Tuesday, August 26, 2008
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The Small Declaration of Faith Around My Neck
I wear a cross almost everyday because it is a small declaration of my belief in Jesus Christ (it also is a reminder of two people in my life who gave me the necklace). Anyway, I wear it not to really remind myself that God is alive, but more to show that I believe in Jesus. I see others who wear a cross around their necks and I wonder if they are Christians or if it's just a fashion statement. To me it means a lot to wear a cross, but I know that a lot of people wear it because it's a gift from someone or they just like the way it looks.
I'm curious to know- if you wear a cross around your neck, why do you wear it? What do you think when you see others who wear crosses?
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Comments (63)
I wear it for the same reason you do. Though what I wear most is my fish bracelet.
I used to wear my cross all of the time because it was a good symbol of my faith, a gift from my mom, and it looked nice. When I see other people wearing crosses I just think that is nice. No biggie.
I wear my cross around my neck. It was my grandmothers. It was given to me when she passed away in January of this year.
I wear it to remind me of her and also as a constant reminder of Jesus my savior.
I also wear my Pray for China bracelet to remind me to pray for the persecuted brothers and sisters in the Lord in China.
I started my cross a month ago when I was in a major spiritual warfare. It symbolizes that Jesus is the only Way, the Truth, and Life. My burden is not my burden to bear... I gave it to Him for His yoke and burden is lighter.
I had this cross in my jewelry box for awhile. It was actually a gift from my aunt. I never thought that I would wear this one day because I thought I was "unrighteous"; however, I now realize that it is by faith in Jesus Christ that God has called me righteous.
I used to wear my "true love waits" ring around my neck with a silver chain. In the present time, I wear it on my pinky finger.
Yeah, I wonder about it too. (whether people wear it because of what it represents) I like to stick to plain, uninteresting-looking ones for that reason.
Anyway, my cross necklace broke a couple of years ago, but when I used to wear it, it was because I wanted to remind myself to always put God first.
(And your post actually reminded me to go find a new cross to wear.. haha, thanks!)
I used to wear one to keep the vampires and evil ghosts away.
i don't have a cross necklace but you can buy me and my wife one. :)
@Kristenmomof3@xanga - Awesome bracelet.
"If Jesus had been killed twenty years ago, Catholic school children would be wearing little electric chairs around their necks instead of crosses."
~ Lenny Bruce
"Christians wear crosses around their necks, you think when Jesus comes back he's ever gonna want to see another cross?"
- Bill Hicks
i don't wear a cross necklace (i think they're too trite), but i wear two medals around my neck: Our Lady of Lourdes, and St. Jude.
It's a personal thing. I tried wearing one for a while, but realized it didn't help me remember about Christ at all. To me, the cross necklace is just a necklace. Many people where them who hate Christianity, but like the way it looks. It doesn't help to identify myself as a Christian either, I can do that without a necklace tucked under my shirt.
I also wonder sometimes about the possibility of "idolatry" that can be placed in these little crosses. Of course the cross is still an important symbolic meaning, such as Paul telling us to take up our own crosses to follow Jesus, but wearing a tangible cross seems rather vain.
Does it help in reminding you to act "Christian"? That's not a good reason. That reminds me of the people who say "I'd like to do that, but I'm a Christian, sorry!", it's meaningless without any heart behind it, and with heart behind it there is no reason for the necklace in the first place.
The only some-what valid reason I've heard is: "to remind me of the love of Christ". It makes sense. But then again, don't we have the Holy Spirit in us, which has an intense longing for God (James 4:5-6), so that the spirit will bring us back to Him?
I have a necklace of a cross and one of Mary (my mom bought me), but I have never worn them. Not even once.
I think wearing a sign of devotion around one's neck is a beautiful thing. My hope, in wearing what I do, is that they are symbols of my prayer and what really is in my heart, that the things I wear reflect a deeper reality of my faith and help to remind me of it.
St. Gemma Galgani said something beautiful that I just love, "It is not enough to look upon the cross or even to wear it, but we must bear it within our hearts."
I wear a cross as an outward symbol of my faith. I secretly even hope that people will ask me about Christianity when they see it.
I've often wondered the same thing as you - why do others wear their crosses? I notice people wearing crosses who honestly just don't seem like they care very much about Jesus.
I don't know, I used to not to wear it, but I feel uncomfortable without my cross around my neck now.
I don't wear a cross. Because though I understand that it represents the price paid for our sins and the constant reminder of God's love for us, I am reminded of that daily just in the fact that I am alive. I personally think that crosses are just a bit morbid (since it is how Christ died, it'd be like having a friend who was murdered instead of you and you wearing a gun around your neck to remind yourself of it... yeah, a little weird), but I understand why others do it. It's just not for me. Also I'm not a fan of jewelery in general, so that's why. By the way this is not at all a deeply held belief of mine, nor is it really Biblically based (though I've heard the idolatry argument before and that can be a problem), so yeah, nothing to argue about here. Just my opinion. =)
Its interesting we use the symbol of the cross, plate it in gold, silver, and diamonds, when it was an ugly, rustic form of torture.
I'm actually thinking about making myself a little cross necklace. Your post reminded me to hit up the craft shop sometime. But I intend to wear it as a reminder to myself what Jesus did for me, and that He is Lord of my life.
I love seeing my mothers CROSS on her... she wears it everyday. She wears it to show her faith
N seeing hers n her faith makes me wanna get one for me... to also show my faith and not just for a fashion statement!!
@desperate4mySavior@xanga - nice point...I've always liked the necklaces with a cross shaped from nails better.
My father has one that I love... it is nails put together in the shape of the cross.
I wear a JESUS ring around my finger, because I can't very well see the necklace under my chin. But, I do wear a cross necklace.
I understand the idoltry and symbol of torture points, but... it's just not how I feel. I did feel that way quite a while back, but I love being able to show strangers that I love Him, by not saying a word. And no, generally, unless in a church, that isn't possible to just give off a Christian-ora.
i was under the impression that paul instructed the women of the church NOT to adorn themselves with jewelry.
I used to have a cross necklace..it was very pretty and I liked it very much. The reason why I wore it was the same reason as yours..well to show people that I believe in Jesus. However, in time, the chain broke..and I misplaced my pendant somewhere..anyway, before i lost it, my friend liked it too so I would let her wear it during school since it was so pretty, but she didn't believe in Christianity and God and Jesus. She just thought it was really pretty. So recently she came back from her vacation in Japan during the summer and I met up with her. I moticed her wearing a silver necklace with 2 cross pendants on them, one pink crystal one and a plain metal one. but both looked quite pretty. when I saw it on her, however, I felt a bit offended BECAUSE, she was not a christian, AND she..I don't know the word..mocks? she mocks God? sort of. she keeps declaring her hate for God, and she only treats him like a genie in a bottle. I know I shouldn't be saying such bad things because sometimes I treat God like a genie in a bottle too because I am a human, and I am full of sinful flaws but when my friend displays it, it just makes me mad. she is well she was one of my closest friends and I still love her dearly so I couldn't say anything to her without getting her mad or offended.....
the cross is a precious reminder of Christ love & redemption for us. & it is a reminder of our dying to sin & living in Christ Jesus.
some satinist wear an upside down cross & other satanist wear a regular cross to help them fool christians so they can get close to them to try and bring harm on them.
some people wear the cross because they think it will protect them from all evil. or that it will be their gaurantee to make it into heaven. & they really believe this is true.
so many other reason why. but through the cross & ressurection of our Lord Jesus Christ we have redemption & the gift of eternal life. what a blessing it is to live in a country where we can freely wear the cross physically & put it spiritually too.
Unfortunately, I don't wear my cross necklace anymore.
Whenever I see someone wearing a cross necklace, as much as I hate to admit it, I wonder if they really are Christians. At my high school, there were so many people that walked around wearing crosses, or spoke of being Christians, but then they went out and partied on the weekend, hooked up, and then debated who was the best drunk driver on Monday morning in class. I'm not saying that everyone that wears a cross around their neck is superficial, but it's lost some of its meaning to me simply because of my experiences from high school.
I prefer letting my actions and the things I say act as a testament to the God and Savior that I believe in and have put my full faith in.
I used to but like people say, actions speak louder than words and I know I am less that perfect and am not the right person to wear it.