What does the Bible say about God's image and human diversity?

The sky has beautiful colors above us, yet no one knows the color of God

"Do not stare at me because I am dark, because I am darkened by the sun. My mother's sons were angry with me and made me take care of the vineyards; my own vineyard I had to neglect." 

This Biblical quotation can be traced to Song of Solomon 1:6.

Even though the Bible is said to be inspired by men of God, it is likely that before the white missionaries reached the continent of Africa, most of the contents in the Holy Book had been changed to favor a particular race just to dominate another race.

The Crucifixion Debate: Did Jesus Die on a Cross?

The controversy surrounding how Jesus died

Even though the cross is loved and respected by thousands of Christians worldwide, true Christians are far away from the cross and have nothing to do with it. How can that be? One significant reason is that Jesus didn’t die on the cross. 

The Greek translates ‘Cross’ as ‘Stau-ros’. This means an upright pole or stake. The Companion Bible states that ‘Stau-ros’ never means two pieces of wood or timber placed across one another at any angle.

Hermann Fulda’s book ‘The Cross and the Crucifixion’ states that Trees weren’t available everywhere at the public places chosen for execution, so a single beam was sunk into the ground. 

On this beam, outlaws' hands are raised, and often their feet are bound or nailed. To confirm the truth that Jesus didn’t die on the cross, the Apostle Paul said:

Christ, by purchase, released us from the curse of the law by becoming cursed instead of us, because it is written, “Accursed is every man hanged upon a stake (tree-King James Version), Galatians 3:13. 

In Deuteronomy 21:22, Paul’s quote clearly refers to a stake, not the cross. Since anyone who dies on a pole, beam, stick, wood, tree, etc, is cursed, it wouldn’t be appropriate for Christians or churches to decorate walls or homes with cross symbols.

The New Catholic Encyclopedia admits that the cross is found in both pre-Christian and non-Christian cultures. It was rather linked to pagan sex rites. Above all, the scriptures also warn against all kinds of idolatry. (Exodus 20:4, 5; 1 Corinthians 10:14).

 

For these reasons, true Christians don’t use the cross in worship.  One of those churches that has nothing to do with the cross is ‘The Jehovah's Witnesses.’