On crosses
It's the Archbishop of Canterbury who is taking the rap for the British Airways/Cross wearing dispute. He's not been speaking up about it enough for the media apparently, though if JJ, his press officer, had a pound for every time he'd heard that accusation, I'm sure they could take on an extra assistant in the hard pressed bowels of Lambeth Palace.But in any case, let's just step back a minute. The cross on which Jesus died is the supreme act and sign of God's love to each person, the sacrifice he made to break through death and bring us eternal life. But does that make it the Christian symbol? Is it, as the papers seem to assume, obligatory for Christians to wear a cross? The answer, of course, is no to both. The earliest symbols of Jesus were either the star, or the fish, icthus, found painted on the walls of early Christian churches. And while the cross was and is commonplace, you'll find more and varied examples of it in high street jewellers than you will on church bookstalls. It's worn today by anyone and everyone, and many who wear it don't even realise its religious significance. The sign of the cross, used in baptism on the forehead of the person being baptised is usually accompanied, not by the gift of a silver necklace but by perhaps a candle, or a Bible.
There is a strong slab of the Christian world which is actually ambivalent about wearing of crosses. Here is Charles Spurgeon's advice to preachers on the subject:
"I would say, if I might, to young ministers, do not preach in gloves, for cats in mittens catch no mice; don't curl and oil your hair like dandies, for nobody cares to hear a peacock's voice; don't have your own pretty self in your mind at all, or nobody else will mind you. Away with gold rings, and chains, and jewelry; why should the pulpit become a goldsmith's shop? Forever away with surplices and gowns and all those nursery doll dresses men should put away childish things. A cross on the back is the sign of a devil in the heart; those who do as Rome does should go to Rome and show heir colors." Hmm that's telling you!
His view, whether we agree or not, is that jewellery is generally a bad thing, and a silver cross is an oxymoron. Should then the head of the C of E, a church founded during the protestant reformation by a king determined to sever ties with Rome, be standing up and making a fuss about a perfectly reasonable policy that jewellery - of whatever religion - should be kept hidden beneath uniforms?
posted by John Carter @ 10:03 am
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