Idol Worship in christianity?

Question

in the ten commandments it says don't build statues of god or his followers because it is idol worship, but in every church there is a cross or crucifix isn't that technically idol worship? and be serious dont just say No actually think about it

Answer 1

If people place spiritual value on an object, then are guilty of idoltry.

Here's a question...

Why worry about the cross? Jesus is no longer there, He has risen!

The cross is not to be worshipped.

Answer 2

It's probably a matter of concience. True, Brethren churches would be fairly minimalistic and avoid crosses and definitely avoid crucifixes for the reason you said

most protestants would avoid a crucifix and use a more simple cross which is more abstract and represents the idea without a detailed depiction. Frankly even Paul in the New Testament says "I glory in the cross"

in the end I think its a good idea to avoid representations that limit God, or means of worship coming from the imagination of men.
I wouldtake your concern seriously and tend toward a simpler worship, avoiding gospel substitutes and Jesus substitutes, but a simple cross I probably would not have a problem with
I'm not wild about statues in church though

Answer 3

you are correct. Though there will be many who say, it is merely a representation of something dear to them and is not being worshiped.

I find it fascinating however that statues of Mary are paraded in the streets on makeshift thrones even, while passers by are bowing and raising hands of praise and prayer to her. (We see this particularly in South America.)

In any case, as a Christ-ian I agree with your observation although not EVERY church has a cross or statue. There are some who have taken great care to not have any "finery" that might be misunderstood as an idol or an object in which to direct your attention(s) while seeking the face of God.

As an art history lover I am often pondering what God must think of the many depictions of His Son, Jesus Christ. I often think that man most likely has done Him no justice whatsoever and once I get to heaven I will be so ashamed that I ever pondered Jesus the way many of our forefathers and classical artists have "painted him out to be."

Although I don't claim to know the whole reason God said that we should not have any idols or graven images before us, I do know that we are a weak minded people, easily swayed and one of the reasons God says not to have these things in our midst is so that we don't mistakenly direct our attention(s) our time of worship toward them instead of Him.

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Further, this topic you have raised is one of the reasons why I fail to believe in the Shroud of Turin as being a REAL IMAGE OF JESUS CHRIST. Though I will admit the evidence and science behind the Shroud is fascinating and compelling...

I hardly think that God would have told us to not have any graven images of Him and then create an image that could so easily be placed in a high level of importance and be worshiped itself.

It is not a CLOTH that should be worshiped, but the Christ who died and rose again and that my friend is a matter of FAITH, which no cloth or image can help us with. TRUE FAITH IS THE BELIEF IN A GOD NOT YET SEEN!

John 20:27-29 says.....
27 Then he said to Thomas, "Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don't be unbelieving, but believing."

28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"

29 Jesus said to him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed."

Answer 4

yes I would agree with you. that the cross and crucifix are like idol worship. For one thing it is worshipping christ and his death and resurrection. But that is at least one thing to reminds us that Christ did died for ours sins and arose again the third day. here a good web site on idol worship history. have a good day.

Answer 5

We are told in the bible that Jesus is God. It is God in the flesh. We are still worshipping God.

Worshipping Gods can be more than a spiritual God. People worship physical 'things' and make them God like (money, power, alcohol, drugs). There is a fine line between passion and obsession.

Answer 6

Please straight up your argument. Which is which you are referring to?
If you are referring to the architectural image of the cross, I dont think so you got the point, same with the islamic mosque of the crescent moon. This is not idolatry but the symbol of faith.
Do you know that the throne of Solomon is fashioned by gold and with the image of a Lion? The ark of the covenant of God has two cherubins spread its wings, does that make it idolatry?
For me idolatry is a thing that person put ahead of his belief to God. If you prefer science more than God, then thats idolatry, you built a huge image of it that cannot be torn down by anyone.

Answer 7

No because it's more of a symbol and we don't bow down and worship the cross we worship God and Jesus. It's to remind us of what Jesus did for us by dying on the cross and saving us from our sins.

Answer 8

Not my church, anyway. A cross is a symbol of what Christ died on, and we don't worship the cross anyway. It's a decoration for us to remember, but we don't bow down before it, or pray to it. At least, my church doesn't. Some people might, I don't know. I do know that it's wrong to.

Answer 9

False Religion uses the cross.

Is veneration of the cross a Scriptural practice?

1 Cor. 10:14: "My beloved ones, flee from idolatry." (An idol is an image or symbol that is an object of intense devotion, veneration, or worship.)

Ex. 20:4, 5, JB: "You shall not make yourself a carved image or any likeness of anything in heaven or on earth beneath or in the waters under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them." (Notice that God commanded that his people not even make an image before which people would bow down.)

Of interest is this comment in the New Catholic Encyclopedia: "The representation of Christ's redemptive death on Golgotha does not occur in the symbolic art of the first Christian centuries. The early Christians, influenced by the Old Testament prohibition of graven images, were reluctant to depict even the instrument of the Lord's Passion."-(1967), Vol. IV, p. 486.

Concerning first-century Christians, History of the Christian Church says: "There was no use of the crucifix and no material representation of the cross."-(New York, 1897), J. F. Hurst, Vol. I, p. 366.

Does it really make any difference if a person cherishes a cross, as long as he does not worship it?

How would you feel if one of your dearest friends was executed on the basis of false charges? Would you make a replica of the instrument of execution? Would you cherish it, or would you rather shun it?

In ancient Israel, unfaithful Jews wept over the death of the false god Tammuz. Jehovah spoke of what they were doing as being a 'detestable thing.' (Ezek. 8:13, 14) According to history, Tammuz was a Babylonian god, and the cross was used as his symbol. From its beginning in the days of Nimrod, Babylon was against Jehovah and an enemy of true worship. (Gen. 10:8-10; Jer. 50:29) So by cherishing the cross, a person is honoring a symbol of worship that is opposed to the true God.

As stated at Ezekiel 8:17, apostate Jews also 'thrust out the shoot to Jehovah's nose.' He viewed this as "detestable" and 'offensive.' Why? This "shoot," some commentators explain, was a representation of the male sex organ, used in phallic worship. How, then, must Jehovah view the use of the cross, which, as we have seen, was anciently used as a symbol in phallic worship?

And plus, Jesus died on a torture stake, not a cross.

Answer 10

it's a good point, especially as the trend these days is to claim the bible as literal truth.

I'm no Christian, but I love the beauty of an ornate Catholic catherdral or church, complete with statues, frescoes, etc. It almost makes all the wars, persecution and invasions done in the name of Christianity seem 1/10th worthwhile.