Is having a Buddah Figurine in my house wrong because I'm a Christian?

Question

It sounds like a stupid question, but really... I know the Bible is against Idols, but I'm not treating my Buddah figurine like a god... so is it wrong to have?

Answer 1

Don't you think an omniscient God would be able to recognize the difference between your having a bust of Shakespeare on your bookcase because you like his plays and a statuette of the Buddha because you admire his philosophy and erecting an idol to worship?

If not, perhaps you should remove all photos of family and friends from your walls, lest he get jealous of them.

Answer 2

I wish the overly sensitive people would leave you alone. Americans have almost ALWAYS been fascinated with Asian culture. Many homes, in this last century had such "Budah" figurines in their homes. They were usually strictly decorative. If they had a fucntion, it may have been as an incense burner, door stop, or planter.

It's no more "wrong" than having an elephant figure, or print, with the trunk raised. (a symbol of good luck, in India) or a horseshoe nailed over a barn door, or putting some money under a child's pillow, in exchange for a baby tooth.

I have to admit that there are people who would remove images of Santa Claus because it violates the tenet of the commandment that prohibits the "worship" of other Gods, or the banishment of the Easter Bunny, because it is a remnant of early Pagan rituals.

What comes next for the zealots? No more Persian rugs? Burn down all the falafel restaurants? Boycott Disney's Alladin toys?

Answer 3

I believe putting a Buddha figurine should be absolutely ok.


The faith in God is much stronger than anything else, it opens our hearts to every living being.

God has created all of us, we all drink the same water but in each country it is called differently, but it does not change the fact that we all drink the same water.

Similarily God is omnipotent and is everywhere.

Would our faith get rattled by just keeping a figurine of Budha at our house no I don't think so.

On my PALM Handheld I have downloaded all the holy books, including Bible, Koran, Buddha's scriptures, Geeta and I read them on the way to my office while sitting in the train. And I find that all of them say the same thing.

It is us people who draw different inferences , interpretations from these holy sayings based on our personal greeds to gain power or position.





When we moved to our new home , we had a picture of Mother Mary sitting in our garage. We still have it in our house and give it the same respect .

We also have a Budha figurine. After all we follow different paths but our goals are the same.

Answer 4

As Christians, we want to not only live a life pleasing to God, but live one that can send a message to non-Christians--we are different from this world; not of it, only passing through. We should show that we live for Christ Jesus. So, if a non-Christian walked through your house and, suddenly, noticed a Buddha figurine, do you think that that would increase or decrease your possibility as a witness to them? Also, does that figurine help you in any way? Is it really necessary? What does it represent? A false religion? Would you want to advocate that religion. This was not a stupid question; sometimes it is the little things that get us. I hope this helps, God bless!

1 John 5:21
Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.
[Obviously, you probably aren't worshiping the thing, but still...why have it around?]

2 Corinthians 6:16
What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people."

Answer 5

It is not a stupid question. For me as a Christian I would not want to have any symbols or idols in house that represent something that I don't believe in.

First of all that would send a mixed message to anyone visiting your home who wasn't sure about Christianity.

Secondly God says as you know:
You shall have no other gods before Me
You shall not make for yourself an idol or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.
you shall not worship them or serve them
for I the Lord your God am a jealous God visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children on the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me. But showing loving kindness to thousands to those who love Me and keep My commandments.
Exodus 20:3-6

So even if you are not treating your Buddha figurine like a god, reflect on what God says in His commandments.

Another passage came to mind from Daniel:
...and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of bronze, iron, wood and stone, which do not see, hear or understand, But the God in whose hand are your life-breath and your ways, you have not glorified. Daniel 5:23b

So as to not send conflicting messages to those who may know that you are a Christian but see this figurine in your home, I would get it out of there.

Hope this helps.

Answer 6

It sends the wrong message to visitors. Buddhism conflicts with Christianity and you cant have both. You know what it is and what it represents - therefore you should chose whom you serve and honor. Don't let such a small thing ruin the testimony and hope you have in Christ Jesus.

However if a person has a figurine that is of a false deity and the owner is unaware of its purpose - and its only considered a decorative item.., the owner has not sinned. When the owner discovers what it is and refuses to get rid of it.., then a sin has taken place.

And of course if the owner bows knee to such an object, it becomes an idol and obviously a sin.

Answer 7

Maybe you don't treat the figurine like a god but other people in you house might.
I went to a supermarket where they sell lottery tickets and who advertises on Christian radio and noticed a Buddha figurine on the counter, but i said nothing.
Maybe we shouldn't tempt other people to sin.

Answer 8

I think that it's wrong. I had a huge Egyptian thingy on my wall, and I had to get rid of it because it had all the gods on it and once I became a Christian it just didn't feel right having it up in my house. I'm gonna give you an example of why you shouldn't have that in your house. Lets say that you go and by some playboy and xxxxx-rated pictures because you knew that some of our friends might want to look at them. Will you go ahead and buy them because you don't want to disappoint your friends or will you stand your ground. The Bible say that we are not to be luke warm, but we have to be hot or cold. If something is against his will we have to separate ourselves from it. When I got saved it was a whole lot of stuff I had to get ride of, some of the things were very sentimental to me but I had to get rid of them. I hope that this helps you. oh and by the way if you decide to get ride of it, you can't give it to anybody you must put it in the trash.

Answer 9

I had two sculptures in my house: one was a wooden carving of an elephant about 1' high, and the other was a resin sculpture of a tiger. Although I do not worship them, I got rid of them because I felt guilty of disobeying the 2nd Commandment. I tried to look for a loophole, but it was pretty plain. "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image." So I got rid of them. Now I feel guiltless, and I don't miss them all that much.

Answer 10

No.

How petty and insecure must your god be to punish you for having a figurine in your house that has no religious importance to you?