The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Material Witness..icons and the Incarnation

This is a joke, right? Calvinism is BIBLICAL CHRISTIANITY, so of course we who hold to the doctrines of sovereign grace also embrace the Athanasian Creed as well as the Nicene Creed and Chalcedon, which says:

Therefore, following the holy fathers, we all with one accord teach men to acknowledge one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, at once complete in Godhead and complete in manhood, truly God and truly man, consisting also of a reasonable soul and body; of one substance with the Father as regards his Godhead, and at the same time of one substance with us as regards his manhood; like us in all respects, apart from sin; as regards his Godhead, begotten of the Father before the ages, but yet as regards his manhood begotten, for us men and for our salvation, of Mary the Virgin, the God-bearer; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, Only-begotten, recognized in two natures, without confusion, without change, without division, without separation; the distinction of natures being in no way annulled by the union, but rather the characteristics of each nature being preserved and coming together to form one person and subsistence, not as parted or separated into two persons, but one and the same Son and Only-begotten God the Word, Lord Jesus Christ; even as the prophets from earliest times spoke of him, and our Lord Jesus Christ himself taught us, and the creed of the fathers has handed down to us.

The reason most Calvinists find a "crucifix" objectionable is because: (1) It is in direct violation of the Second Commandment which prohibits the creation of any form of any of the three persons of the Godhead and/or the worship of them or use of them to worship. (2) Christ is risen and now sits at the right hand of God; ruling the earth and His kingdom, having ascended and been coronated King of Kings and Lord of Lords. (3) We are to remember His sacrificial death in the Lord's Supper and not through some fabricated object that is nothing more than the materialization of some man's imagination.

I think that is quite thoroughly answered in the Chalcedon Creed, but perhaps these Bible passages might make it even clearer for you:

John 1:14 (ASV) "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth."

Philippians 2:5-11 (ASV) "Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient [even] unto death, yea, the death of the cross. Wherefore also God highly exalted him, and gave unto him the name which is above every name; that in the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven and [things] on earth and [things] under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

1 Timothy 3:16 (ASV) "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness; He who was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the spirit, Seen of angels, Preached among the nations, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory."

In His Grace,