public cross - what's it there for?

Crucifix can be on T-shirts, lapel pin, earring and other jewelry, bumper stickers, gravestones, worship building windows or rooftops, and from market place squares of Britain (for example) the market cross was placed prominently. Doubtless there are multiple meanings for the master craftsman who executed the object, for those paying for it or commissioning it, for those passing through, residing nearby, or doing business in its shadow. Pillars of society may see this as a reminder of doing righteous deeds, law breakers may consider the cross in a different light, some who suffer misfortune could have conflicted feelings to the place of God in their life experience, young people may wonder what it signifies, old or ill people feeling their mortality may wonder differently than the young people.

     So there are personal, family, business, community, and whole Christendom levels of meaning, as well as the inflections made by a person's denomination, perhaps. For those unversed in the culture and ways of Christians, and for those averse or rejecting it all, the crucifix may hardly be recognized in their mind's eye, self-image, or aspirations. But no matter the scale of meaning (individual versus group), no matter the physical form of the crucifix (Roman killing instrument for public humiliation and suffering), and no matter the circumstance in which it may be spotted, the question remains: what is it there for? What is being meant by it?

     Purposeful placement by seminary-trained persons could mean "this execution machine is our shared symbol from the beginning to show that death is overcome; that while living we have much good to do in God's name." Casual adornment in clothing or jewelry could mean "I am not shy about my fellowship with other Christians and my engagement with others who don't know The Way that Christ taught us," or instead it could simply mean "I belong with the team that means to do good and mostly tries to be righteous, so don't judge me." And when a local governing body decides to establish a public monument with crucifix or other Christian reference then perhaps the meaning is "we declare God's ever-watchful eye will reign over this bailliwick, so please do behave properly and follow all local ordinances." But in none of these imagined interpretations is there a direct expression of the message, "God loves you. Seek after God to find your own direction and support. Love one another as well as you regard your own self."