Why the Cross

"Why the cross? I do not think for a minute Jesus would like the thing he died on be the symbol of the religion his teachings are found on."

A person I have discussions with at times concerning religion, spirituality, and philosophy made many interesting and valid points about why he thinks that not only does Christianity need to make a major pivot away from the hate it has embraced, but it needs a new image, and that starts with a new universal image. 

Here was how he went into it to me: Image, if you will (yes, from Twilight Zone Show) Jesus drops in for a visit to see if we got our shit together.  A small group realizes it is the Son of God and invites him to visit their Church.  Denomination doesn't really matter in this case.  They give him a tour and then offer to take him for a meal and to have a conversation.

Now, my friend points out that all the major discourse, discussions, and conversations happen when Jesus walks or eats in the Bible, so this part is in his story. 

As he walks, he asks about all the stuff in the Church he saw. He was curious about the Altar, the TV screens, and the pews, and why they became necessary. He also was asking about why the various things he was seeing happening around him. He even jests it looked like the Romans, Pharisees, and the Sanhedrin had regained control from all the corruption and hate in the world. The men he was walking with wondered if he was God's son then he knew all this already; he was testing us.

As they sit, he asks them a very pointed question: Why the cross with an image of me that looks nothing like me? What makes you think I want the cross, the thing a world like this executed me on for being everything I was meant to be?

This caught them off guard. They were stumped on how to answer this. Finally, the bravest of the group said it is to remind us, those that follow your teachings, that you lived, then died for us so that we could live. Another time in that it is to remind us of your passion and death, and you rose.

As he ate what had been provided, he contemplated what they had said. 

 He then asked what the symbol that looked like an "X" with a "P" in it.  This excited one of them. He started by saying that was his preferred symbol of Christ and Jesus over the cross. He explains that a Roman Emperor, Constantine designed it as a symbol on his shields in his holy war to protect Christianity. He further stated it was the first letter in the Greek word for Christos or Christ.

All he said was interesting, and Constantine had it all wrong. Jesus made no other comment.

That all sat quiet and ate. He finally spoke again.

Father and, by extension, I see most all things. I find the cross with me handing on it is portrayed as a symbol of anything good offensive. I find that the Churches profit from me and my teachings. Most importantly, I find that you worship me and ignore my teaching as sinful at a root level. I did not live and die so I could be worshiped. I lived to teach you the way to live a moral life and find salvation, not to be worshiped while you ignore everything I stood for. 

I would prefer the simple fish symbol with nothing added to it or, at the most, the word XPIETOE in Greek letters. It is more about the early Jews that started this religion, you claim I started.  I was born to a Jew, I lived as a jew, and I died as a jew. I started nothing when I lived. Paul and Peter did all of that. 

So do me a favor and try to spread the word. The cross is offensive to me; your version of what I want is an abomination, and you all need to follow that teaching and stop with the worship.

He then vanished, leaving these men in stunned silence.

My friend said that is how he sees it going. That is why the Churches are looking for membership and why the younger generation does not claim to be religious nor plan to be. They do state they are spiritual and moral. 

I HAD NO ARGUREMENT. I can see it happening more this way than any alternative I could think of.