I was at a worship gathering recently and we took
communion. I observed a woman take the emblems and then make the sign of the cross. I found it a beautiful and poignant moment as she in deep sincerity, honored
God in this way.
It then took my mind to the myriad of times I have seen
others do the same in different settings. In silence, a person using the
right hand (because Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father) touches the
forehead, the center of the chest (the heart), and the two shoulders saying: “in
the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.” (See
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=autaIzGDcy8).
It is used across a range of churches including the Orthodox,
Catholic Churches, Anglicanism, and some Lutherans and Methodists. The idea is
a very early one, found in Tertullian (De
corona 3) who in the late second century says it was used on every journey, leaving the home, and at meals and bedtime (ISBE 1:287).
As I thought on this profound act of worship by the woman,
I pondered my own experience of the church which is largely Presbyterian and
Baptist and wondered, “why on earth did we drop this?” It can hardly be seen as idolatrous. I suppose it could be seen as superstitious, but, then, is it any different from looking upward, raising hands, bowing in submission, or verbalizing a prayer? Not really, indeed, it is a lovely way to say a prayer non-verbally.
Some apparently don’t like the idea of invoking the full
three-fold name of God, Father, Son, and Spirit, preferring “in the name of
Jesus.” Yet, that seems downright weird considering that we are sent into the
world to baptize people “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit” (Matt 28:19). Probably, it is mainly rejected in many Protestant traditions because it is too Roman Catholic. While there are some ways in which I differ in my understanding from my Roman Catholic brothers and sisters in the faith, this is rubbish at many levels.
Hence, I suggest that we Protestants not familiar with using the
sign of the cross should consider doing so. It is a beautiful and succinct way to express one’s worship. It identifies us as a Christian and hence it becomes an act of witness. It also invokes something in others. We shouldn’t do it pretentiously or to draw attention. It must be genuine, directed to
God. When it is done from a sincere heart, it is a haunting and exquisite gesture of reverence.
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I am involved in a group called Presbyterian Affirm. It is an evangelical group within the NZ Presbyterian Church which seeks to promote the gospel and the renewal of churches. A group of us under the leadership of Stuart Lange have worked to put together a statement on same-sex marriage. Our hope is that the government will not pass the legislation, believing that the legislation is not necessary and strays from God’s ideals for humanity. Here is the recently released statement. I would appreciate your thoughts on it. PRESBYTERIAN GROUP OPPOSES SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BILL Presbyterian AFFIRM, a widely-supported conservative network within the Presbyterian denomination, is speaking out against the Bill which would allow same-sex couples to marry, declaring its views in a “Statement on Marriage” (see below). Presbyterian AFFIRM believes that “marriage is a unique human institution and treasure” which has “always been about the pairing of a man and a woman”, and that re-def...
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