I'm Yours, Lord!

By Katie Hill

For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

You’re sitting in Divine Service, attempting to glance discreetly at that man at the end of the pew who is making the sign of the cross. If that’s a tradition you practice, then your look is one of acknowledgment and maybe even kinship. If you don’t, then perhaps you are somewhat mystified—maybe even a bit put off. The sign of the cross is not completely foreign to us. Most likely your pastor makes the sign of the cross at key points in the liturgy: at the opening (Invocation) and the closing (Benediction) and possibly at various points in between.

You’ve seen a number of Baptisms and so you know that when you, too, were baptized, your pastor made the sign of the cross on your head and heart: “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” Oh, and then there’s that medieval-looking cross symbol ✠ that pops up occasionally in your hymnal, meaning “This is a good time to make the sign of the cross.” Maybe you ‘ve witnessed people in person (or as portrayed on TV) crossing themselves in moments intense fear or thankfulness, regardless of their religious perspective. So how about for you as a Lutheran? Is crossing yourself something you must do or should do?

Is it necessary?

While the tradition of making the sign of the cross hails back to the earliest days of the Church, we understand it not to be a necessary practice. In fact, it falls under a category known as “adiaphora,” which is a Greek concept that became repopularized during the time of the Reformation. It basically means “things that don’t matter greatly,” but when used theologically it is more precisely understood as “things not essential to faith because they are neither commanded nor forbidden in God’s Word.” You may recall that the Reformers, including Luther, were challenging the Roman Catholic Church teaching that certain customs or traditions could have the power to hinder or help our salvation. Our Lutheran Confessions clearly point this out in many places such as “No tradition was set up by the Holy Fathers for the purpose of meriting the forgiveness of sins, or righteousness” (Apology XV, 13).

So as Lutherans, our Confessions assert that making the sign of the cross is not necessary for our salvation, but we must be very careful how we understand traditions that fall under adiaphora. Just because a tradition isn’t necessary for salvation doesn’t mean it isn’t useful for the Christian and the Church.

Is it beneficial?

Making the sign of the cross absolutely is intended to be beneficial. Unfortunately, the thought of crossing yourself might come with a lot of baggage for you, depending on your background. It’s too “Catholic,” you might say. Not every ancient tradition we share with Rome is suspect simply because Rome observes it. I was raised Roman Catholic. I understand that concern. Crossing myself became something I just did because it was part of the whole package of being a faithful Catholic. I thought somehow it made me more holy and acceptable. It became almost a superstitious act at times. That being said, if somebody else uses a tradition in an empty way, it does not invalidate your using such a tradition for your benefit and for the benefit of others. Our Confessions say that practices like making the sign of the cross are “instituted for the sake of good order in the Church and for the sake of peace” (Apology XV, 13-14).

Truth be told, there is a connection between making the sign of the cross and being holy and acceptable—justified before God. I am holy and acceptable but not through the act of crossing myself. Rather, in doing so, I remember the One who has made me holy and acceptable through His perfect life and death—the One who made me His own through Holy Baptism. I remember how He has accomplished this through His death on the cross and resurrection from the dead. It’s just another tangible way to recall that in Baptism, I have put on Christ. It is intended to do the same for you!

Making the sign of the cross is not limited to corporate worship. In the Small Catechism, Luther encourages using the sign of the cross upon waking in the morning for prayer, and before closing our day with evening prayers as well, saying “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.” You might have noticed that we open and close all of our Higher Things Reflections with “In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.” You are free to make the sign of the cross whenever you feel the need or desire. If you don’t already cross yourself, rest assured that there’s no perfect way to do it. Most commonly, you touch your forehead with your right hand, then your heart, then one shoulder and the other shoulder—you’ve made a cross! As with many traditions, there are variations, so feel free to talk to your pastor or someone in your church who practices it already if you feel you need additional guidance.

Is it magical?

No. Not even in the slightest. Making the sign of the cross doesn’t ward off evil spirits, give you good luck, or keep you from harm. On the other hand, when you do cross yourself—when your mind is brought back to Christ and Him crucified for you—you are reminded that the One Who tells demons where to go, Who blesses you at every turn, and Who protects you from the snares of the devil, the world, and yes, even ultimate death, is with you. He has marked you. You are sealed for the day of redemption. You are His!

So relax! Your neighbor in the pew doesn’t have to look at you like you have two heads if you cross yourself and you don’t have to look at him in the same way if he does not. In Christian liberty you are free to cross yourself, joyfully remembering Whose you are.

Katie Hill is the editor of Higher Things Magazine. She can be reached at katie.hill@ higherthings.org.