@truefiction1
If it is not commanded in revelation it is idolatry.
Have I had bad experiences with Icons? Nope. I still have them on my walls. Nothing wrong with having images as artwork but since they are not commanded to be used in scripture we should not be using them during worship - at the very least, they should not be imposed upon Christians as needful. We are free from culture captivity when we worship God the way He has commanded us to.
- God alone is to determine how the sinner approaches God in worship
- extra biblical practices usually tend to nullify true biblical worship
- we call into question the sufficiency of God's revelation/scripture when we add or make additions to the biblical norm
- the Bible explicity condemns all worship that is not commanded (Lev. 10.1-3; Deut. 4.2, 12.29-32, 17.3; Josh. 1.7, 23.6-8; Matt. 15.13; Col. 2.20-23)
- how God is to be worship is explained here Deut. 12.29-32
John Owen, " Three things are usually pleaded in the justification of the observance of such rites and ceremonies in the worship of God: First, that they tend unto the furtherance of the devotion of the worshipers; secondly, that they render the worship itself comely and beautiful; thirdly, that they are the preservers of order in the celebration thereof. And therefore on these accounts they may be instituted or appointed by some, and observed by all."
A closer look at Deut. 12;
v. 1.-2 destroy Temples belonging to false religion
v. 4-19 worship is prescribed where God reveals His name in
the Tabernacle
v. 4. You shall not worship the Lord your God in
that way, your own way
v.8 You shall not do according to all that we are doing here today, everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes,
v. 20-21 the revealed will of God regulates worship
v. 29-21 we are not to be influenced by culture (Icons were cultural in the Eastern Empire and used by Greek Pagans)
v.31 You shall not worship the Lord your God in that way, for every abominable thing that the Lord hates they have done for their gods, for they even burn their sons and their daughters in the fire to their gods.
v. 32 Everything that I command you, you shall be careful to do. You shall not add to it or take from it.
Yours in the Lord,
jm