"And you shall make two cherubim of gold [i.e., two gold statues of angels]; 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 of 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" (Ex. 25:18–20).
See also 1 Chr. 28:18–19 and Ez 41:17–18.
2007-11-15 04:47:17 · 12 answers · asked by Bruce 7 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Jesussaves, you will be relieved to know that Catholics don't pray to the sculptures in their churches, nor do they pray to Mary.
2007-11-15 05:00:59 · update #1
Mike, if God wanted the ancient Hebrews to make images of angels, don't you think he wants modern Christians to make images of his Son?
2007-11-15 05:02:47 · update #2
Rae, the Hebrews did not worship the cherubim, and Catholics do not worship a crucifix. That God directed his people to make images tells us that such images are not idols.
2007-11-15 06:16:24 · update #3
Michael P, follow Catholic Crusader's link to Strong's Concordance on "graven image." That's Bible for idol; it doesn't mean sculpture. If I pray kneeling at a sculpture, I am praying to God the Father, not to the sculpture. You can't tell who a person is praying to (or even whether he is praying) from his posture.
2007-11-15 06:48:03 · update #4
The commandment about “graven images” is one of the most misunderstood scriptures. Consider Exodus 25: 18-19: “And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends.” Here, God is commanding that images be made!
So is God contradicting himself? First he say don’t make a graven image, and then he orders graven images to be made?
No, he is not contradicting himself. The problem is that folks have misinterpreted the words “graven image.”
According to Strong’s Concordance, the original Hebrew words that were translated into “graven image” referred to idols (Here is the concordance link: http://cf.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?strongs=06459 ). Of course, we know that an idol is a false god, or something that you place above God. Since the Cheribum are not false Gods, there is no contradiction.
Therefore, also, statues in Catholic Churches are not a violation of the commandment either. They are not idols, because they are not false Gods. My Church has a statue of an angel, just like God commanded the Israelites to make. We have a statue of Jesus, who is CERTAINLY not a false God. We have statues of saints because they are heroes of the faith, not gods - just like America has statues of its heroes – Washington, Lincoln, etc. – and those are not idols either.
Bottom line: The commandments forbid images of false idols or false gods, but there is nothing wrong with beautiful artwork of Jesus, Mary, or angels, whether that artwork be paintings, statues, or whatever.
2007-11-15 04:50:21 · answer #1 · answered by Catholic Crusader 3 · 6⤊ 0⤋
Since we know God wanted the Hebrews to make images of golden cherubim, we know such religious sculptures are not idols.
If you read Ex 32 about the golden calf, the people called it a god, sacrificed burnt offerings to it, had a feast in its honor, and then "got up to indulge in revelry," which means they had an orgy.
Lev 20 talks about an idol named Molech, who people worshiped by sliding their infant children off the idol and into a pit of fire.
Those who think sculptures of Jesus, Mary, saints, or angels are idols don't grasp the enormity of actual idolatry. They are like the Pharisees who went after Jesus for healing on the Sabbath, eating without ceremonial cleansing, and other man-made rules.
CDF
2007-11-15 06:38:01 · answer #2 · answered by christiandefenderfaith 4 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Idols are deified objects, things or people thought to be gods. Worshippers of idols imagine that the idols have supernatural powers and that certain rituals will lead to favors being shown to them. Religious statues and images, on the other hand, are works of art, created to inspire worship of God, not worship of art.
2007-11-15 11:54:50 · answer #3 · answered by Lynie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It says in the bible to not worship false gods. A false God can be many things. A statue, money, pagan Gods, etc. Anything you devote your live to and live for becomes a sort of God unless it is the one and only God. Art and sculptures celebrating God is not forbidden, its all about what you are personally idolizing.
2007-11-15 04:52:16 · answer #4 · answered by shadow763 2 · 7⤊ 1⤋
some protestants will only say that it's alright to make images, but those images should not be worshipped. they say that in reference to Catholics. they assume that Catholics are guilty of idolatry. no matter how many verses you provide concerning the making of the images, their mind is made up when it comes to the Catholic faith. that's why, I honestly don't think the case is their lack of capacity to comprehend, but their unwillingness to comprehend. then again, maybe it's both.
see? they are already preaching about worshipping a false god, when the subject that you brought up is simply the making of images. they had just proven my point.
2007-11-15 04:50:57 · answer #5 · answered by Perceptive 5 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Well, I don't care if it rains or freezes,
Long as I have my plastic Jesus
Riding on the dashboard of my car
Through all trials and tribulations,
We will travel every nation,
With my plastic Jesus I'll go far.
I don't care if it rains or freezes
As long as I've got my Plastic Jesus
Glued to the dashboard of my car,
You can buy Him phosphorescent
Glows in the dark, He's Pink and Pleasant,
Take Him with you when you're travelling far
From the movie "Cool Hand Luke"
2007-11-15 06:38:18 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Read the commandments! It clearly states that we should not worship idols or statues.
2007-11-15 06:11:24 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
Great question.
But did God say to kneel and pray before religious scultures?
As an ex-RC protestant, I worry that prayers before RC statues may go across the line, to "prayers to graven images".
Remember it is God, and He alone, who is the giver of all good things!!!
Not our "honoured" anscestors or any other mere mortals.
Not man-made "saints" nor their medalians.
Not even non-deity "mother" Mary (DAUGHTER of God) nor her statue, etc.
Focus on your loving "Father / Mother" God!!!
The living GOD is the only one that, even our Lord, Jesus Christ addressed in His prayers.
He was praying in a certain place, and when he ceased, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." (Luke 11:1 RSV)
Jesus said "Pray like this, 'Our Father...' !"
Period!
"I thank thee, FATHER, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and any one to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
-- Luke 10: 21-22
"If you love me" He said, "keep my commandments"!!!
Jesus Christ never prayed to any one but GOD.
He never taught us to pray "Mother Mary, full of grace, ...".
Period!
Full stop.
"Lord, teach us to pray."
Teach us our needs. Tear away this veil from our eyes, that makes us think we have any adequacy in ourselves. Give us rather, this conscious sense of dependence, this awareness that nothing that we do will be on any value apart from a dependence upon You! In Jesus' name. Amen.
2007-11-15 06:22:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
Because the Bible is made up?
2007-11-15 04:55:01 · answer #9 · answered by savyswinginsistah 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋
You're comparing what GOD wanted built with what man wants built. I choose GOD.
2007-11-15 04:51:24 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 8⤋