I am dealing with an issue regarding the displaying or wearing of religious emblems such as crosses, fish, crucifix, angels and such like. I was wondering what your thoughts on this subject are. Any help that you can give me would be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Bruce Stulting
Certainly, we realize, that unlike the stance of some religious groups, a child of God may wear jewelry. For instance, should one refer to 1 Peter 3:3 as “proof” that a Christian cannot wear jewelry, he would be arguing simultaneously (whether he realized it) that a Christian cannot wear clothes either–hardly a satisfactory conclusion to derive from a purportedly biblical principle. “Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel.” Of course, the lavish, outward adornment (not ordinary and modest adornment) in that context is contrasted with the humble, inner spirit of a godly Christian (1 Peter 3:4).
The question, though, essentially is may a Christian wear religious jewelry. My computer database of various religious magazines I have read and catalogued over the past 30 years does not register a single article that addresses this question; if there are any articles in my periodical library that address that question, I have overlooked them. Briefly consulting a collection of religious questions and biblical answers incorporated in book form, likewise, I was unable to find a single reference to the question posed here. Apparently, that question has not been a big issue of concern among the churches of Christ in my lifetime.
The only basis of which I am aware where one might view jewelry that depicts crosses, fish, a crucifix and angels unfavorably is were they to be construed as symbols of idolatry. Indeed, Christians are forbidden to practice idolatry (1 Corinthians 10:14; Galatians 5:19-21; Revelation 21:8). As a former Catholic, I am well aware of the idolatrous use of images by the Catholic Church and its parishioners, especially the crucifix; it has always seemed a little strange to wear a cross around one’s neck when it represents an instrument of capital punishment. (I can almost imagine people wearing miniature guillotines and electric chairs around their necks and as charms on bracelets.) However, I know of no Christians or members of the Lord’s church who practice an idolatry symbolized by crosses, fish, angels or even a crucifix. I am, though, aware of Christians who are covetous, which the apostle Paul in Colossians 3:5 calls idolatry, about which we apparently have little or no concern. There may be other matters more deserving of critical attention.
