Do The Symbols of Our Faith Have Real Power? | 1 Samuel 5:3 | N.T. Wright Online 

Such a great observation of the Christian symbols we hold so dear to our heart. As I went through chemo for stage 4 breast cancer. My spiritual sister gave me a cross made by a person of pottery that fit perfect on my hand. She said, " Don't look at this as a help but a reminder who loves you & is with you." 2 days later my brother sent the same type of thing but was made to look like wood. When I had my breast removed 4 years later because it returned .... our new Rector came to be with me & immediately gave me a plain cross made of olive tree wood he got on his visit to Jerusalem. I have held them all during times of distress & grief (my British husband passed 5 years ago) but the only power i understood they had ... was to remind me He is with me, He won't leave me, & I am NOT forsaken. Thank you sir, for this wonderful message that tells others the power is not in the relic but the Lord Hod Himself. Amen 🙏 💕💖❤️

This is an interesting question. I find your presentation persuasive as always. But them I'm reminded of Calvin's "the human heart is and idol factory...".

Can you show one verse where the Bible in the OT and NT commands God's people to make symbols for worship whoch He himself didn't command? The ark was a symbol of God's presence and rule , it ultimately represent the holy of holies as seen in Rev 4 as the very presence of God where Christ entered and where we alao gather in worship with the general assembly. Yet we don't have a ark in the NT commanded but as Jer 3:14-22, Ezek 40-48. Shows, the NC temple of God will have God's glory in it who is the Holy spirit and thus it will be the place of God's dwelling and his name being there. However, the ark of God will not be made and will be forgotten. The image of a cross is no where commanded in the NT either . Baptism is commanded and so is the lords supper as ordinances that point to the realities of the cross and the gospel and our hope of feasting with Christ someday. Images of Christ is no where commanded. Infact it's agaibst the 2nd commandment to make and worship anything u make in God's likeness . So brother don't call us into idolatry and vain worship. Our symbols are means of grace when engaged in with faith but they are nothing like the ark of the covenant where the presence or God was found. Our church buildings are not symbols thry are simply consecrated places of worship where we gather as the temple of God. Thus they are only sacred because we have devoted them to worship just like one will devote anything to God . But they are not the same as OT temple which is fulfilled by the church itself in its members as the living stones among whom God dwells . The story shows the greatness of the God of Israel to the gods of the Nations.

We are renovating a house where we found a smal wooden cros. We did not throw it away and is still in the middle of all the workware and materials. It is just a cros, but everytime I see it I , the deeper meaning is somewere present... it reminds me, I cant throw it away.

We need to remember

Any symbol can become an idol.

Mr Wright, the Israelites successfully walked the ark when it circled the city of Jericho seven times and it collapsed. The reason why The I Am was not favorable to them during the battle against the Philistines, was because the priesthood of the sons of Eli had been corrupted, they profaned the established order of sacrifices, and both they and their father Eli paid the consequences, as well as the army of Israel. But well, we are talking about the previous covenant, in which the ark was the symbol but not the origin of Yahweh's power, inside the ark were the objects that should remind them of the priesthood, the covenant, and the protection of God. In the new covenant everything changes, there is no longer a wall of separation between Jews and Gentiles, animals should not be sacrificed, nor should priests and Levites be kept. Now the symbols such as the cross should not be represented with objects but rather symbolize the altar where Jesus the Christ was sacrificed (within the imagery of the Hebrew thought of the apostles and other disciples).

This is wonderful and blessed me so much ❤

To me, symbols point us back to the faith that they represent. A symbol seems really meaningless if we do not know what it means or was formed to represent. I have a wonderful wooden representation of a cross with an unformed body on it and the feet or bottom of the body is connected to a kneeling figure at the foot of the cross. This symbol means a lot to me as it reminds me that Jesus died on the cross and that his death mystically connects those who worship Jesus with him. If I did not know about the cross of Jesus, this wooden form might not even be understandable to me and would mean nothing. But when I look at this cross, I see myself as the person kneeling at Jesus feet and feel an immense peace.

I'm not informed enough to comment meaningfully, however I truly enjoy and appreciate your commentary very much!

Such a great message and it simply reminds me that G-D is sovereign.

Amen!

Thank you! Amen

Thank you Bishop Wright !! My symbol in my pocket is a beautiful carved wooden cross that fits my fingers beautiful as my "Sword of the Spirit" !! ■ And further a beautiful engraved verse as in a waka mounted on brick at my front door entry. Out of NZ native macrocarpa ~ "Ebenezer Hitherto hath the Lord helped us" !!

Thank you once again for a powerful and meaningful message. I agree with you that these symbols have power as well

I do not agree with you, but your video has very impressive video quality.