IN an attempt to separate itself from the established Christian church, the Watch Tower Society declares the cross to be a pagan symbol and teaches that Christ was put to death on an upright stake.

But the accusation, that the cross is a pagan symbol does nothing to prove that Jesus was put to death on something else.

For example, just because the Romans were pagans does not mean they did not put Christ to death.

In order to make their point, the Watch Tower Society has removed all reference to the cross in its New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures. Replacing it with "torture-stake".

The cross has no religious meaning apart from that assigned to it by those who make reference to it.

It was the instrument by which the Son of God was put to death on our behalf.

If some worship the image of a cross, that is without doubt outside of the will of God. But if some recall the love of God, at the sight of the symbol it makes little difference whether the "stake" has a cross beam or not.

What it means to the Christian, and what it calls to mind ought not to be considered pagan, nor outside the bounds of true Christianity.

As it says in Galatians 6:14;

"But God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world."