Instrument of Execution Shirt

 "Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me, is not worthy of me." (Matthew 10:38)

When we hear these words of Jesus, it is difficult to comprehend just how terrible the call was when he uttered them to his disciples. 

The cross was not yet a symbol of forgiveness, love, and sacrifice. It was a sign of oppression, a brutal instrument of a torturous death that the Romans would not even subject their own citizens to suffer. It was cruel, sadistic symbol. (This concept is discussed further in The Way of the Christian Samurai)

Two thousand years later, we have other instruments of execution that instill fear and uncomfortable feelings when we see or hear them. This shirt features just a few of them, as a reminder of just what kind of sacrifices we as Christians are to contemplate following our Lord.