Some Protestants think the veneration of Mary with statues as being idolatry.
I say what about images of Jesus, that Protestants have everywhere?
Isn't a statue of Jesus an idol according to OT law?
Looks like a statue of Jesus counts as an idol. But why? Look at why God does not like idols.
They are lifeless.
God finds them detestable.
They are worthless.
They are the work of human hands.
They will disappear, are not eternal.
They are no comparison to God.
They don't know the future, past or anything.
God is spirit, how can anything physical represent him?
As to statues of Mary, at least people don't say she is a god, and we know she was just a woman so a statue of her seems to not be idolatry, as long as you don't bow down to it.
Maybe the problem is statues of Jesus and not Mary.
Now I must admit that I went to a church for many years that had a statue of Jesus on the alter and when we went up to the alter, we bowed our heads. I never had a problem doing that. Now, I wonder if it was good though?
I say what about images of Jesus, that Protestants have everywhere?
Isn't a statue of Jesus an idol according to OT law?
Exodus 20:4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.
Looks like a statue of Jesus counts as an idol. But why? Look at why God does not like idols.
They are lifeless.
Leviticus 26:30 I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars and pile your dead bodies on the lifeless forms of your idols, and I will abhor you.
God finds them detestable.
2 Chronicles 34:33 Josiah removed all the detestable idols
They are worthless.
Psalm 31:6 I hate those who cling to worthless idols; as for me, I trust in the Lord.
They are the work of human hands.
Isaiah 2:8 Their land is full of idols; they bow down to the work of their hands, to what their fingers have made.
They will disappear, are not eternal.
Isaiah 2:18 and the idols will totally disappear.
They are no comparison to God.
Isaiah 40:18 With whom, then, will you compare God?
To what image will you liken him?
19As for an idol, a metalworker casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and fashions silver chains for it.
20 A person too poor to present such an offering
selects wood that will not rot;
they look for a skilled worker
to set up an idol that will not topple.
25“To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
To what image will you liken him?
19As for an idol, a metalworker casts it,
and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
and fashions silver chains for it.
20 A person too poor to present such an offering
selects wood that will not rot;
they look for a skilled worker
to set up an idol that will not topple.
25“To whom will you compare me?
Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
They don't know the future, past or anything.
Isaiah 41:22“Tell us, you idols,
what is going to happen.
Tell us what the former things were,
so that we may consider them
and know their final outcome.
Or declare to us the things to come,
23 tell us what the future holds,
so we may know that you are gods.
Do something, whether good or bad,
so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.
24 But you are less than nothing
and your works are utterly worthless;
whoever chooses you is detestable
My concern with statues of Jesus is that it is not representative of God and his glory? First it is only one part of the Trinity. Second, Jesus in his life on earth was in a lowered state of glory.what is going to happen.
Tell us what the former things were,
so that we may consider them
and know their final outcome.
Or declare to us the things to come,
23 tell us what the future holds,
so we may know that you are gods.
Do something, whether good or bad,
so that we will be dismayed and filled with fear.
24 But you are less than nothing
and your works are utterly worthless;
whoever chooses you is detestable
John 6:46 No one has seen the Father except the one who is from God; only he has seen the Father.
Exodus 33:18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
I don't think anything on earth can display the glory of God. I think it would be an insult to God to pose any image of Jesus as being representative of God's glory. Now Jesus is God, but to show only one statue shows only one person of God and leaves out the other two. Again, this is a misrepresentation of God.Exodus 33:18 Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” 20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”
God is spirit, how can anything physical represent him?
As to statues of Mary, at least people don't say she is a god, and we know she was just a woman so a statue of her seems to not be idolatry, as long as you don't bow down to it.
Maybe the problem is statues of Jesus and not Mary.
Now I must admit that I went to a church for many years that had a statue of Jesus on the alter and when we went up to the alter, we bowed our heads. I never had a problem doing that. Now, I wonder if it was good though?
