Wrestling with Scripture

If you are a Christian, you have probably been making the sign of the cross since you were a child, saying the words, "In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen." However, not everyone knows the reasoning behind this gesture. Some denomination of Christians also regard it idolatrous, however there is compelling biblical evidence to support the practice.  From the writing of early church Father's, we know that the practice of the sign of the cross was already well established by 2nd century.  In fact St. Basil the Great taught that the sign of the cross was a tradition handed down from the apostles. In the fourth century, John Chrysostom, bishop of Constantinople recognized the biblical nature of the sign of the cross and encouraged his flock to sign themselves. The early Christian apologist Tertullian wrote "In all our travels and movements, in all our coming in and going out, in putting on our shoes, at the bath, at the table, in lighting