Do you feel that Prayer Icons, or the sculpted corpus of Christ on a cross is a violation of ?

Question

G-d's Commandment to not make an Idol? Is it Idolotry?

Im not trying to make a statement with a question, G-dschild.

I have crosses with the sculpted body of Christ, and I have prayer Icons, but the question has always been in the back of my mind.

Answer 1

Good question, John. The creation and use of religious images is not idolatry because the person is not giving worship to the image.

In fact God commanded the Hebrews to make graven images in Scripture, for instance when they fashioned the Ark of the Covenant. God specifically told them to carve figures of cherubim and seraphim to adorn the ark and focus the minds of the people towards heavenly things.

So obviously, creating art, images and statues is not wrong. What concerns God is the HEART.....or better put "how is the person relating to the image?" If he is worshipping it, that is clearly idolatry. If he is using it as a devotional object, it is not idolatry, and is actually helping elevate his mind to the spiritual realm.

What many people (mostly Protestatns) are reacting negatively to, and labeling "idolotary" is the ABUSE or misuse of religious images that they sometimes see. But the abuses that occur are exceptions. Religious art, imagery, scultpure, etc. and its devotional use cannot be condemned simply because some Christians have taken it too far.

God bless you.

Answer 2

While I don't believe in having the cross around my neck or on my wall, prayer beads or anything of that sort, I have no right to judge other people because they choose to do so. I believe that the cross focuses on the death of Christ more than the Garden of Gethsemane or the resurrection of Christ. All of my personal beliefs aside, I think that it is what individuals think about and do regarding these items that would make them idols. If they pray to them instead of to God (which although it sounds ridiculous, it has happened) or if they cherish or worship these things as idols, then they are idols. If, however, people pray to God and find it easier to pray to God with the help of these things, I would imagine that it would be ok. In the end God will decide.

Answer 3

In my opinion, it probably is. According to the 2nd commandment, we are not to make graven images of anything in heaven, on earth, or under the earth. Since nobody knows exactly what Jesus looked like, I would have to say that anything which portrays the image of Jesus Christ probably comes very close to violating the second commandment.

I know there are many great works of art which depict Jesus on the cross, the last supper, nativity scene, etc. I think we need to make sure that we don't put these types of things in the place of God or Jesus Christ.

Answer 4

It's not an "idol" it's a replica depicting Jesus Christ, so no... there's nothing wrong with it, you're not worshiping the image.
You can look at all of God's creation and be amazed and pray, are you then worshiping the creation? God isn't stupid. He knows our hearts when we pray. The position of arguing about this is some unnessary legalism and it's a divider of God's people. Give God credit for knowing our hearts.

Answer 5

No Not at all
Explain how it would be

The Christian veneration of images is not contrary to the first commandment which proscribes idols. Indeed, "the honor rendered to an image passes to its prototype," and "whoever venerates an image venerates the person portrayed in it." The honor paid to sacred images is a "respectful veneration," not the adoration due to God alone:

Religious worship is not directed to images in themselves, considered as mere things, but under their distinctive aspect as images leading us on to God incarnate. The movement toward the image does not terminate in it as image, but tends toward that whose image it is.

Answer 6

No, an Idol is something you worship as if it is a God. Prayer icons and religious scultures are of purely symbolic value.

Answer 7

no its not idolotry. if someone has a cross icon, they are saying they love the Lord..
They appreciate what the cross stands for....

Answer 8

YES!
I've been to many churches with graven images. I see people look up, look over what ever and pray to these images.
I've seen images of the last Pope do this with statues of Mary. Look how they parade her all adorned in festivals.
It IS Idol worship.
You shall have NO graven images.
†

Answer 9

Religious art helps me focus my mind on the Lord. They are in my house to beautify it and to serve as reminders.

Answer 10

I sure think so, but I guess most Christians have given up on that one. It's a pretty amorphous topic anyway. Just representations of God? Or representations of anything? Or just people? It's not really clear.