Should you take down your nativity scene at Christmas? I mean this is idolatry isn't it?
2006-06-22 10:21:56 · 21 answers · asked by Swordsman 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The King James version of the Bible states in Exodus 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"
Why were the Jews commanded not to make graven images? Graven images were the standard method of pagan worship. They were representations of false gods.
This is a very clear command. However God commanded the Jews in Exodus 25:18, "And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them" and in 1 Kings chapter 7 Solomon made bulls and other images out of precious metals.
It seems obvious that the Jews did not worship the cherubims and Solomon did not worship the bulls he had made. These images did not violate the command of God. Therefore, an image not made for worship is acceptable.
How can a statue of our Lord Jesus Christ dead on the cross be considered an idol to a false god? A crucifix is the message of the Gospel without words held up for all to see. A visual reminder of the sacrifice of Jesus, no different from a painting, a play, or a movie.
The same goes for a Nativity scene, it is a story of the Gospel without words. A visual reminder that Jesus came to Earth to save us all.
Catholics do not worship statues but the almighty God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
With love in Christ.
2006-06-22 16:40:41 · answer #1 · answered by imacatholic2 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I set up a nativity scene to help my children learn about the Christmas story. It reminds us of the true meaning of Christmas. We don't treat it like an idol, they can play with it, touch it, whatever, it is just a reminder. We don't worship it!
It is good for them to see Christmas images that are something other than just santa and elves. If anything, Christians should get rid of all the santa decorations.
2006-06-22 17:29:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
With that question, I'm curious as to what Christians think about nativity scene being put up at all.
Alright my opinion-no, it is not....because it is your lord in the manger. Not idolatry if it's actually your God.
2006-06-22 17:27:11 · answer #3 · answered by sylvergyrlie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ah, I love your questions and this is a very good one. I'm curious to see what people say...
I like what Zaorox99 has to say "but just honoring someone with a statue isn't idolatry". I think I'll use his quote next time a misinformed person who doesn't understand the Catholic faith claims that Catholics "worship" statues. Thanks for proving out point Zaorox99!
2006-06-22 17:24:15 · answer #4 · answered by Candice H 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No more so than the reenactment of the birth of Jesus in a Christmas pageant. Nobody prays to the nativity scene. It is merely a symbol to remind us of the meaning of Christmas.
2006-06-22 17:26:06 · answer #5 · answered by dixie_til_i_die 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The nativity scene doesn't represent a Catholic symbol to me. I think it's just a Christian symbol of Christmas. I don't worship it, I only worship God not any symbol.
2006-06-22 17:30:06 · answer #6 · answered by teamkimme 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no because your not worshiping the statues you are using the nativity scene to get people to remember what christmas is about, but then again you have got something there to think about
2006-06-22 17:30:40 · answer #7 · answered by jeremy&gale 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No I dont think so because for me its just a sympol of the birth of Jesus.I dont worship the nativity scene but I do enjoy having it to look at.
2006-06-22 17:25:44 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
And Catholics can't answer this because...why, we practice idolatry? So if we said no, you wouldn't believe us, and if we said yes, that would affirm your thought of Catholics.
Catholics are Christians(at least some of them are) just like Protestants(or at least some Protestants are Christians). Your bigotry astounds me...so much for "christian" unity.
2006-06-22 17:32:55 · answer #9 · answered by Poppet 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We can set up memorials to different things and events. This is allowed and GOD told his people to do it in certain stories.
What we cannot do, is worship anything or one but the trinty of GOD.
If you have a picture of your dead grandfather and you pray to it, you have committed the sin of worshipping other GODS, not saying your grandfather was a god, (he wasnt), but praying to him makes him a god in your eyes and heart.
Same with the nativity scenes, useful tool for remembering what was done for us, YES, a reason to worship the scenery, NO
2006-06-22 17:29:04 · answer #10 · answered by cindy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋