Results 1 - 6 of 6
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | Why change order of commandments? | Deut 5:21 | Reformer Joe | 32318 | ||
Emmaus: Please remind me of where I have accused you of idolatry directly. It is pretty clear that the angels on the ark and the bulls in the temple and the bronze serpent were not crafted as objects of worship. And, while I disapprove personally of human renderings of God the Father, most do not use them as objects of veneration. The pictures of "saints" are no different than pictures of my pet boxer as far as the worship value assigned to them. The golden calf, the Asherah poles, the statues of Dagon and Baal and Molech are clear Biblical examples of the use of statues for veneration. The bronze serpent itself fell into use as an idol and was broken into pieces as a result (see 1 Kings 18:4). The question is where Catholic statues and imagery falls on the continuum between mere works of art and objects of veneration and worship. And, biblically speaking, all Catholics are NOT Christians, any more than are all Protestants. And whether or not you worship statues, you need to pay a visit to Latin America to see just how idolotrous that strand of Roman Catholicism is when it comes down to lying prostrate before statues and making offerings to statues and wearing medallions with Mary to protect oneself, etc., etc. You cannot honestly tell me that you don't know of those things going on without a word of rebuke from Rome. --Joe! |
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2 | Why change order of commandments? | Deut 5:21 | Brian.g | 32369 | ||
Joe The Catholic Church has recognized that some Catholics gave (or give) the wrong value to statues and the Church has taken action to help people understand that they are taking things to far. You and I both know that the formal position of the Catholic Church is that a statue of a saint serves the same purpose as the photograph of my grandmother: when I look at it, it helps me remember what a wonderful person she was. With every denomination, you have extremists who are not reflective of the true beliefs. I don't remember the exact location, but there was a culture which believed that if you photographed someone, you were capturing their soul - I assure you, it wasn't in Rome. Your brother in Christ Brian |
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3 | Why change order of commandments? | Deut 5:21 | Hank | 32375 | ||
Brian, if my thinking is not too far awry, I gather that it must be a tricky business, this use of statues, if the official voice of the Catholic Church has deemed it necessary to speak out against "taking things too far." The line between veneration and worship is obviously a fairly easy one for some believers to cross. If such is the case, why erect and display in the worship place a statue at all, when it is known that it could present a stumbling block for some parishioners? Is it felt that the potential benefits (however they are perceived) of displaying statues outweigh the potential hazard to believers of turning these icons into objects of worship? In short, what roles do visual stimuli play in the spiritual worship of the invisible God? Are they really necessary and are they sanctioned by Scripture? --Hank | ||||||
4 | Why change order of commandments? | Deut 5:21 | Brian.g | 32379 | ||
Hamk I believe the Church's position on the use of statues came out of Vatican II, the time in which the Bishops get together and talk things over. Since the mid 1960's, there has been a drastic reduction in "visual aids". Are "visual aids" santioned by Scripture. Probable no more than they are condemned. We do continue to use stained glass windows and I'm pretty sure that we are not the only denomination that uses this type of visual aid. Brian |
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5 | Why change order of commandments? | Deut 5:21 | Hank | 32382 | ||
Thanks, Brian; as usual, your response is civil and reasonable. And you're right, of course, about visual aids. None but the most austere, unadorned houses of worship are bereft of some sort of "graven image" -- even if it's nothing but a "picture" of Moses or Jesus on the kids' Sunday school materials. Perhaps we'll have to proceed on the assumption that believers, most of them anyway, have the good sense to keep things in perspective! --Hank | ||||||
6 | Why change order of commandments? | Deut 5:21 | Brian.g | 32394 | ||
Hank I believe that it is good to remember not to completely discard the thought of religious art, all together. Just as the choir is able to worship and praise God with their human talents, an artist can also do the same - as can/should all of us through all of the talents we possess. However, if your talent is auto mechanics, it is recommended that you not demonstrate your talents during Sunday services. I remember one time I was in a museum and I saw a painting reflecting one of the saints and the torture he experienced. I had heard the story before but did not give it serious thought. Through the talents of this artist, I was visually seeing the suffering another man experienced on behalf of God. Humble is not adequate to describe how I felt to better realize the physical sufferings which this and many other Christians of all denominations had experienced for God. Through the use of his talents, this artist helped me in my relationship with God. Much in the same manner as when I read Paul and see his incredible ability to paint an image with words about the sufferings of Jesus. Brian |
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