Idol Worship

[Augustine3]

Our Protestant friends accuse us Catholics of idol worshipping because images of Jesus and the saints go against the 1st Commandment specifically it is forbidden to make a graven image in Exodus chapter 20, yet in Exodus chapter 25 God commands the image of the cherubim to be made as part of the ark of the covenant.

How do Protestants reconcile this?

 

[YosefYosep]

The incarnation of Christ has allowed us to depict God through images, whereas before God was invisible, an entity. The Jews could not depict him through image. Him becoming flesh, a person of creation has made us able to depict Christ through image. Paul even calls Jesus “The image and icon of the eternal God.” Because God has taken a form that is both visible and depictable, we are able to create images from him.

 

[bzkoss236]

Our Protestant friends accuse us Catholics of idol worshipping because images of Jesus and the saints go against the 1st Commandment specifically it is forbidden to make a graven image in Exodus chapter 20, yet in Exodus chapter 25 God commands the image of the cherubim to be made as part of the ark of the covenant.

How do Protestants reconcile this?

The typical argument I’ve heard is that in those verses it is God commanding them, but that God did not command the Church to make those statues in their churches.

 

[fbl9]

The typical argument I’ve heard is that in those verses it is God commanding them, but that God did not command the Church to make those statues in their churches.

But God has told Catholics that veneration and icons are just fine.

 

[po18guy]

Our Protestant friends accuse us Catholics of idol worshipping because images of Jesus and the saints go against the 1st Commandment specifically it is forbidden to make a graven image in Exodus chapter 20, yet in Exodus chapter 25 God commands the image of the cherubim to be made as part of the ark of the covenant.

How do Protestants reconcile this?

Not to mention the Lord’s command to Moses to create a salvific image of a serpent (Numbers 21:4-9) so that those who looked upon it might not die from the snakebites they received in the desert from grumbling against God. Our Lord referenced this Moses-made image regarding Himself in John 3:14-15.

Those who make such silly accusations need to read the bible.

 

[po18guy]

The typical argument I’ve heard is that in those verses it is God commanding them, but that God did not command the Church to make those statues in their churches.

At the same time, they claim that God’s Holy Spirit lead them to privately interpret scripture after their own image so as to disagree with all of their Christian brothers and sisters. Hah!

 

[Reuben_J]

The incarnation of Christ has allowed us to depict God through images, whereas before God was invisible, an entity. The Jews could not depict him through image. Him becoming flesh, a person of creation has made us able to depict Christ through image. Paul even calls Jesus “The image and icon of the eternal God.” Because God has taken a form that is both visible and depictable, we are able to create images from him.

Thank you. A good way of explaining it.

 

[Doxiemom]

Our Protestant friends accuse us Catholics of idol worshipping because images of Jesus and the saints go against the 1st Commandment specifically it is forbidden to make a graven image in Exodus chapter 20, yet in Exodus chapter 25 God commands the image of the cherubim to be made as part of the ark of the covenant.

How do Protestants reconcile this?

Some Christians are what i call heresy hunters. They take this law apply it to just about everything.

They take the joy out of seeing some of the most beautiful statues ever made for the Lord

having said that, Jewish tradition has it that the cheribim on the ark had no features on their faces, thereby staying within the law.

Easily we can say today that God was refering to the pagan gods, the statues of them, which were gods of themselves after which the hebrews went “a-whoring” as the bible puts it.

So, catholics say they do not worship a statue, a graven image, I will take their word on it. unless a paticular person shows otherwise, then there is no sin

But, hey, I am a nice old gal.

 

[po18guy]

Thank you. A good way of explaining it.

Makes you wonder if these modern iconoclasts ever think about the fact that they themselves are “made in the image and likeness” of God…

 

[Texsain]

How do Protestants reconcile this?

bzkoss236:

The typical argument I’ve heard is that in those verses it is God commanding them, but that God did not command the Church to make those statues in their churches.

In other words, by pitting one verse of scripture against another. I find this to be all too common.

 

[Reuben_J]

Makes you wonder if these modern iconoclasts ever think about the fact that they themselves are “made in the image and likeness” of God…

Another good one.

 

[Reuben_J]

Some Christians are what i call heresy hunters. They take this law apply it to just about everything.

They take the joy out of seeing some of the most beautiful statues ever made for the Lord

having said that, Jewish tradition has it that the cheribim on the ark had no features on their faces, thereby staying within the law.

Easily we can say today that God was refering to the pagan gods, the statues of them, which were gods of themselves after which the hebrews went “a-whoring” as the bible puts it.

So, catholics say they do not worship a statue, a graven image, I will take their word on it. unless a paticular person shows otherwise, then there is no sin

But, hey, I am a nice old gal.

Thanks nice old gal. Of course not all Protestants are sayin. Those who do are also saying that they never have a ‘father’ too. You know what I mean.

 

[Texsain]

Thanks nice old gal. Of course not all Protestants are sayin. Those who do are also saying that they never have a ‘father’ too. You know what I mean.

We should expect the Protestants who read the verses about statues and fathers in the way they do to walk around with missing eyes and limbs (Mt 18:8-9). If not all, at least some, right?

 

[Reuben_J]

We should expect the Protestants who read the verses about statues and fathers in the way they do to walk around with missing eyes and limbs (Mt 18:8-9). If not all, at least some, right?

 

[aidanbradypop]

Some Christians are what i call heresy hunters. They take this law apply it to just about everything.

They take the joy out of seeing some of the most beautiful statues ever made for the Lord

having said that, Jewish tradition has it that the cheribim on the ark had no features on their faces, thereby staying within the law.

Easily we can say today that God was refering to the pagan gods, the statues of them, which were gods of themselves after which the hebrews went “a-whoring” as the bible puts it.

So, catholics say they do not worship a statue, a graven image, I will take their word on it. unless a paticular person shows otherwise, then there is no sin

But, hey, I am a nice old gal.

DOXIE…write it down! We agree on something lol

Just messin with ya, but you stated it very well. There are “hunters” out there trying to pick at anything they can find. I was sitting in a Southern Baptist Church as a child once and the preacher was talking about Catholic worshipping statues. He spoke of the 1st Commandment and went on and on. While he was preaching, I noticed that below him on the altar was a picture of Jesus.

 

[Traverse]

But God has told Catholics that veneration and icons are just fine.

I would be interested in your source for this. Thanks.

 

[po18guy]

I would be interested in your source for this. Thanks.

Through Christ’s mystical Body, His Church. That Church is the same reason that we do not have to be circumcised - nowhere in scripture could Paul find guidance on this. He had to go to the Church in Jerusalem.