The cross as a religious symbol, whether made as a gesture or worn as jewelry, has deep pagan roots and only a tenuous link to anything biblical. The tau, the initial of Tammuz (identified with Nimrod), was a revered symbol at least 1,500 years before Christ and appears in nearly every ancient religion except Judaism and Islam. Its presence in the church is portrayed as a wholesale addition of pagan belief rather than a merging of beliefs. Vine's Expository Dictionary is cited to show that the Greek stauros, used 28 times in the New Testament, primarily means an upright stake, distinct from the later ecclesiastical two-beamed cross. That shape originated in Chaldea as the sign of Tammuz. By the third century, it is claimed, an apostate church admitted pagans without regeneration and let them keep their symbols, so the tau came to represent Christ's cross. The New Testament also calls the instrument xulon, meaning tree (Acts 5:30; Galatians 3:13; 1 Peter 2:24). Even if Christ died on a tau cross, the instrument is not to be venerated, just as electric chairs or nooses would not be worn had He died by those means. What matters is that He died to pay the penalty for the sins of His creatures.

The cross was a pagan symbol centuries before Christ. An almost perfect Maltese cross hangs around the neck of the Assyrian king Samsi-Vul in the British Museum, and Ashur-nasir-pal bears a similar one. The Greek goddess Diana is pictured with a cross over her head, and Bacchus wears a headdress adorned with crosses. The Egyptians and Hindus used cross symbols abundantly, and Mexico had various crosses long before the Spaniards arrived. Christian use of the cross did not begin until the time of Constantine, three centuries after Christ, and archaeologists have found no Christian use of it before then. As W. E. Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words says, the cross as a Christian symbol was taken directly from the pagans. The New Testament does not specifically describe the instrument on which Christ died. Acts 5:30, 10:39, and 13:28-29 call it a tree, translating the Greek xulon, which can mean a stick, club, tree, stake, or other wooden object. There is no evidence that God's true church ever used the cross symbol for any purpose, and the Bible nowhere commands its use. God would surely have commanded it if He expected it of Christians.

The New Testament says Jesus was crucified on a stauros, a pole or stake, while the traditional cross, a stake with a cross-member resembling the ancient letter tau, is a later form. God forbids making any image or likeness of anything for worship, yet human nature repeatedly seeks something tangible to focus worship on. Israel's bronze serpent shows the danger. God had Moses set it on a pole to heal those bitten by snakes (Numbers 21:4-9), but the people turned their thanks from God to the image and eventually burned incense to it. Hundreds of years later, as Israel went into captivity for idolatry, Judah's king Hezekiah broke the bronze serpent in pieces, along with the high places, sacred pillars, and wooden images (II Kings 18:1-4). God hates idolatry and would not view the cross symbol any differently. Claiming that a cross reminds one of Christ does not change this, for it is nothing more than a bronze serpent. The Bible makes no connection between the Son of God and the cross of Tammuz. Hanging a cross in the home or wearing one on a chain puts a person at odds with a jealous God who has commanded against it.

The Greek word stauros, translated "cross" in the New Testament, simply means a stake or pole, and it was used for pieces of wood of various shapes, including those with crosspieces. The Romans used upright timbers as well as instruments with crosspieces at or just below the top, and under time pressure they sometimes used living trees. Biblical writers also call the instrument of Christ's death a tree (Acts 5:30; 13:29-30; 1 Peter 2:24; see also Acts 10:39; Galatians 3:13). Whether this term is more descriptive than literal cannot be determined. The Bible gives no description of the specific shape of the wood on which Christ died, and if knowing its shape were important, God would have supplied that information. What matters is Christ's sacrifice for us and what He is doing now, not the exact form of the wood. The prominence of the traditional cross in pagan religious custom ought to give pause to anyone who treats it as a Christian symbol.

The cross as a religious symbol is not a Christian emblem but a pagan one, originating as the mystic tau, the initial of Tammuz (identified with Nimrod), and used in Chaldea, Egypt, and nearly every religion except Judaism and Islam long before Christ. Quoting Hislop and Vine's, the New Testament word stauros originally means an upright stake, and xulon means tree, so the two-beamed ecclesiastical cross was adopted when apostate churches admitted pagans and let them keep their symbols. Constantine's vision is not evidence otherwise: his soldiers bore the Greek chi (X), the initial of Christ, not a cross, which would have been a pagan symbol, and he continued worshipping the sun. The cross was not introduced into the Catholic Church until the fifth century, and it was put on steeples and the crucifix sanctified only later. Even Catholic claims of an "anticipatory revelation" in Egyptian monuments only explain away its pagan roots. The meaning of Christ's death lies in the fact that He died for sins, not in the instrument, just as an electric chair or noose would not be venerated. Whether He died on a tree, stake, or cross is not the real issue. Exodus 20:4-5 forbids making or bowing to any image. Israel's veneration of Moses' bronze serpent, which Hezekiah destroyed in II Kings 18:4, shows how a tangible object becomes an idol. Wearing or displaying a cross, even as a reminder, cannot honor Christ, since a pagan symbol cannot honor Him, and it offers no protective power.

The cross is a pagan symbol, not a Christian one. It was honored centuries before Christ in Assyria, Babylon, Egypt, India, China, and Rome, and it originated as the Tau, the first letter of the name of the false savior Tammuz. Crucifixion itself was an ancient pagan punishment. The early Christians saw the cross as the accursed tree, an instrument of death and shame (Hebrews 12:2; Galatians 3:13), and the apostles gloried in what Christ accomplished on it, never in a piece of wood as a protector or object of worship. Archaeologists find no Christian use of the symbol before the 5th century. Its adoption came as pagans entered the churches without regeneration and kept their signs and symbols. Crosses in churches were introduced in 431 AD, required in homes in 449 AD, and placed on steeples about 586 AD. The Greek word stauros means simply an upright stake, and Acts 5:30, 10:39, and 13:30 call the instrument a tree (xulou). Nowhere does the Bible command or condone the cross symbol, and the true church is commanded to contend for the faith once delivered (Jude 3), which includes avoiding pagan artifacts. What matters is not the instrument but the One who hung on it and what He accomplished.

The cross is not a Christian symbol but a pagan one. Long before Christ, it served as a religious emblem across the ancient world, often tied to nature worship. The tau cross, shaped like the letter T, was the initial of Tammuz, the Babylonian fertility god for whom women wept in Ezekiel 8:14. It was marked on the foreheads of initiates in the Mysteries. Nominal Christians later adopted it, first privately and then publicly under Constantine, through a syncretism of pagan practice with the worship of God. God condemns that blending (Deuteronomy 12:30-31). The cross also fails to represent how Christ died. The Greek stauros, translated "cross," originally meant an upright stake, and the Bible does not say whether Jesus' stake had a crossbar, so the proper form cannot be known. It is also inappropriate to glorify the instrument of the Savior's shameful death as an emblem of faith, just as a gallows or guillotine would be inappropriate. Paul's glorying in the cross (Galatians 6:14) concerns justification through Christ's sacrifice, not a physical symbol. Satan, who knew Christ would die by crucifixion, made the cross a popular object of worship to lead people toward a false Christ. God's people must forsake it and worship Him in Spirit and in truth (John 4:23).

The cross, as a symbol, is widely recognized in the secular Western world as a good luck charm, often worn as jewelry or tattooed on bodies by various individuals, including those in mainstream Christianity. However, the use of the cross as a symbol raises questions about its appropriateness, given that it was the instrument of Christ's brutal execution. Historically, the cross predates Christianity by centuries, appearing in various pagan cultures such as among the Assyrians, Greeks, Egyptians, Hindus, and in Mexico before the arrival of the Spaniards. It was a major symbol in pagan religions long before its association with Christianity. The Greek word stauroo, often translated as cross, primarily means an upright stake or beam, used as an instrument of punishment and execution, though its exact shape in Christ's crucifixion remains uncertain and was likely just a stake. Crucifixion was not practiced in the Old Testament, but was used by Phoenicians, Carthaginians, and extensively by Romans, mainly for slaves and the lowest criminals. The Christian adoption of the cross symbol did not occur until the time of Constantine, three centuries after Christ, and its use in churches and on steeples came even later, in 431 AD and 586 AD respectively, alongside the introduction of the crucifix image for worship by the church of Rome in the sixth century. The shape of the cross, often linked to the mystic tau T, originated in ancient Chaldea as a symbol of the god Tammuz, and by the middle of the third century AD, as churches departed from original Christian doctrines, pagan symbols like the cross were integrated into Christianity to increase the prestige of the ecclesiastical system. This syncretism, the blending of pagan symbols with Christian beliefs, is seen as bearing false witness, contradicting the truth Christ came to proclaim. The cross, as a symbol borrowed from paganism, misrepresents God's true religion and is not endorsed by Christ or the apostles, who viewed it as a device of death and shame rather than a virtuous emblem. There is no evidence that God's true church ever used the cross symbol for any purpose, nor does the Bible command its use. The focus should remain on Christ's sacrifice and what He is doing now, rather than on the shape of the wood on which He died or on a symbol with deep pagan roots. The message of the cross, not the physical symbol itself, holds the power of God, emphasizing Christ's crucifixion and its significance for humanity.

The cross, as a symbol, carries profound significance for followers of Christ, though its origins and usage warrant careful consideration. It has been a religious emblem since long before the crucifixion of Jesus, originating in Babylonian mystery religions as a symbol of the god Tammuz, and was found among numerous pagan tribes. It did not become associated with nominal Christianity until centuries after the crucifixion, during the time of Constantine. The Scriptures refer to the cross metaphorically, but the true church never employed it physically. Additionally, the exact nature of what Jesus died on remains uncertain, as the Greek word "stauros" translates to a stake or upright pole, possibly with or without a crossbeam, and some scriptures suggest He was hung on a living tree rather than dead wood. The use of physical representations like the crucifix in worship is forbidden by the second commandment, which prohibits any image or likeness in the worship of God, regardless of intent. Nominal Christianity, however, has memorialized the pagan cross and venerates the means of Jesus' death through such images, turning it into a good-luck charm, despite Hebrews 12:2 stating that Jesus despised the shame of the cross. Jesus' instructions about taking up or bearing one's stauros clearly indicate no association with a physical crucifix, instead pointing to a broader concept of surrender and sacrifice that cannot be reduced to a mere icon. For the Jews under Roman rule, seeing a man carrying a stauros meant his life was essentially over, symbolizing complete surrender. When Jesus instructed His followers to take up their crosses, He meant for them to consider themselves as already dead, surrendering their lives to His control. This metaphor illustrates the encumbered life of a disciple, burdened by the weight of their calling, much like a heavy crossbeam hinders mobility. Jesus' teachings emphasize denying oneself, renouncing personal desires for the life He offers, and crucifying the carnal nature daily, a process that begins at baptism and continues until death. The cross of Christ symbolizes not only what the crucifixion produced but also His example of self-denial and losing His life for a greater purpose. To those perishing, the message of the cross—complete surrender—is foolishness, yet to those being saved, it is the power of God. Nominal Christianity often appreciates what the cross produced but resists the personal cost of following His example of surrender. However, for those who embrace this message, carrying their burdens until death, there is no greater power, as seen in God raising Jesus to life and placing all things under Him. This message of the cross calls for a response of self-denial and complete surrender, reckoning oneself dead to this present age to live for Him.

Jesus voluntarily gave His life for us on the stake, setting the ultimate example of bearing one's cross. He challenged and demanded that His followers do the same, as seen in Matthew 16:24, where He states, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Luke 9:23 emphasizes that we must take up our cross daily, making it an ongoing act of commitment. In Luke 14:27, Christ teaches that if we are not bearing our cross daily, we are not His disciples. Paul reinforces this in Philippians 3:10, stating that knowing God involves being conformed to Christ's death. Though the practice of crucifixion ended centuries ago, bearing our cross remains relevant through sacrificing the self. Jesus' crucifixion was foreordained, and He willingly laid down His life, enduring immense pressure and stress, as evidenced by His agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. His sacrifice cost Him everything—life, title, rank, privileges, comforts, security, and power—setting the standard for us. Paul calls us to be living sacrifices in Romans 12:1, echoing the call to bear our cross moment by moment, day by day. This involves denying ourselves, as Jesus instructed, and sacrificing personal rights or desires for the sake of others, whether in small daily acts or significant life choices. Carrying our cross also means being willing to suffer persecution and even die for Christ. Throughout history, many of God's people faced severe trials, from being crucified or torn apart by lions to enduring torment during the Crusades and the Inquisition. We must be prepared for such challenges, praying for strength and conviction not to deny our Lord, and to rejoice in persecution for His sake, knowing that great is our reward in heaven, as taught in Matthew 5:11-12. Jesus soberly teaches in Luke 9:24 that whoever loses his life for His sake will save it, reminding us of the eternal purpose behind bearing our cross.

More common than the nativity scene in mainstream Christian worship is the depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. God clearly bans the use of any image in the worship of Him, as recorded in the second commandment in Exodus 20:4 and Deuteronomy 5:8, which prohibits making any carved image or likeness of anything in heaven, on earth, or in the water under the earth. The only physical medium in which God has chosen to reveal Himself to us is language, specifically His Word. Just as a nativity scene reduces Jesus to a mere infant, crucifixes reduce Him to a suffering, dying man, diminishing the spiritual significance of the events to a purely physical level. A person can never understand God through an image or representation, for to make an image of God is to reduce Him to physical attributes we can sense. God's love, mercy, power, and His many other attributes cannot be depicted through images, and attempting to do so reduces God to the level of man, creating an idol conceived from our own physical sensations. Through such images, the world has reduced God and His power to their own level, removing understanding of and respect for His authority.

The symbol of the cross, often depicted as a T-shaped implement in portrayals of crucifixion, has been a subject of much discussion. Our English Bible translations state that Jesus died on a cross, with the original Greek word used being "stauros," which some experts define as a simple stake, pole, or post. Various sources, including Strong's Concordance and Vine's Expository Dictionary, suggest that the implement could have been an upright beam rather than the traditional cross shape known today. However, the exact shape remains unimportant as both forms, with or without a crossbar, appear in pagan symbolism. It is clear that the cross as recognized today resembles symbols used by worshipers of Tammuz, and it should not be incorporated into worship. Despite this, the greater issue remains that our Savior endured a horrific death on a stauros or cross for our sake, highlighting the profound sacrifice He made.

The recognized symbol of Christianity today is the cross, the murder weapon of the Messiah, assimilated from pre-Christian paganism and assumed to be an acceptable token. Yet, even a superficial reading of the Bible shows that God expresses great displeasure with worship aids He calls idols, because they essentially replace Him or falsely represent Him in the minds of those who use them. People assume that He accepts such a symbol, and woe to anyone who dares to state otherwise. Little thought, if any, is given to how God views the traditions and means that men have adopted to worship Him. Few consider whether the adoration aimed at Him is fitting or well-received.

In the context of following Christ, the symbol of the cross represents self-denial. It stands distinct from the general burdens of life that everyone faces or the personal afflictions that may affect individuals uniquely. The cross specifically applies to challenges and sacrifices that arise directly from being a Christian. As Jesus instructs in Matthew 10:38, one must take up their cross and follow after Him, indicating a call to prioritize Him above all else, even amidst persecution that may come from close relationships like family. This act of bearing the cross is a spiritual commitment, contrasting with worldly pursuits, and underscores the necessity of wholehearted dedication to Christ's path.

Among the many aspects of our Christian calling, one of the most defining is the necessity to bear our cross, a symbol of the trials and challenges we must endure. As Jesus Christ instructed in Matthew 16:24, if anyone desires to follow Him, they must deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow His path. This cross represents enduring whatever is difficult, trying, or even disgraceful in our commitment to Him. It is a daily burden, as noted in Luke, requiring us to surrender our own will, desires, and affections to God, placing His desires first without compromise. Bearing this cross often brings us into direct conflict with the world around us, just as it did for the faithful heroes of old. Their unwavering commitment to God, despite severe trials, exemplified this principle. For us, denying ourselves means not seeking personal happiness above obedience to God, but willingly setting aside our own desires to fulfill His purpose. Through these struggles, as we face various tests, our faith is proven and our character defined before God, aligning us with His will and preparing us for the promises He has in store.

The cross, as a symbol, carries profound significance in the journey of faith. It represents two essential aspects of the Christian walk. On one hand, it stands as the instrument of death on which Jesus was impaled due to mankind's sin, reminding us that sin is a constant presence we must bear under. On the other hand, it symbolizes any trial or difficulty that may arise as a result of following God's way of life. There are moments in a believer's life, whether at the beginning or later on, when adhering to this path may not seem beneficial, and if vision is lost, obedience may wane, allowing sin to reenter. Yet, God assures through His Word that patient endurance over the long haul will lead to a better life both now and in the future, affirming that bearing one's cross is integral to being worthy of Him.

In ancient times, in Central America, the cross-beamed cross was called Tota, meaning Our Father, reflecting a practice of addressing a piece of wood with a title of reverence. This mirrors the idolatry condemned in Jeremiah 2, where God's people, in mixing pagan worship with their religion, spoke to a tree, saying, 'You are my father,' and to a stone, 'You gave birth to me.' Such actions reveal a deep betrayal, as they turned their backs on the Eternal, only calling upon Him in times of trouble to arise and save them, while their crafted gods remained powerless. Various translations emphasize this error, consistently showing the shame of ascribing divine parenthood to lifeless wood or stone. This practice of idolatry, rooted in ancient Babylonian traditions, highlights the folly of trusting in objects that hold no life or power, in stark contrast to the living God who reigns in His holy temple, before whom all the earth should keep silence.

Satan, the master counterfeiter of God's truth, has always used symbols and icons in his deception to mark his followers. These include obelisks visible in major cities and on church steeples, crosses employed in various forms, and even the peace symbol as an ancient Celtic emblem, along with pentagrams appearing on forts, buildings, and other structures that claim territories. Such symbols form part of the broader pattern of subtle deception that characterizes the spirit of antichrist at work since the apostles' days. This spirit disguises opposition to Christ by presenting distorted versions of truth and righteousness, infiltrating the church and society through counterfeit markings that appear genuine yet lead people away from the Father and the Son. The material presents these symbols as tools that advance the ongoing spiritual conflict, where antichrists deny Jesus as the Christ and promote lawlessness under the guise of Christian forms, testing the faithful and requiring vigilance through the indwelling anointing of the Holy Spirit to discern and reject every lie.