BIBLICAL BRIEFS 21
It is universally agreed that the cross as a symbol originated from the Egyptian ankh (☥), a representation in those ancient hieroglyphs of the sign of “life”. An early Christian group from ancient times, residing in Egypt, started using it, and later on it was standardised in the Coptic Church; henceforth its popularity increased across the world. The fact that the ankh resembles a key, has resulted in the perception that it can open up and lock up the gates of death/heaven/hell. Thus, the ankh has often been utilised as an amulet, which then chiefly has been applied to resist spirits and evil forces. It is currently a prominent symbol in Wicca worshiping and is strongly associated with male and female gender anatomy and sexuality (see: ‘An ABC of Witchcraft’ by Doreen Valiente). The conclusion reached by John Denham Parsons, in his book: The ‘Non-Christian Cross’, is as follows: “As the Greek text of the writings forming the New Testament testifies, not one of the Apostles or Evangelists ever stated that Jesus was executed upon a cross-shaped instrument of execution. The circumstances under which the figure of the cross became the symbol of our religion, were then made clear. And, having since demonstrated the existence in pre-Christian ages of a widespread veneration of the figure of the cross as the symbol of Life and of the Sun-God, … may have given rise to the desire to associate Jesus therewith …” Jesus was crucified on a pole (Num. 21: 9; John 3:14), with his hands attached above his head onto thìs cursed pole, not on a cross. Strangely enough, in light of this evidence, the cross rather becomes a néhustan (2 Kin. 18: 4) – an object taking the position of Jesus as the Crucified, and therefore often resulting in an object of idolatry. Besides the cultural significance and superstitious value it acquired over time, the cross can hardly be separated from its pagan historical origin. And as a matter of fact, the empty grave is a much more important symbol than the empty cross. We ought to be watchful as not to add supernatural or spiritual value to any natural object.
Dr. Tom Gouws
