Bible and Idolatry: Graven Images?
A lot of people seem to think that because the idols they bow to (pictures of mother Mary, or Jesus, or whomever), that it's okay. Even though it says not to specifically bow down to any idol made in the image of something either from heaven or earth.
Now I ask you this: I remember reading about a, I believe, golden cow (?) that was worshiped when Moses was teaching his followers, but is there ANY instance in the bible where a picture, image, stone, or whatever, that resembled someone for heaven, was worshiped? If so, please provide scripture.
Thanks.
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There weren't any instances where people built an image like the calf to represent God almighty. When that idol was made it was the people trying to make God into an image they could worship. They couldn't see God so they wanted an image so they could focus on God.They were trying to make God tangible. God tried to stop that the moment it began. There were other cultures around the people of God that worshiped other gods.
That is still the same today. People have made images of Mary because they can't see her any more but they have an image where they can focus and make their requests to her.
Solomon built a high place for a different god. A god of each of his wives.
~ 1 kings 11:7 Then did Solomon build an high place for Chemosh, the abomination of Moab, in the hill that is before Jerusalem, and for Molech, the abomination of the children of Ammon.
~ 1 kings 11:8 And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed unto their gods.
God bless you!
The closest instance that I can recall is the brazen serpent. When people were bitten by cobras as they wandered in the desert, if they looked upon the brazen serpent hoisted upon a pole, then they would be cured.
But that does not constitute worship - just fatih in God's healing powers.
Jesus compared himself to that brazen serpent:
Jhn 3:14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:
Jhn 3:15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.
Well a real Christian goes by what the bible says and you are exactly right... statues of Jesus and Mary ect are all graven images. They are idols made in the image of heaven and it specifically says against this in the bible...
Here is something most dont realize-- In every pic of Jesus-he has long hair--It was sin for a man born from the tribe of Judah to have long hair-- So in the pics they portray the son of God as a sinner--This is how little the false religions claiming they are christian actually know. Such a shame so many are being mislead.
to start with, there is not any one "spectacular" thank you to extensive form the ten Commandments because of the fact the unique texts have not have been given any verse or financial disaster markings. The Catholic Church supplies its individuals credit for understanding that making and *worshiping* a picture is idolatry -- no longer the mere introduction of a picture. Making or having a statue of Mary or the saints does not violate the commandment because of the fact as you properly spoke of, we don't worship the two the image or the guy it represents. the pictures remind us that we are surrounded by using a cloud of witnesses (all those believers in Heaven) who intercede for us for the duration of our earthly pilgrimage. If making a picture replaced into forbidden, then God Himself could be responsible of breaking His very own commandments whilst He different the way that the Temple replaced into to be geared up. between different pictures, there have been the Cherubim who coated the Ark, the brazen (bronze) bulls that supported the bronze Sea, the bronze pomegranates that embellished the Temple, etc. the version between ornament and idolatry got here approximately whilst the Israelites began to worship the brazen serpent created by using Moses and observed because it Nehustan. The serpent replaced into destroyed because of the fact it had grow to be an idol worshipped as against God, so we've a sparkling representation of the subject. at present, we see the comparable concern with pictures, artwork, and sculptures of actual issues and human beings. they may well be pictures, even though it is to be was hoping that they are no longer worshiped. the line is obviously crossed whilst some religions make figures of their gods and worship those figures because of the fact the god him or herself. it is idolatry. purely making a image of something for the sake of memory or ornament isn't idolatry. in any different case somewhat some human beings could be in deep idolatry doodoo for having pictures of their mom of their pockets or that black velvet Elvis portray superb on their residing room wall.
Yes the egyptians worshiped men who they called gods. they built temples, statues, graven pictures on walls.
Ezekiel 6:4 It doesn't give a specific name except the sun worshipers.
Book of Ezekiel
Ezekiel 8:6 He said furthermore unto me, Son of man, seest thou what they do? [even] the great abominations that the house of Israel committeth here, that I should go far off from my sanctuary? but turn thee yet again, [and] thou shalt see greater abominations.
No
Idols were always of false gods...dagon, baal, et al
Iconography is not Idolatry
When I was a catholic I never prayered to a statue, it merely helped me focus on praying to the saint....who couldn't hear me....whole nother issue ;o)