In every Catholic Church, one observes that images and statues of Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saints are found. For this reason, many non-catholics who have not really understood the meaning of those images and statues call Catholics Idolaters. Hence they make reference to the bible passage thatsl says: "Do not act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the water below the earth" (Deut. 4:16-18).
But one should understand that this injunction lies on the fact that no image was shown to Moses during his call on Mount Horeb, "Since you did not see any form in the day the lord spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire" ( Deut. 4:15). Therefore, the people of Israel were prevented from making anything like God, because they wouldn't represent God who has not revealed himself in any visible form. Again, the Israelites were prone to idolatry and because of they were surrounded by idolatrous people, who might misconstrue the purpose for which the images were made, they were prevented from making images - "beware not to lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and stars, all the host of heaven and be drawn away and worship them and serve them, those which the lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven" ( Deut. 4:19).
In like manner, (Deut. 5:8-9) which says " You shall not make for yourself an idol or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on earth beneath or in the water under the earth; you shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord God, am a jealous God", is just linked to the worship of these images as God. Simply understand that Catholics do not worship these images.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it is carefully stated that " idolatry is a perversion of man's innate religious sense. An idolater is someone who transfers his indestructible notion of God to anything other than God". More so, the Catechism of the Council of Trent (1566), explained that we commit idolatry "by worshipping idols and images of God, or believing that they posses any divinity or virtue entitling them to our worship, by praying to, or reposing confidence in them". If this is clearly understood in the Catholic Church, how then are Catholics Idolaters?
Many reasons abound why sacred images are used in the Catholic Church. The Catholic use the sacred images and statues to awaken the senses and nourish our faith in the mystery if Christ. In the sacred images, we HONOUR the persons represented.The images of Christ, and of His Virgin Mother, and of other Saints, are to be had and retained, especially in churches; and a due honor and veneration is to be given to them; not that any divinity or virtue is believed to be in them for which they are to be honored, or that any prayer is to be made to them, or that any confidence is to be placed in them, as was formerly done by the heathens, who placed their hopes in idols; but because the honor which is given them is referred to the originals which they represent, so that by the images which we kiss, and before which we uncover our heads or kneel, we adore Christ and venerate His Saints, whose likeness they represent.
The problem here is the inability of our separated brethrens to understand the difference between honour and worship; but these words are two distinct understandable language.
It will please me to bring to your notice that God forbade the worship of images but did not prohibit the use of images and statues for religious purposes. In (Num.21:8), God ordered Moses to "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a standard; and it shall come about that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.
According to (Ex.26:1), God instructed Moses to "Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with Cherubim woven into them by skilled worker". God did not also condemn the images and statues of Cherubim found in the temple built by Solomon, for "In the sanctuary were two Cherubim, each ten cubits high, made of Olive wood".
Christ in (Jn.3:14) said: "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him". Christ would have condemned it if it was against the will of the Father. You should as well understand that Christ meant nothing else than The Crucifix on which hung the saviour of the world. This is why we venerate the Crucifix.
In our society, we keep images and carvings of people who have played important roles in development, but we do not treat those images as human beings. They remind us of what those personalities stood for. As we keep and cherish images and statues of our loved ones and heroes of our communities, so does the Catholic Church value images and statues of Christ and the Saints.
Quite alright, God did not reveal himself in any visible form in the past, but later he revealed himself under a visible form in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit revealed himself under at least two forms: that of the dove (Matt. 3:16; Mk.1:10; Lk.3:22; Jn.1:32), and as tongue of flame, as in the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).
It is not wrong therefore to deepen our knowledge and love of God through the visible forms God has revealed himself to us.
But one should understand that this injunction lies on the fact that no image was shown to Moses during his call on Mount Horeb, "Since you did not see any form in the day the lord spoke to you at Horeb from the midst of the fire" ( Deut. 4:15). Therefore, the people of Israel were prevented from making anything like God, because they wouldn't represent God who has not revealed himself in any visible form. Again, the Israelites were prone to idolatry and because of they were surrounded by idolatrous people, who might misconstrue the purpose for which the images were made, they were prevented from making images - "beware not to lift up your eyes to heaven and see the sun and the moon and stars, all the host of heaven and be drawn away and worship them and serve them, those which the lord your God has allotted to all the peoples under the whole heaven" ( Deut. 4:19).
In like manner, (Deut. 5:8-9) which says " You shall not make for yourself an idol or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on earth beneath or in the water under the earth; you shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord God, am a jealous God", is just linked to the worship of these images as God. Simply understand that Catholics do not worship these images.
In the Catechism of the Catholic Church, it is carefully stated that " idolatry is a perversion of man's innate religious sense. An idolater is someone who transfers his indestructible notion of God to anything other than God". More so, the Catechism of the Council of Trent (1566), explained that we commit idolatry "by worshipping idols and images of God, or believing that they posses any divinity or virtue entitling them to our worship, by praying to, or reposing confidence in them". If this is clearly understood in the Catholic Church, how then are Catholics Idolaters?
Many reasons abound why sacred images are used in the Catholic Church. The Catholic use the sacred images and statues to awaken the senses and nourish our faith in the mystery if Christ. In the sacred images, we HONOUR the persons represented.The images of Christ, and of His Virgin Mother, and of other Saints, are to be had and retained, especially in churches; and a due honor and veneration is to be given to them; not that any divinity or virtue is believed to be in them for which they are to be honored, or that any prayer is to be made to them, or that any confidence is to be placed in them, as was formerly done by the heathens, who placed their hopes in idols; but because the honor which is given them is referred to the originals which they represent, so that by the images which we kiss, and before which we uncover our heads or kneel, we adore Christ and venerate His Saints, whose likeness they represent.
The problem here is the inability of our separated brethrens to understand the difference between honour and worship; but these words are two distinct understandable language.
It will please me to bring to your notice that God forbade the worship of images but did not prohibit the use of images and statues for religious purposes. In (Num.21:8), God ordered Moses to "Make a fiery serpent and set it on a standard; and it shall come about that everyone who is bitten, when he looks at it, he will live.
According to (Ex.26:1), God instructed Moses to "Make the tabernacle with ten curtains of finely twisted linen and blue, purple and scarlet yarn, with Cherubim woven into them by skilled worker". God did not also condemn the images and statues of Cherubim found in the temple built by Solomon, for "In the sanctuary were two Cherubim, each ten cubits high, made of Olive wood".
Christ in (Jn.3:14) said: "Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes may have eternal life in him". Christ would have condemned it if it was against the will of the Father. You should as well understand that Christ meant nothing else than The Crucifix on which hung the saviour of the world. This is why we venerate the Crucifix.
In our society, we keep images and carvings of people who have played important roles in development, but we do not treat those images as human beings. They remind us of what those personalities stood for. As we keep and cherish images and statues of our loved ones and heroes of our communities, so does the Catholic Church value images and statues of Christ and the Saints.
Quite alright, God did not reveal himself in any visible form in the past, but later he revealed himself under a visible form in Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit revealed himself under at least two forms: that of the dove (Matt. 3:16; Mk.1:10; Lk.3:22; Jn.1:32), and as tongue of flame, as in the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4).
It is not wrong therefore to deepen our knowledge and love of God through the visible forms God has revealed himself to us.
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