Exodus 20 ..Im confused?

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Christine85

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In my NRSV Bible it states in Exodus 20:4 Thou shall not make for yourself an idol…You shall not bow down to them or worship them. This concerns me as I am about to be Confirmed and a Protestant challenged me on this yesterday and I found it in my own Bible. Why do Catholic churches have statues and why do people kneel before them. It says in both my Bibles also the Good News Bible, not to make idols of anything that is in the image of heaven above or the waters below. Ive tried to google the reasons why this is is in the Bible yet Catholics have statues and I found several websites one among them was this
the-ten-commandments.org/romancatholic-tencommandments.html
which was quite disturbing. Also my RCIA leader gave out the Ten Commandments yet the command which I am talking about above which is in both my NRSV and Good News Bible arent on it? The only logical explanation I can come up with is this biblicalheritage.org/Bible%20Studies/10%20Commandments.htm

Please help. Thanks 😃
 
Christine, I have no idea what your RCIA leader gave you but you can clearly see that the injunction against idols is in both versions of the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20 which you cited and Deuteronomy 5. Both are listed at the Vatican’s website as part of the Ten Commandments which all Christians must adhere to.

Reference vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/command.htm. This is authoritiative. It is from the Vatican.

As to statues, they are not idols. We do not worship statues. We know that they are wood, stone and metal things which God has given us the material for and human hands have fashioned. Catholics do not worship statues. They are like family pictures which we look at to remind us of people, places and things, like Mary or jesus the Crucifixion.

I have knelt down to pray at the sea shore while watching the sunrise. Does that mean I worship the sun?

Statues are just reminders. God is the real God. Don’t let your Protestant friends tell you that Catholics worship statues. Statues are like family pictures, that’s all.

-Tim-
 
It still doesnt seem 100 percent correct that it says not to make images and bow down, even though we know they are wood or whatever, when it says in the Bible not to. I cant seem to get my head around it and believe that its appropriate. We cant go making excuses for breaking commandments. That would be like NOT sending someone who committed manslaughter to jail. Do you get what I mean. I have been able to come to appropriate conclusions for everything else protestants are against about catholics mostly from using the website scripture catholic. But this issue about the Command in the Bible is not there. I understand that the first response to this endeavours to explain that we are under the new covenant etc. But thats still making excuses. I like to be sure of things.
 
Christine85 said:
It still doesnt seem 100 percent correct that it says not to make images and bow down, even though we know they are wood or whatever, when it says in the Bible not to. I cant seem to get my head around it and believe that its appropriate. We cant go making excuses for breaking commandments. That would be like NOT sending someone who committed manslaughter to jail. Do you get what I mean. I have been able to come to appropriate conclusions for everything else protestants are against about catholics mostly from using the website scripture catholic. But this issue about the Command in the Bible is not there. I understand that the first response to this endeavours to explain that we are under the new covenant etc. But thats still making excuses. I like to be sure of things.
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Christine, I think the post I linked to above would help set your mind at ease.
 
I just re read the first reply and it does make a bit more sense now.
 
FCEGM - where did you learn this? Just by your own personal study? Its so insightful and knowledgeable. Im starting a Degree in Theology today and hope to one day be able to refer to several parts of the Bible at once too.
 
Christine85 said:
It still doesnt seem 100 percent correct that it says not to make images and bow down
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You should ask your friend if they wear crosses or have a cross in their home. If we can’t have any images then we should certainly remove the cross, especially considering Christ was not he one one to die on it.
 
TimothyH said:
Christine, I have no idea what your RCIA leader gave you but you can clearly see that the injunction against idols is in both versions of the Ten Commandments, Exodus 20 which you cited and Deuteronomy 5. Both are listed at the Vatican’s website as part of the Ten Commandments which all Christians must adhere to.

Reference vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/command.htm. This is authoritiative. It is from the Vatican.

As to statues, they are not idols. We do not worship statues. We know that they are wood, stone and metal things which God has given us the material for and human hands have fashioned. Catholics do not worship statues. They are like family pictures which we look at to remind us of people, places and things, like Mary or jesus the Crucifixion.

I have knelt down to pray at the sea shore while watching the sunrise. Does that mean I worship the sun?

Statues are just reminders. God is the real God. Don’t let your Protestant friends tell you that Catholics worship statues. Statues are like family pictures, that’s all.

-Tim-
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Great answer here. I might add: Since the Word became Man (read: Incarnation), we can now have a perfect image of God. Read John 14:8-13.

Iconography is one great gift! Remember that these are means and not the end themselves. When one starts to imagine that we are humans and we need them to better concentrate in our devotion to God, then we learn to realize the greatness of our God allowing these “instruments” to better concentrate on Him and his Glory.

Indeed, if music (lively in fact) is to the ear, then icons are for the eyes and incense is for the nose and (vocal) prayer is for the lips. They all help our souls and mind ascend to God. Remember: We are made to be humans. Christ came so we can fully live to be humans and love God to the fullest.
 
Christine85 said:
FCEGM - where did you learn this? Just by your own personal study? Its so insightful and knowledgeable. Im starting a Degree in Theology today and hope to one day be able to refer to several parts of the Bible at once too.
Click to expand...
Most of what you read at the link was a quote from someone else, so I can’t take credit for that. I’ve been blessed to know some very knowledgeable people who have been helpful to me as I study on my own. God bless you in your course of study for that degree! 👍
 
in truth we should not need anything in a church but sometimes people need things to help focus their mind. But as the posts above show there is a big difference between reverence and worship.

If your protestant friends were to apply their same logic to the Bible and the reverence that it is given then it too could be seen as an Idol for it may be of God but it is not God. We can have many gods in out lives and many of these are ideas and philosophies.
 
Christine85 said:
In my NRSV Bible it states in Exodus 20:4 Thou shall not make for yourself an idol…You shall not bow down to them or worship them. This concerns me as I am about to be Confirmed and a Protestant challenged me on this yesterday and I found it in my own Bible. Why do Catholic churches have statues and why do people kneel before them. It says in both my Bibles also the Good News Bible, not to make idols of anything that is in the image of heaven above or the waters below. Ive tried to google the reasons why this is is in the Bible yet Catholics have statues and I found several websites one among them was this
the-ten-commandments.org/romancatholic-tencommandments.html
which was quite disturbing. Also my RCIA leader gave out the Ten Commandments yet the command which I am talking about above which is in both my NRSV and Good News Bible arent on it? The only logical explanation I can come up with is this biblicalheritage.org/Bible%20Studies/10%20Commandments.htm

Please help. Thanks 😃
Click to expand...
Have no fear. When you bow down before a statue, do you think that statue is watching you; going to somehow do something for you of its own volition? Of course not. Neither does any real Catholic I know (or Anyone I know for that matter). Back in the time of Moses, however, people really did worship statues; not God, statues and expected the actual statue to hear them and grant them their petitions.

Looking back, literacy among the general populace is a fairly new innovation. How was/is the church to teach the gospel without pictures and statues?

Personally, I find I get less distracted if I have a statue of Mary (always say “yes” to God) or another Saint so, if say, St. Francis is before my focus is for Peace and Simplicity… whatever. The bottom line though, is that every and all prayer is ultimately offered to God the Almighty. If you find that is not the case with you, then please don’t use such methods, but also please do *not *try to tell the faithful who they are praying to.

As to the 10 Commandments, the Jewish people today break them up even differently and further, consider all 613 laws of Moses to be of valid import. The Protestants prefer to break the first commandment into two and combine the last two into one-thereby equating women with chattel. Sorry, but lusting and coveting are two very different demons. Protestants like to say we threw out their “second commandment” because it suits their needs, it’s all part of the first for us, and if it’s not expressly spelled out in a poster, the heart of it is there clearly: no Gods before me… Oh and don’t worship statues… umm isn’t that putting other gods first or am I missing something? Get to know Protestants better. I defy you to find me a religious denomination that uses no aids whatsoever in helping people focus prayer.

Now, we do believe in the communion of Saints which means that when holy people die, they don’t just go away or sleep or whatever flavor-of-the-day religion you ask; God allows our prayers to be heard by them and they can be powerful intercessors, just like I might ask you to pray for me, how much better is it to ask Jesus’ mother to pray for us. IMHO, much better. But the really cool thing is you don’t have to go there at all. In fact, if you find you have little time to pray, it is much better to pray directly to God.

It’s very deceptive when Protestants unwittingly promulgate lies. They are sincere in their desire for people to be closer to God, and have this false idea that we are worshiping statues. Maybe it would help if you looked up, or tried to imagine what actual idol worship is: putting the idol before God. The real problem is far worse than people who have statues of saints in their houses or sanctuaries. The REAL problem comes from all those who pay lip service to God but when push come to shove, would rather stay home and do yard work or go to a ball game than pay their respects at Sunday service.
 
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