Mennonite Churches need a Crucifix

I grew up with notion that Mennonites had empty crosses in their churches because we believe in a resurrected Christ, not one still sitting on the cross. There was a fair bit of anti-Catholicism and fear of religious images/objects in a worship context behind that.

And yet, we Mennonites emphasize the earthly life, teaching, and example of the person of Jesus. We Mennonites emphasize that true faith is a lived, embodied faith. 

Traditional Anabaptist Mennonite theology has looked at the cross not solely an act of redemption, but as an ethical model of self-sacrifice, humility, and non-violently giving up oneself for the other.  Jesus on the cross is an image of ultimate love.

Our Mennonite ancestors assembled a large book filled with images and stories of people giving up their lives to the persecuting national and religious powers. The Martyrs Mirror is filled with images not of empty burnt stakes or other torture devices, but of people in this Christ-like act of suffering and death.

So, would it not be entirely in keeping with our history and theology to display the crucified Christ in our churches? 

I am not one who idealizes suffering and death for a cause. I never will see Mel Gibson’s Passion of the Christ movie because I see it as nothing but suffering and gore porn. I have very mixed feelings of the Martyrs Mirror and any idealization of martyrdom. I see stories of martyrs told within the book as stories of injustice, and I want to work for justice.

Christ is risen. Hallelujah. And the risen Christ still calls us to his way of the cross.