What do you tell someone who accuses you of worshipping statues?

[Kevin_B]

Someone told me the other day that Catholics are idolaters because we kneel in front of statues to pray, which means we are worshipping the statue.

I told him that meant kneeling by your bed to pray is worshipping your bed, and praying at the table before meals must be worshipping your food. That actually helped him understand that you aren’t always praying to whatever is in front of you, and I used the opportunity to tell him that we worship God, but we simply ask saints to worship God on our behalf.

Of course this individual was not converted, but I honestly think he has more understanding of our faith than before. I always find it useful to use humor to get people to see your side of an issue. I just thought I’d like to share that, and see what others have experienced in issues like this.

 

[Cat_Herder]

Where does the Bible say to have statues and call priests Father etc…

Prove relics, shrines, saints and the Rosary are not pagan

 

[JW55]

When a person looks at a loved one in a picture, are they worshiping them? Of course not. It brings that loved one to rememberance. I have seen people actually kiss a photo. I don’t think that means they are worshiping it. The statue help us to feel closer in the same way by providing an image for rememberance. We are not worshiping the object. Are statues of Revolutionry or Civil War generals in city parks worshipped? No. They are honored. Basically same thing.

 

[Sky_Pilot]

… that meant kneeling by your bed to pray is worshipping your bed, and praying at the table before meals must be worshipping your food…

Now this is an answer I’ll remember! Thank you, this is exactly right!

 

[Robert_Caritas]

Someone told me the other day that Catholics are idolaters because we kneel in front of statues to pray, which means we are worshipping the statue.

I told him that meant kneeling by your bed to pray is worshipping your bed, and praying at the table before meals must be worshipping your food. That actually helped him understand that you aren’t always praying to whatever is in front of you, and I used the opportunity to tell him that we worship God, but we simply ask saints to worship God on our behalf.

Of course this individual was not converted, but I honestly think he has more understanding of our faith than before. I always find it useful to use humor to get people to see your side of an issue. I just thought I’d like to share that, and see what others have experienced in issues like this.

Thanks! You definitely planted a good seed. Humor and common sense logic are definitely some of the best ways of explaining things to non-religious or anti-Catholic people. I have had similar experiences.

 

[Church_Militant]

I have a response to this on my blog so maybe it will help.
Iconoclasm: Or: Catholics Worship Graven Images NOT

 

[fbl9]

Someone told me the other day that Catholics are idolaters because we kneel in front of statues to pray, which means we are worshipping the statue.

I told him that meant kneeling by your bed to pray is worshipping your bed, and praying at the table before meals must be worshipping your food. That actually helped him understand that you aren’t always praying to whatever is in front of you, and I used the opportunity to tell him that we worship God, but we simply ask saints to worship God on our behalf.

Of course this individual was not converted, but I honestly think he has more understanding of our faith than before. I always find it useful to use humor to get people to see your side of an issue. I just thought I’d like to share that, and see what others have experienced in issues like this.

But now we are worshipping by praying to the dead person the staue is representing.I wonder how they would use that excuse when one is kneeling before a statue of Christ?

 

[The_Sojourner_1]

I turn it right around on them.

Are you God? Do you know what is in my heart? I know there are many anti-Catholic myths out there … but unless you have the ability to see into my soul you have no basis for your ignorance to think that I pray to a statute where I believe that “God” is inside that plaster figure.

 

[HansTrappist]

Someone told me the other day that Catholics are idolaters because we kneel in front of statues to pray, which means we are worshipping the statue.

I told him that meant kneeling by your bed to pray is worshipping your bed, and praying at the table before meals must be worshipping your food. That actually helped him understand that you aren’t always praying to whatever is in front of you, and I used the opportunity to tell him that we worship God, but we simply ask saints to worship God on our behalf.

Of course this individual was not converted, but I honestly think he has more understanding of our faith than before. I always find it useful to use humor to get people to see your side of an issue. I just thought I’d like to share that, and see what others have experienced in issues like this.

Respond by asking the person if they carry pictures of their loved ones in their wallet or purse, or adorn their homes with pictures of loved ones. Ask them if, when they look at those pictures and think lovingly of the one pictured, if they are “worshipping” their loved ones.

 

[The_Sojourner_1]

Respond by asking the person if they carry pictures of their loved ones in their wallet or purse, or adorn their homes with pictures of loved ones. Ask them if, when they look at those pictures and think lovingly of the one pictured, if they are “worshipping” their loved ones.

In my experience, this response (in this contenxt) falls on deaf ears. The “pictures of the dearly departed” comeback is more effective when they ask about Catholic praying to “saints” or “the dead”. Idolatry is misunderstood in the Protest Sects and should involve a more aggressive stance as I outlined above.

How dare they make assumption as to how I pray!

 

[Kevin_B]

Whenever someone asks me where the bible tells me I can ask those in heaven to pray for me, I tell them its right after the verse that tells them they can use a computer.

Also, if someone accuses you of taking to the dead, remind them that John 3:16 says they are not dead but are in eternal life.

 

[DaveBj]

Ask them if theirs is one of the churches where people worship banners

 

[benjohnson]

If you want to have a bit of fun with them… tell them:

“Oh no! You have it all wrong! I’m not worshiping the statue of the saint. I’m worshiping the stone that the statue is made of!”

 

[pablope]

Whenever someone asks me where the bible tells me I can ask those in heaven to pray for me, I tell them its right after the verse that tells them they can use a computer.

Also, if someone accuses you of taking to the dead, remind them that John 3:16 says they are not dead but are in eternal life.

Came across this once in a forum…and this is how I retorted:

From Rev 8…4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.

I asked…who is bringing the prayers to God based on this Rev 8 passage? They tried to divert the question…asking so much as I must have a doctrinal problem…

Then I asked…from Rev 5…8 And when He had taken the book, the four living beings and the four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps and golden vials full of incense, which are the prayers of saints.

So I asked…who is bringing the prayers to God in this passage?

 

[JonNC]

Someone told me the other day that Catholics are idolaters because we kneel in front of statues to pray, which means we are worshipping the statue.

I told him that meant kneeling by your bed to pray is worshipping your bed, and praying at the table before meals must be worshipping your food. That actually helped him understand that you aren’t always praying to whatever is in front of you, and I used the opportunity to tell him that we worship God, but we simply ask saints to worship God on our behalf.

Of course this individual was not converted, but I honestly think he has more understanding of our faith than before. I always find it useful to use humor to get people to see your side of an issue. I just thought I’d like to share that, and see what others have experienced in issues like this.

Sounds like you did a pretty good job.

Jon

 

[VoiceOfBible]

What does it mean by worship in spirit and in Truth ( Jn 4 )?

 

[Cat_Herder]

What does it mean by worship in spirit and in Truth ( Jn 4 )?

To worship in the true and spiritual Temple. (Acts. 7:48) That temple is made of living stones–individual Christians. ( 1 Peter 2:5) So, do individual Christians cease to be part of the Temple when their bodies die? Of course not… so without the Communion of Saints you are NOT worshipping in spirit and truth.

 

[JMartyr73340]

I had a thought about this statue question the other day.

Strict protestants may not have statues of Jesus, but they certainly watch movies and about Him. They may soon be watching those movies in 3-D (like a play), but my larger point is this. If making statues of Jesus is blasphemous, then is not watching a movie - where actors (living statues) are dressed-up like Him - even more blasphemous? If a statue of Jesus composed of stone or wood is blasphemous, then is not a “living statue” composed of flesh even more blasphemous?

If you object to pictures and icons then movies become even more of a problem. A movie is simply a series of pictures that are linked together to produce the illusion of motion. Hence, if making a picture of Jesus is blasphemous then watching a movie about Jesus - which involves thousands of pictures being shown simultaneously - is even more blasphemous (I think ).

 

[mab23]

Someone told me the other day that Catholics are idolaters because we kneel in front of statues to pray, which means we are worshipping the statue.

I told him that meant kneeling by your bed to pray is worshipping your bed, and praying at the table before meals must be worshipping your food. That actually helped him understand that you aren’t always praying to whatever is in front of you, and I used the opportunity to tell him that we worship God, but we simply ask saints to worship God on our behalf.

Of course this individual was not converted, but I honestly think he has more understanding of our faith than before. I always find it useful to use humor to get people to see your side of an issue. I just thought I’d like to share that, and see what others have experienced in issues like this.

I usually say the statues help with a visuals. and we only pray to the saints in asking for their intercession, and the statues just help with remembering their lives and what they did. but Catholics only worship God the Trinity anything else is Idolatry

 

[leondaus]

Someone told me the other day that Catholics are idolaters because we kneel in front of statues to pray, which means we are worshipping the statue.

I told him that meant kneeling by your bed to pray is worshipping your bed, and praying at the table before meals must be worshipping your food. That actually helped him understand that you aren’t always praying to whatever is in front of you, and I used the opportunity to tell him that we worship God, but we simply ask saints to worship God on our behalf.

Of course this individual was not converted, but I honestly think he has more understanding of our faith than before. I always find it useful to use humor to get people to see your side of an issue. I just thought I’d like to share that, and see what others have experienced in issues like this.

Please Explain Exodus 20:4-5… Thanks.