The Modern Day Symbol of the Cross: By Commandment or Inference?

My greatest fear is that much of the symbolism used in expressing our faith comes from inference or teachings and tradition alone.  This is dangerous in that there is no Scriptural support to uphold our claim to the validity of the expression of the symbol we are wearing or touting.  We cannot say with 100% certainty that that symbol represents what we are claiming it does. 

Now you don’t have to be a Greek or Hebrew scholar to search the Scripture and see that we are not commanded to associate the Son of Elohim with the cross or that the modern day picture of a cross is even what He died upon.  Here are some examples:

Matthew 10:38

³⁸ And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me.

The Greek word for cross here is “stauros” and it means an upright stake.  Nowhere is the definition does it define it as the modern day symbol of the cross.

Luke 23:26

Simon Bears the Cross

²⁶ When they led Him away, they seized a man, Simon of Cyrene, coming in from the country, and placed on him the cross to carry behind Jesus.

Again in this verse, the word for cross used in the Greek is “stauros” meaning an upright stake.

Acts 10:39

³⁹ We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross.

The Greek word used here is “xylon” and it can mean that which is made of wood or a tree.  Again, not a clear definition citing the modern day symbol.

So if Scripture does not define the cross like the modern day cross then where did it come from?  I would argue it has its roots in the traditions of men and while this is not inherently bad, we must ask ourselves if it is truly pleasing and honoring to Elohim.

We have to come to the point as believers where we stop settling for “pretty close” and start obeying the actual commands of YHVH while avoiding the things that are adulterous to our relationship with Him.  The cross has a history in paganism that predates Christianity starting with the Egyptians.  Do we really need a symbol so badly that we are willing to marry pagan practices with the worship of our Elohim?

I would argue that symbolism is something we should be wary of and test because it is an expression of our beliefs whether you believe it or not.  A little leaven ruins the whole lump of dough.  A tiny drop of poison in a gallon of water can kill you.  A little paganism mixed in our belief is still adultery.

The modern day cross is an inferred symbol of faith, not a commanded one and being so, we cannot build theology on it.  The cross is worshipped today more than Yeshua or His Father.  All I ever hear is how wonderful the cross is and how thankful for it we should be.

Well, the fact is that Yeshua did not stay on the stake; He rose from the dead and that is the real joy we should celebrate.  He is the real joy we should celebrate, laying aside our idols, letting go of the hand of the world and placing our hands firmly in the Father’s. 

You want a symbol to show your faith?  Keep the Torah and others will know whose people you are.