Is a photograph of your mother idol worship?

Question

If not then a picture of Mary the Mother of God is also not idol worship. If you insist on ignoring the Catholic posters that is fine but we have told you repeatedly that the pictures and statues are not what we pray to. If you continue to say that we do you are intentionally spreading false information and that is not a good thing.

Ok Don S. And I suppose the Lincoln Memorial is idolatrous? according to you logic it is? What about the the Viet Nam memorial? The monument of the Marines raising the flag at Iwo Jima? Do really believe your own nonsense? Please. I have absolutely no problem with scripture. Is there one that says we should not bear false witness? Please stop calling us idol worshippers. Is it now idolatrous to believe in salvation through the Blood of Christ?

Answer 1

People who do not know better sometimes say that Catholics worship statues. Not only is this untrue, it is even untrue that Catholics honor statues.

The fact that someone kneels before a statue to pray does not mean that he is praying to the statue, just as the fact that someone kneels with a Bible in his hands to pray does not mean that he is worshiping the Bible. Statues or paintings or other artistic devices are used to recall to the mind the person or thing depicted. Just as it is easier to remember one’s mother by looking at her photograph, so it is easier to recall the lives of the saints by looking at representations of them.

The use of statues and icons for liturgical purposes (as opposed to idols) also had a place in the Old Testament. In Exodus 25:18–20, God commanded: "And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and one cherub on the other end; of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be."

In Numbers 21:8–9, he told Moses: "‘Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.’ So Moses made a bronze serpent, and set it on a pole; and if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live." This shows the actual ceremonial use of a statue (looking to it) in order to receive a blessing from God (healing from snakebite). In John 3:14, Jesus tells us that he himself is what the bronze serpent represented, so it was a symbolic representation of Jesus. There was no problem with this statue—God had commanded it to be made—so long as people did not worship it. When they did, the righteous king Hezekiah had it destroyed (2 Kgs. 18:4). This clearly shows the difference between the proper religious use of statues and idolatry.

When the time came to build the Temple in Jerusalem, God inspired David’s plans for it, which included "his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord. All this he made clear by the writing from the hand of the Lord concerning it, all the work to be done according to the plan" (1 Chr. 28:18–19).

In obedience to this divinely inspired plan, Solomon built two gigantic, golden statues of cherubim: "In the most holy place he made two cherubim of wood and overlaid them with gold. The wings of the cherubim together extended twenty cubits: one wing of the one, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and its other wing, of five cubits, touched the wing of the other cherub; and of this cherub, one wing, of five cubits, touched the wall of the house, and the other wing, also of five cubits, was joined to the wing of the first cherub. The wings of these cherubim extended twenty cubits; the cherubim stood on their feet, facing the nave. And he made the veil of blue and purple and crimson fabrics and fine linen, and worked cherubim on it" (2 Chr. 3:10–14).

Grace and Peace!

Answer 2

I have the utmost respect for people's religion and it is none of my business to tell one how to worship. That being said, interpretations of religious practices that vary person to person. For some ANY pictures or sculptures are considered"idol worship" even though it is fairly obvious that not many are actually praying to those images. The fear is that(to some) it can be the slippery slope idea-where some of the faithful may overdo the emphasis and the idea of the picture/sculpture, therefore getting closer and closer to the idol worship.
There are some religions that just ban it altogether therefore those followers have a very negative impression of the images issue. To those people it is a sacrilegious act to have them about their house or place of worship. Nevertheless they have no right to denigrate others beliefs as that is a personal choice.

Answer 3

People believe what they've been told about the Catholic faith, rather than studying and learning for themselves. Someone tells them that us ebil Catholics worship Mary and pray to idols, so it has to be true because Pastor So-and-so said it.

We don't worship Mary -- worship is reserved for God Alone. We honor her as Christ's mother and a beautiful model of obedience and Christian womanhood.

And a statue or a picture is a reminder that we are all part of the Communion of Saints and that there are those in Heaven who love us and intercede for us. The physical object is just that -- an object and nothing more.

As you say, the Catholics of this forum have done yeoman's service trying to clear up the misconceptions and lies told about our faith. If people choose not to believe us, then they're responsible to God for their lies and libel.

Answer 4

If you make a statue of your mother like the catholics do or if you bow down to your mothers picture.Then your picture of her has become an idol. "Ye shall make unto you no idols nor graven images, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the Lord your God" Leviticus 26:1
REMEMBER IF ITS NOT IN THE BIBLE THEN IT MUST BE MAN MADE.It is you that is spreading false doctrines of men. Just rearing up a standing image is idol worship according to the word of God.And don't tell people you don't worship these stone images.Your church spent a few thousand dollars not that long ago fixing the stone image of Peters toe were it had been kissed so much.
Whats the matter?You got something against scripture now?

Answer 5

Keeping a picture of your mother isn't idolatry. But if you start praying to it...or just merely talking to it - then it is! The problem lies in idolatry is people tend to serve the image. Carrying on their shoulders...veneration using incense...and even some resorts to offering foods before these images. That is idolatry.

One more thing most "believers' failed to understand is this - Mary cannot be the "mother of God". She should not be looked that way. And if she's only allived - she'd witnessed how people had gone too far to worship her image. She cannot be the mother of God unless she exist first before God. Can we not use a little common sense here? She said in the bible "...Every generation should call me blessed". That's the limit! Let us call her "blessed" that's all! You go more than that - that's IDOLATRY! She never said "...Every people shall call me mother of God!

And please read your bible before believing anyone - there is also this "queen of heaven" mentioned in the old testament. Check if this title refers to Mary or someone else? both of them is using this title.

(More of these should you become INTERESTED...unless you are merely CURIOUS)...

Please check your faith...GOD BLESS

Answer 6

Amen to you David, well said, we don't worship the photos of our love ones, they are there as a memory that is all, the same goes to photos and statues of Jesus, Mary and the Saints, a memory

Peace

Answer 7

sweetie, just a picture is not idol worship. But praying TO and worshiping said image is.

How many times have they had to replace the marble toe of Saint Peter because people's lips have smoothed it away due to kissing?
Kissing a marble statue's feet, come on now, you know that's not the heart of the Lord.

Answer 8

Thank you. For Pete's sake, she was chosen by God to bring his Son into the world! We know she is not God, so what is wrong with showing the respect and love we feel for her?

Answer 9

Don't listen to that Catholic idiot. I don't particularly espouse any religious belief - but I can tell you that anyone who tells you not to keep a photo of your mom is a total idiot. It never ceases to amaze me how people believe in a certain religion ( I don't care if they are Muslims, Jews, Christians, Hindus or whatever) simply because "my mom and dad are . . . . )!

Study and listen to all the religious teachings then make an informed decision to believe in one - or none.

Answer 10

Only if you're praying and worshipping the photo, bud.