Did early Christians make the sign of the Cross to invite the help of God or good luck?

Answer 1

Answer: Most definitely to invoke the help or blessing of God; Christians do not believe in "good luck" or "bad luck". The sign of the Cross this is still done today by the vast majority of Christians: Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Old Catholics, some Anglicans and some Lutherans. It is a sign of belief in the power of the Cross, a sign of humility, a recognition that humanity needs Christ. There is no scriptural indication that the early Christians made any such sign. It was a later development that grew out of "church" teachings, not biblical precept or example. In fact, invoking the sign of the cross can violate Jesus' teachings regarding doing spiritual things to be "seen by men." Matthew 6:5 - And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.Matthew 23:5 - But all their works they do to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the borders of their garments. [Statement stricken by original author as unseemly and poorly stated, regretfully resulting in its being misunderstood. See discussion.] ---- Answer: Whilst there is no biblical basis for making the sign of the Cross, it does not necessarily follow that those who do so violate Christ's admonition of those who wish "to be seen" to be holy. The above answer refers to two Scripture passages by way of speaking against making the sign of the Cross: (1) The passage from Matthew 6:5 is incomplete. The text continues: "But when you pray, go to your room and pray to your Father in secret; your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you". So, does this mean that Christ was against praying in public, and that we should pray only in secret? Obviously not, for He also states that wherever two or three are gathered in His name He would be with them - and there is ample biblical evidence for Christians gathering in groups to pray and not simply praying "in secret" in their rooms. If we were to take Christ's statement and apply it literally and across the board, no Christian would attend church. The point of Matthew 6:5,6 was to not to condemn public signs of faith but chastise those who did so merely for praise. (2) Matthew 23:5. Christ's admonition of those who wish to be honoured was aimed at those who practised empty piety. Note that Christ did not say Jews shouldn't wear the outward sign of phylacteries but criticised only those who made theirs prominent. Nor did Christ condemn praying in synagogues (after all, He frequented them) but those who wished to be noticed whilst praying. I do not believe the use of the above passages to condemn making the sign of the Cross is viable. One must presumes that those who carry a Bible to church, raise their hands in prayer, wear a cross (I do not count those who see the cross as jewellery) or display a Christian sticker on their car are doing so as a witness to Christ. Having said this, any act of worship, in public or private, should be done with sincerity or it risks becoming like a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

Answer 2

Early Christians made the sign of the cross as a symbol of their faith in the triune God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) and as a way to invoke God's protection and blessing, rather than for the purpose of seeking good luck. It was a gesture of reverence and devotion, not superstition.