Mainstream Christianity promotes the cross as a symbol of worship even though it originated in pagan religions centuries before Christ and was adopted into Christian practice only in the time of Constantine. Human reasoning leads many to display this tool of execution on their bodies, Bibles, and church buildings as an innocent religious emblem. The apostles did not trust in the cross as a virtuous symbol but viewed it as an accursed tree and focused instead on the message of what Christ accomplished through His sacrifice. They referred to it vaguely as a tree and preached the forgiveness of sin that came through faith in that sacrifice. No command appears in the Bible to use the cross symbol and there is no evidence that the true church ever employed it for any purpose. Adding such pagan symbols to worship constitutes syncretism and idolatry because they misrepresent the true religion of God. The important matter in worship is Christ's sacrifice and what He continues to do rather than the exact shape of the wood on which He died. A true witness represents the love of God the Father and the love of Jesus Christ in deed and in truth.