1. Should Christians wear crosses or crucifix as jewelry?

First of all, the problem with a crucifix is that it portrays Jesus as dead. He is not dead. Revelation 1:18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. The world doesn't mind a Jesus in the manger as a baby or dead on the cross, because that is not so threatening; but they don't want Him alive and seated at the right hand of God. Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

To think on His death and what He suffered for us is one thing. However, there really isn't much difference between the crucifix and someone portraying Christ as still in the grave, if you stop to think about it. He isn't in either place. I'm reminded of the verse from the resurrection account that says, ...Why seek ye the living among the dead? Luke 24:5 He is no longer in the place of death.

The second problem with the crucifix is that it is associated with the Roman Catholic Church. Perhaps it is used by the Orthodox church too, and some Protestants even use it. At any rate, it is most often Roman Catholics that are seen wearing and displaying crucifixes in most of the world. Since we don't want to be associated with the errors of Rome, we don't use them.

Now, as regards a plain cross, the New Testament says nothing specifically about them - either to wear them or decorate with them. The main thing to keep in mind is that many, many people wear them who do not identify with Christ Jesus in any way - whores, punks, gang members, movie stars, rock singers, etc.; so the meaning has been blurred if not completely lost in most people's minds.

Secondly, it has been pointed out that wearing a cross in the early church time would have been about the same as wearing an electric chair today. Some feel if you wouldn't wear an image of an electric chair or hang one on the wall, why wear a cross? The cross actually was worse than the electric chair, since it was not only an instrument of capital punishment, but also a method of great torture.

Paul writes through the Spirit in, Galatians 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. So, for the children of God, the cross has a spiritual (not physical) context because it represents not only our salvation, but our death through Christ unto the world and its ungodly ways. Thus, it is a symbol of deliverance and death for us in that sense, though we are not told to actually make them and/or wear them.

Another verse on our spiritual cross is Luke 9:23, And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. There is nothing that makes us any better or any worse from wearing a cross. We are made better or worse based on whether we have believed on Christ or rejected Him; and, as believer, whether we take up our daily cross and follow Jesus.

Just one thought....if you decide to wear a cross you might want to look for something that really looks like a cross. Many are shiny and smooth.  Some have floral and decorative designs on them. The cross Jesus Christ died on would have been rough wood. It was most certainly not decorative.  Much foolish art has been made of the cross, but in reality it was not an attractive item nor symbol. Had the Son of God not died in the flesh upon one, it would mean nothing today. So, it is ultimately an admittion that He did die and that He is God when even the most vile, unbelieving people wear it and/or attempt to defile it or use it's association to their advantage. For the saints, it is our Lord Jesus Christ that makes the cross important. Philippians 1:21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Mary Van Nattan