Question 17: Why don’t you cross yourself to symbolize the cross of Christ?

Answer: Catholics make the “sign of the cross” when entering the Catholic church and in several instances throughout the mass. It is my understanding that the Catholic church has encouraged its people to do this in an effort to seek blessing and spiritual help. Bottom line – sanctification and blessings do not come through religious rituals! Churches have no power to make such things holy or to promise blessing by participating in them. This practice by the Catholics is purely human superstition. If we desire to be made holy before God, to be sanctified and blessed, we must receive it in the biblical way. The Bible says:

§ We are sanctified through the sacrifice of Christ.

o Hebrews 10:10 “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.”

• We are sanctified in the name of Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 6:11 “And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”