Protestants: If you have a problem with statues and saints, why do you set up a Nativity scene at Christmas?

Answer 1

Good question! I've always wondered how Protestants can spout off all the time against "worshiping statues and false idols" all have pictures, statues, pillows, t-shirts, and all the other commercialized crap they buy at Christian book stores, when they essentially do the same thing. Makes no sense. If it's against God's will to have a "graven image" of Jesus, why do you have bumper stickers for him or pictures of him all over your house? How is that NOT a graven image?

Answer 2

Good question. Most Protestants would probably say that nativity scenes, crosses, paintings, and the many other images and statues we make use of are acceptable because we do not pray to them, worship them, or express devotion to them in any other way. Of course Catholics do not worship statues or saints either -- this is a common misconception.

The proper use of images in Christian worship has been debated off and on for the last 2 000 years. At times some churches and movements have completely eliminated images, statues, and the rest, believing them to be a form of idolatry. Other Christians have defended the use of images in the devotional life, claiming that the images are not being worshipped but are being used to facilitate one's relationship with God. Defenders of images/icons have often argued that the doctrine of the Incarnation -- that God became flesh in the person of Jesus -- makes the creation and use of images of Jesus or other holy people acceptable.

For more info check out the iconoclast controversies.

Answer 3

Nevermind that this question was asked yesterday.... Protestants don't pray to Mary or St. Joseph. Big difference. We don't believe that dead people can hear prayers (except for Jesus). Jesus did not teach us to pray to Mary or the saints. We have the statues in our nativity scenes, well, because Mary and St. Joseph were there. We don't make idols out of them like Catholics do, however.

Answer 4

We set up Nativity scenes at Xmas to help teach our children about Christianity.
Your logic implies that we also should not have a national flag on our porch, as a symbol of our love for our country.
Why do you want Protestants to be extremists? We have a lot in common with Catholics (eg we agree with them about Islam).
We have no problem with people behaving like saints: we object to a man (the Pope) creating them.
Bhuddists are best known for worshipping the image of a man.

Answer 5

I am a Catholic and when I started "searching" and looking outside my faith at other Christian faiths...I started contemplating all these things.
Devontrit Whiteside, you make alot of good points and I have to say I have noticed these things too. What kept me in my Catholic faith is alot of other Christian faiths followed things that seemed clearly to be wrong too (according to scripture). One allowed abortion, while others did not, there were women pastors, some allowed a gay minister to be head of their church. Others spoke about angels and how you could call on them. I started to say to myself (wtf is going on?) what is the difference? It seems like everybody is picking and choosing. I almost thought about becoming a Messianic Jew. Then I thought about being a Christian who follows the bible and does not do all the "pagan" practices that have seemed to seep into the Christian faith. Which would exclude participating in Halloween, Christimas and Easter. I have a child how would I explain this to her? So I wholeheartedly embraced the evil and accepted this in myself and since have never looked back. I felt better after that. Sic..I can't help writing that...sorry. Seriously, it is a tough call and I have often heard what Devontrit said as referred to as "true Christians." I am thinking alot of us are under the great delusion as is so often said that we will be under. My only suggestion is to pray, pray, pray and try to follow the bible (and Jesus) as best you can. I do know we are told as Christians we are no longer under condemnation (Romans 8:1) so we should probably unite and stop condemning one another.

Answer 6

It's easier for them to justify it if they say that Catholics pray to theirs. Though, as a Catholic, I have never prayed to a nativity scene, nor have I seen anyone else do so.

Also, if they are so against tradition, then why do their nativity scenes have THREE wise men? Afterall, the Bible simply doesn't state how many wise men there were...and doesn't everything have to be found in the Bible?

Answer 7

Of course this is hypocritical of them but let us remember most moderate Protestants know full well that Catholics do not `WORSHIP` statues, it is the die-hard `Bah-bul` thumpers who have not the sense or humility to shut up about it.
``Oh yeah well we put up a Nativity scene but we do not worship it like the Catholics do`` how bloody sanctimonious can you get?

Answer 8

For the people who say theirs is different because they don't pray to them---what, do they leave their home when they pray or do they just not pray during the Christmas season? How far away from their statues do they have to be when they pray so as not to be accused of idol worship? Do they stand when they pray because kneeling at that point is a dead give away or do they just not ever kneel to God whether there is a statue there or not?

What a double standard they have!

Answer 9

I think there's a little-publicized "graven image/idolatry exemption clause" for those. But they must not under any circumstances be left up until after Epiphany. That would be too Catholic and voids the exemption.

Answer 10

Especially considering that a Nativity scene is composed of (gasp!) GRAVEN IMAGES!!!! :-) Is it possible that some people are so naive that they will believe that a billion intelligent people WORSHIP plaster or marble???