on the forehead, shoulders, and chest. All rights reserved. TheMillenary Petitionof 1603, signed by a thousand Puritan ministers and addressed to King James, called for a number of reforms in the Church of England. For instance, to takethe first and most general example, who is thence who has taught us in writing to sign with thesign of the crossthose who have trusted in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ? US Jews mourn the anniversary of the fall of Roe with a yahrzeit, Religion and public education: How a new charter school tests the law. I also recommend you to read the article: Is a crucifix just a symbol without any significance? In this blog posting I will be discussing: (2) why many Protestants do not cross themselves, (3) what this gesture means for Orthodox Christians, and. The answer isnt hard to find. The presumption is that those of riper years would be confessing the faith for themselves at that moment, and so that prayer, which pointed to professing the faith at a later time, would not apply. For into Your hands I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. This was largely because Roman Catholics used it and there was increasing friction between Lutherans and Catholics. What is the Hajj pilgrimage and what does it mean for Muslims? The cross symbolizes the atoning death of Jesus, who died for my sins and for the sins of the world. Catholics are so accustomed to making the sign of the cross that we seldom stop to ask what the gesture means. Where did the custom come from? When I see a visitor or a new family I usually watch to see if whether or not they cross themselves, and if they do whether it is in the Roman Catholic fashion or the Orthodox. BBC - Religions - Christianity: The cross What Is the Great Commission& Is It Even for Me? "In ceremonial usage, making a sign of the cross may be, according to the context, an act of . Let's examine these both in more detail. In his evocative book Sacred Signs the late Romano Guardini made the point so beautifully that I will give him the last word: It is the holiest of all signs. If they appear to be lost I offer to help them follow the Liturgy. 10 p. 518). Many religions use a form of the sign of the cross, including Catholics. This ancient Christian sign at baptism and as a personal spiritual practice became lost to us. An innocent man cruelly put to death by the Romans at the instigation of the Jewish religious leadership. When He was still on the earth, Lord Jesus talked and taught the people about the Cross the following: Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. (Mark 8:34). On the cross, Jesus defeated his enemies and was enthroned as king. For more on this topic, watchthis episode of "Q&A with Liturgy Man.". It is not solely to be used for a certain group of Christians but is open to all who sincerely find more connection to the Lord through doing so. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross(Colossians 2:13-15, NIV). In the East: up, down, right, left. It is a holy service with a holy action of uniting with the Lord. We engage not just our minds and our hearts, but our material bodies, our dust-ness, reminding ourselves that we encounter God on every level, with our whole selves. But there is nothing magical about a cross, any cross. Raise your hand to the right shoulder. In truth, one making the sign of the cross is expressing an unbiblical belief in God. As Orthodox blogger Robert Arakaki put it, The sign of the cross enables one to rediscover the classic Christian worldview of creation as a sacrament and the Cross as the means by which the Devil is defeated, the Fall of humanity reversed, and the cosmos redeemed.11, Yet some Protestants still wonder, and still shy away from the practice. Should Protestants Make the Sign of the Cross? I have had many good and exciting things happen in my life, as did the Apostle Paul (Philippians 3:4-6). after we receive the sacraments of Christ's body and blood. Basil shared that the sign of the cross was handed down first from the Apostles of Christ. Summary: While the origin of the sign of the cross is obscure, early Christians regarded it as an integral part of the ChristianHoly Tradition. The phrase on everything points to the priesthood of all believers (cf. The second century apologist, Tertullian (c. 160/170-215/220), defended Holy Tradition by pointing to the sign of the cross as an example of an ancient custom all Christians shared in. I see the significance of the cross as being two-fold. However I should mention that the Bible does not forbid a Christian to make the sign of the cross, meaning that when someone makes the sign of the cross he does not commit a sin. I raise this question because as Tertullian and Basil the Great pointed out the sign of the cross is not grounded in Scripture but in Tradition. It adorns the churches of most Christian denominations. For some Christians, the cross is part of their daily attire worn around their necks. The regulative principle being foundational to Reformed hermeneutics points to a fundamental incompatibility between the Reformed tradition and early Christianity. . In her free time, she enjoys mentoring youth and spending time in nature. The sign of the cross is an action taken after saying a prayer. How is it made and how do they explain it? Why is the right hand used to trace the cross, and not the left? In the Triune Gods act of creation, we are redeemed. It's not only Catholics, but they're definitely the most prominent group that do it. With this simple gesture we proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God, the defeat of death, and the renewal of creation. If not, then why? Why Do Catholics Use the Sign of the Cross? It is a powerful symbol to remind us of the price paid for our redemption. (De Incarnatione 31). Making the sign of the cross provides the sincere Christian an added boost to his/her prayer. United Church of Godis a501(c)3organization. The views of the Continental Reformers began to extend to England where the Anglican Via Mediawas in place. Those who are not Catholics may find benefit in learning more about the sign of the cross. But what exactly does this gesture mean? Some Orthodox Christians will cross themselves when the Virgin Mary is mentioned. A case for making the sign of the cross - Baptist News Global It appears as an icon in popular culture, and as a gesture it is scattered throughout film history. Thelate Father Peter Gillquist, an Evangelicalconvert to Orthodoxy, devoted one chapter of his bookBecoming Orthodox, Chapter 9 A Sign For All Christians to the subject of the sign of the cross. I was willing to claim the historic Church, but I hadyet to recognize Her claim on me. Ed Jarrettis a long-time follower of Jesus and a member of Sylvan Way Baptist Church. In an earlier blog: The Biblical Basis for Holy Tradition I examined what the New Testament had to say about the process of handing down oral and written apostolic tradition. The more expansive sign of the cross (touching forehead, chest, and shoulders) is first mentioned in the devotional life of Christians in the fifth century, but it was not until the early Middle Ages, largely through the influence of monasteries, that the gesture comes into general use. In the early Church the dominant motif of salvation wasChristus Victor Christ as the one who defeated death and the Devil on our behalf. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Paragraph 2157 also states, The Christian begins his day, his prayers, and his activities with the Sign of the Cross: in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Around this time, Christians then began to use two fingers to make the sign of the Cross, each finger representing one of the natures of Christ - fully God and fully Man. Its not clear what prompted the change. Inaugural Arizona Icon Writing Workshop Complete! In the West, the motion goes: up, down, left, right. Why do liturgical Christians make the sign of the cross? Its a public demonstration of the believers commitment to Christs finished work. At every forward step and movement, at every going in and out, when we put on our clothes and shoes, when we bathe, when we sit at table, when we light the lamps, on couch, on seat, in all the ordinary actions of daily life,we trace upon the forehead the sign.
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