Anyways, a news piece i came across today "inspired" me to blog about this topic. The article was basically talking about how the Philipine health officials were warning the locals that "Easter Cruxification" may pose as a health threat to them. I guess many are thinking what the heck is Easter Cruxification rite? Ok, it is a yearly ritual that happens every year in the Philipines where some of the locals will re-enact the scene of Jesus being cruxified on the cross. And by re-enacting, I mean they actually go through process of nailing themselves onto a cross with a 5 inch nail (about 15cm).
I saw this scene in some HK movie before and i thought it was fake, you know like just to make the movie more scary, but it is actually happening in real life. I felt rather disgusted too that people actually do such things. Oh by the way, this is not a christian way of celebrating Easter, but i guess more of a Roman Catholic way. There are many issues that i do not understand in a christian point of view, for example
1. When God died for us, he already took away our sins, so is there a point of trying to "cleanse" yourself again by trying to nail yourself to the cross?
2. Ok, fair enough when people say they want to remember how christ died for them, but is there a need to go to such an extreme?
3. There are people saying that they are doing this so that God can help them in some areas of their lives eg. healing their sick loved ones, providing something for them etc. But the question is, will God only help you unless you go through such pain?
4. Does such an action edify or stumble non-believers? If i wasn't a christian, i might think that they are from some cult or something.
Well still many question marks in my head but i can't seem to pen them down, so let's just leave
it there for now. Guess everyone wants to see some pictures now?
As adapted from the bible, the Roman soldiers were the ones that nailed Jesus to the cross thus explaining the outfit.
Look at the pain the guy is in. I really wonder why they have to do this, its like unecessary rite?
Seriously speaking i wonder do the people there do it for the sake of doing it, or for recognition? In one of the articles i read, there was this guy that said if he continued doing it another once or twice he will be able to get the role of "Kristo"-that is something like the main role where he can be the one carrying the cross. So you see what i mean? Doing it not really for christ but more for your own acheivement and recognition. Is that really what Easter is about?Well i am in no position to judge because i don't know what they feel, no right or wrong i guess, but i am just not supportive of it.
After saying so much, i just want to end with what i (and really this is my own opinion) think Easter is really about. I believe it's a time of celebration because on this special day many many thousands and hundreds of years ago, christ died for us so that we can be saved. All we need to do is to accept that love he has given us and believe that through his death we are given eternal life. So if somehow you find that this is true, all you have to say is "Lord i accept you as my lord and saviour Amen". Hope everyone will have a good easter!
Pics are adapted from bbc.co.uk & www.tatteredcoat.com/images/isett/crux-nail.jpg
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