When the Crucifix Is Used to Cover Sin

By Camille Mc Millan Rambharat
Swearing on sacred symbols to avoid accountability dishonours our faith and distorts the truth. “I swear on the crucifix.”

I’ve heard this phrase far too many times, usually when someone’s behaviour is being questioned. No matter how much evidence is presented, they cling to the crucifix as if invoking its name could erase all doubt. Let’s call it what it is: gaslighting.

A couple of years ago, I saw this firsthand. Someone was caught doing something clearly wrong. Rather than apologise, they deflected, projected blame, and then said during a long phone call: “I swear on the crucifix.”

In that moment, it became clear that some use sacred symbols not to honour God, but to shield themselves from accountability. The experience bothered me deeply, so I asked others on Facebook for their thoughts:

What happens, spiritually or emotionally, when someone lies while swearing on the crucifix?

One reader shared this reflection:

“The biggest problem in life is that we’ve lost the fear of the Lord. It’s as though we’ve forgotten that God is real, that there is life after death, and that obedience brings eternal life. Growing up, the surest way to catch someone in a lie was to ask them to swear on the Bible or the crucifix. None of us would dare lie. Our mother reminded us often about the consequences of things like lying, stealing, and fighting.”

There was a time when the fear of the Lord wasn’t about living in terror. It was about living in truth—with reverence,

accountability, and the knowledge that even when no one else is watching, God is. That sacred fear, rooted in awe and love, is fading in today’s culture.

Instead, we see a troubling shift. Faith and sacred symbols are casually weaponised. “Swearing on the crucifix” becomes performative rather than confessional—a defence mechanism instead of a declaration of truth and humility.

But Scripture reminds us:

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked. A man reaps what he sows” —Galatians 6:7.

The crucifix isn’t a prop. It’s not a get-out-of-jail-free or lie-free card. It is sacred. It reminds us of the price Jesus paid, the weight of our sins, and the call to live with humility and integrity.

When someone lies while swearing on the crucifix, it reveals a broken moral compass and shows deep disrespect for what is holy. It also teaches those around us—especially our children—that faith is something you wear instead of something you live.

But the crucifix calls us to more: to confess, not cover up; to own our actions, not deflect them; to be accountable, not manipulative.

Let’s honour the crucifix—not just with our words, but with our walk. Because in the end, it isn’t simply a reminder of Christ’s suffering. It is a call to live a life worthy of His sacrifice.