Nathan Toronga Supporter Christian Elder.

God has categorically castigated the use of images either in worship or merely for veneration, calling it idolatry. Anyone who persists in that heinous sin will not change God, but will himself run the rael risk of condemnation.

I fear that the lust for sin has propelled some cults, to refuse to abandon their pagan roots of idolatry.

God forbade the making of idols or images, whether of anything in heaven or on earth or under the earth. 
Exo 20:4 "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth."

That about covers everything. From crucifixes to so-called images of Jesus, Mary and the saints.

Then you look at these images, and do a bit of research, and you understand that they emerged in recent years. No image of Jesus circulated in the first century. And if that be the case, then who originated the idea? Pagans.

That Jesus took a human form is sure. But was He tall, slender, dark, wide or narrow-faced? All these, nobody knows. The RCC maintains that so long as He was a man, then they can make an image of a man and call it Jesus. Actually - images of different men - and still call each of them Jesus. In defiance of the written Word.

Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen. 1 John 5:21.


Bless you.

September 09 2014 • 0 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report

Vincent Mercado Supporter Skeptic turned believer, Catholic, father of 3

God forbids idolatry, that is the worship of another god, or an image of another god. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God. (Exodus 20:4-6)

However, in worshiping God, Himself, he does not prohibit the use of images that point to Him. The Israelites used various images in connection with their worship, including carved cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant (Exodus 25:18-22), and the embroidered figures of cherubim on the curtain which separated the Holy of Holies in the Tabernacle tent (Exodus 26:31).

As for making images of God Himself, there is a reason why God prohibits it. Since you saw no form on the day that the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a graven image for yourselves. (Deuteronomy 4:15–18)

But later God did reveal himself under visible forms, such as in Daniel 7:9 As I looked, thrones were placed and one that was Ancient of Days took his seat; his raiment was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, its wheels were burning fire.

The Holy Spirit revealed himself under at least two visible forms—that of a dove, at the baptism of Jesus (Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32), and as tongues of fire, on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1–4).

But, more important, in the Incarnation of Christ his Son, God showed mankind an image of himself. Paul said, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation." Christ is the tangible, divine "image" of the unseen, infinite God. 

Since God has revealed himself in various images, most especially in the incarnate Jesus Christ, it’s not wrong for us to use images of these forms to deepen our knowledge and love of God. That’s why God revealed himself in these visible forms, and that’s why statues and pictures are made of them.

September 07 2014 • 5 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report