Wearing a Cross?
Posted by Cory Tucholski on December 16, 2007
I’m not a jewelry person, so I long ago discarded the idea of wearing a small cross around my neck in order to put more of my faith out there for people to see. Instead, I have to rely on my lifestyle and my decision-making paradigm for people to see my faith. I find that works and appears more genuine than a show of faith through jewelry.
I think, however, that if a person wears the jewelry, then they ought to use it to talk about their faith with interested parties, and it seems that even our atheist friends agree with that. 
Reference this blind date:
After being seated, I noticed she had a cross around her neck and mentioned it. She already seemed really nervous about the blind-date situation, but when she started defending herself and insisting that she wasn’t really religious, it seemed like she wasn’t being all that genuine. I mean, if you’re wearing a cross, there must be something to it.
Brothers and sisters in Christ: Be proud of your faith! Jesus said:
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Mat 5:14-16)
December 19, 2007 at 12:46 pm
I agree with wholeheartedly. I never wore a cross before I got married, for exactly the reasons you state. However, for a wedding gift, my wife-to-be gave me a Jewish star with a cross inside it. It’s beautiful. I have hardly taken it off since.
Now, I occasionally get questions about it. People think I’ve made up some religion or something, trying to get Jews and Christians to make peace or something. They are often shocked by my answer, which is usually some formulation of, “I have a Jewish background. The Jews generally believe that God promised them a Messiah, and so do I. I happen to believe that Jesus is that Messiah.” “Hmmm… fascinated” is the spock-like response they often retreat to. “Well have to talk about that some time” they’ll say.
I then remind myself that the word does not go out void, and pray for them when they come to mind.
The other thing you bring to mind is how meaningless the cross has become to society by and large. It really bugs me. However, I think it’s instructive to see it for what it is… Satan’s attempts at breaking down the church, one symbol at a time: Christ has become a curse a word; Christmas is about trees and presents; Easter is about eggs and bunnies, etc. But, God’s knows all this, and Satan will get his in the end.
December 21, 2007 at 11:40 am
The one major advantage to “religious themed” jewelry is it sometimes opens the door to talk about your faith. I have a tie that has symbols on it that has led to discussions on airplanes before–I do not, however, have a fish on my car because I am a horrible driver–and I’m afraid my witness would be severely damaged.
December 24, 2007 at 11:31 am
I’m really surprised to see you attempting to create division amongst
Christians. I see you have a hard on for Catholics, but you’re missing the point. I’ve got a new group on staff, they begged me for months to let them be on staff. Basically I’m mentoring them as apologists. I’d like you to reconsider you’re position.
Frank
December 24, 2007 at 12:13 pm
I do the same type of work as James White: his debates are among fellow Christians. Occasionally he debates Muslims, but Christians contemporaries of Mohammad thought of Islam as a Christian heresy. I’m not trying to create divisions but close them up. Perhaps I could be seen in the negative light by the casual observer, so I ought to watch myself closely for that reason.
I’ll reconsider my position. I’m looking forward to following the new staff at Atheism Sucks. One–Craig French–is one of my wife’s best friends from youth group at her old church. I believe they went to high school together, too.
December 24, 2007 at 12:30 pm
Thanks. I know I’ve been a bit too confrontational in the past. In fact I was going to retire from atheismsucks altogether, but I had these young pups, begging me to come on board and take the reins. It kind of re-invigorated me, and at the same time humbled me. So things have changed quite a bit. I have a new baby so that in itself has made me re-asses everything. The new guys need some sense of direction so I’m going to hang in there. I’m not saying they don’t have anything to say, just the contrary, they have a lot to say. They just need direction. I guess what I’m saying is I’m maturing.
Thanks again.