Why do those who call themselves 'christians'- constantly aquire graven art? Like statues of 'Mary'?

Question

The bibles warns us about graven art in the old testament and the new testament- NOT TO EVEN HAVE IT. Statues that depict Jesus (even though nobody knows what He looks like), staues of Mary (nobody knows what she looks like, and she was just an ordinary woman used in an extra-ordinary way), and others are truly embarassing and shameful to true christianity.
We are all born sinners, but we to take the rosaries, the pictures and statues that depict Jesus, Mary, etc.- and destroy them. All it does is show a lack of faith in Jesus, and is anti-christian.

Answer 1

Because Catholics worship & talk to dead ppl.
Christians are not supposed to pray to anyone but Jesus to ask God for anything.
Jesus states in the bible that no one commeth to the Father,but by me.
Mary was a very pure & Godly woman,but she was a human,not a God.She was a vessel that God used.Just as every prophet & apostle of Jesus time.

Answer 2

What is wrong with having a statue of Mary or a cross with Jesus on it? I am a Christain yet I have a cross with jesus on it. Am I going to hell for it? No. You are reading between the lines and are un-aware of what you are talking about. Neither the old or new testaments say what you have stated. And to call it anti-christian is out of line. To have a cross with Jesus nailed to it is not a lack of faith, but in fact a symbol of strong faith. It shows that you believe he died for you. You are making judgements that you shouldn't be making. Just because you don't totally follow the bible doesn't mean anything. We are only human, and we sin and make mistakes. God will forgive us, you need not worry.

Answer 3

Before you continue to further bash the Catholics.......

First of all, no "Christian" is under Mosaic Law, to begin with. they are under the new covenant of grace, not the law. If you read your NT, you would know that.

And no, we don't know what Mary looks like. But we do know that she was not divine, and to make a statue of her is not a "graven image". Catholics, as well as many other Christians love Mary, and respect her for the honor that the Lord bestowed upon her.

The pictures that are supposed to portray Jesus.... well...the ones I've seen wouldn't even be close to what Jesus looked like. He was a Jew, not caucasian. I do not think it right to even try to make an image or picture of Jesus, and I am in agreement with you there.

The rosaries are reminders of prayer. There is nothing wrong with it. The Catholics ask Mary for intercessory prayer. So what? How many Christians whine, "Pray for me!" Are they asking you for intercessory prayer? Yes! What is the difference? If they want to pray and ask Mary, what harm does it do? I know of no Biblical scripture that forbids it!

Mary was not just an "ordinary" woman. She was an exceptional woman. She was the vessel to carry the Christ child. Don't underestimate her.

By the way, I'm not Catholic. But I do think Catholics get a rotten deal from those who don't understand what they believe.

Answer 4

You are an Iconoclast. Look up that word on Google.
Also look at the wisdom of past Iconoclasms.
Iconoclasms were violent disputes. Our Lord commands us not to do this. He does not preach any of what you say.
To my way of thinking, making a picture of anything is not a sin. It is the intent and the effect that are the most important.
If you do a chocolate Jesus, this is not religious art. Art that has a positive effect on people are, and they are everywhere.
Are we to smash our pictures and crucifixes also?
Should I replace my Last Supper with those 'pool playing dogs'? LOL

Answer 5

As a christian, we do not worship these statues, artwork and whatnots. We use these to focus our minds while praying, esp. the rosary. The statues were meant to remind us of the great deeds that Jesus, Mary and the saints have done. We do not worship them.

Answer 6

Please familiarize yourself with sacramentals:

Images and Statues
Deut. 4:15 - from this verse, Protestants say that since we saw "no form" of the Lord, we should not make graven images of Him.

Deut. 4:16 - of course, in early history Israel was forbidden to make images of God because God didn't yet reveal himself visibly "in the form of any figure."

Deut. 4:17-19 - hence, had the Israelites depicted God not yet revealed, they might be tempted to worship Him in the form of a beast, bird, reptile or fish, which was a common error of the times.

Exodus 3:2-3; Dan 7:9; Matt. 3:16; Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32; Acts 2:3- later on, however, we see that God did reveal himself in visible form (as a dove, fire, etc).

Deut. 5:8 - God's commandment "thou shall not make a graven image" is entirely connected to the worship of false gods. God does not prohibit images to be used in worship, but He prohibits the images themselves to be worshiped.

Exodus 25:18-22; 26:1,31 - for example, God commands the making of the image of a golden cherubim. This heavenly image, of course, is not worshiped by the Israelites. Instead, the image disposes their minds to the supernatural and draws them to God.

Num. 21:8-9 - God also commands the making of the bronze serpent. The image of the bronze serpent is not an idol to be worshiped, but an article that lifts the mind to the supernatural.

I Kings 6:23-36; 7:27-39; 8:6-67 - Solomon's temple contains statues of cherubim and images of cherubim, oxen and lions. God did not condemn these images that were used in worship.

2 Kings 18:4 - it was only when the people began to worship the statue did they incur God's wrath, and the king destroyed it. The command prohibiting the use of graven images deals exclusively with the false worship of those images.

1 Chron. 28:18-19 - David gives Solomon the plan for the altar made of refined gold with a golden cherubim images. These images were used in the Jews' most solemn place of worship.

2 Chron. 3:7-14 - the house was lined with gold with elaborate cherubim carved in wood and overlaid with gold.

Ezek. 41:15 - Ezekiel describes graven images in the temple consisting of carved likenesses of cherubim. These are similar to the images of the angels and saints in many Catholic churches.

Col. 1:15 - the only image of God that Catholics worship is Jesus Christ, who is the "image" (Greek "eikon") of the invisible God.

Answer 7

who knows!!! why do muslims say that they are a peaceful people yet they kill and rape and poison there people all for the good of allah!! it all comes to this..... as long as people believe in the goodness of there fellow man and live a true life then thats all they have to worry about. besides ive never seen so many people convert to christianaity over the years than before. hum! is it a better way of life?

Answer 8

Why are Christians constantly analyzing their faith?
Why do they argue, contend, strive, judge, and condemn each other?
Doesn't the bible say not to?
Why are they always trying to make a point?

I thank (your) God I'm Buddhist.
(The Buddha is a teacher, not a God)

Praise and blame, gain and loss, pleasure and sorrow come and go like the wind. To be happy, rest like a great tree in the midst of them.

.

Answer 9

Perhaps it's best to let God judge the people you refer to by the condition of their heart rather than by what you see since you can not see where they truly stand in their relationship with God.

Answer 10

I think you misunderstand the use and purpose of this type of image. They simply help us focus our minds. They are not the idols that were worshipped in the past and forbidden.

Cheers :-)

Answer 11

Tradition is being regarded as more important than Bible truth