Are we allowed to have small statues such as buddha in the house?

[Hello There]

We have a small budha statue in our house, now, I am a aware that some people use them for worship but we do not, we actually use it for decoration purposes. So I would like to know if it is wrong to have it in our house.

What spurred on these questions was Deut 7:25

7:25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire; thou shalt not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein; for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.

7:26 And thou shalt not bring an abomination into thy house, and be accursed like unto it; thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a devoted thing.

 

[lan]

Greetings Carl, I belive the scripture you quoted is to be taken serious.

Blessings

 

[FreezBee]

What spurred on these questions was Deut 7:25

7:25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire; thou shalt not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein; for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.

7:26 And thou shalt not bring an abomination into thy house, and be accursed like unto it; thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a devoted thing.

Are you an Israelite on your way to take possession of the Promised Land? Is Buddha a Cana'anite god?


cheers

- FreezBee

 

[Hello There]

lol, out-of-context am I?

 

[Jesus1stKing]

Carl,

it is always important to take scripture in context, and to pray for the guidance and understanding of the Holy Spirit in these matters.

With that in mind, my personel oppinion is that the Bibles tells us we are to have NO graven [carved, molded, etc.] images. However if taken in the contex of these scriptures you will find that it is most always associated with the worship of such.

Although these items may be kept as "Decoration/art" you have to ask what kind of an image are you presenting to others who may see this and question your walk with Christ.

 

[wonder111]

hmm. i don't know...this guy I know who is very 'high' in the church has a few of them in his house...

 

[Andy Broadley]

By all means take scripture seriusly and remove any items that may become objects of worship, but at least be consistent and get rid of the TV set

 

[HoT-MetaL]

If Jesus was around for dinner would you show him the Buddha?

God Bless, metal.

 

[Naomi4Christ]

By all means take scripture seriusly and remove any items that may become objects of worship, but at least be consistent and get rid of the TV set

 

[Espada]

hmm. i don't know...this guy I know who is very 'high' in the church has a few of them in his house...

Someone's postition in the church does not make them infallible and they are as likely to do the wrong thing as you or me.

 

[Lynn73]

I don't think I'd be comfortable with it.

 

[Strong in Him]

I think whether you have this statuette in your home is between you and the Lord. Don't worry whether or not someone else would "allow" you to, if you are happy with whatever decision you make before God, that's all that matters.

 

[autumnknight]

By all means take scripture seriusly and remove any items that may become objects of worship, but at least be consistent and get rid of the TV set

Ouch! Good post, Andy.

 

[linssue55]

We have a small budha statue in our house, now, I am a aware that some people use them for worship but we do not, we actually use it for decoration purposes. So I would like to know if it is wrong to have it in our house.

What spurred on these questions was Deut 7:25

7:25 The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire; thou shalt not covet the silver or the gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein; for it is an abomination to the Lord thy God.

7:26 And thou shalt not bring an abomination into thy house, and be accursed like unto it; thou shalt utterly detest it, and thou shalt utterly abhor it; for it is a devoted thing.

I'd throw the fat guy in the trash.

 

[Dragons87]

I come from Hong Kong, where Buddhism is a very strong religion. It is known that the statue of Buddha and other deities can host anti-Christ evil spirits, mainly because, well, Buddha himself is sort of anti-Christ (you can't really be neutral, can you?). And then when the occupants of the house convert to Christianity, the evil spirits will come out and disturb you. Then it takes a lot of spiritual effort to call the spirits away. Usually, when the house converts to Christianity, the church will go into the house, pray, and get rid of all the previous religious icons.

Those are the stories I've heard, so I strongly suggest you to not even have it as a decoration. I mean, if you want to make your house look Oriental, there're a million other ways to do it.

 

[wonder111]

Someone's postition in the church does not make them infallible and they are as likely to do the wrong thing as you or me.

i totally agree...that's why i don't know.

 

[HeyHomie]

Buddha was a person. He never claimed to be a god.

Would it be a sin to have a bust of Beethoven (like Linus in Peanuts) in your house?

 

[Dragons87]

Buddha was a person. He never claimed to be a god.

Would it be a sin to have a bust of Beethoven (like Linus in Peanuts) in your house?

None of the founders of the world's major religions today claimed to be a god, except God Himself. I don't think the origins is what matters, but how we perceive that thing that matters. If one deifies Beethoven's statue, then obviously that statue has to go. I just think, coming from the East, that Buddha's statue is more prone to harbouring spirits than Beethoven's.

 

[Eruliel]

We have a small budha statue in our house, now, I am a aware that some people use them for worship but we do not, we actually use it for decoration purposes. So I would like to know if it is wrong to have it in our house.

What spurred on these questions was Deut 7:25

Romans 14:22-23 So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.
Note: I know that Paul is smacking down on the belief that some things are bad to eat and other things aren't. As far as I'm concerned eating is the same as taking in, as partaking...including not just food and drink, but all the fun things...like music, entertainment etc.

So...what do you think Carl? If your conscience is telling you to throw Buddha away then listen to it.

Just bear in mind that the cross could become to the average Christian what Buddha is to the average Buddhist. Meaning simply we as Christians have more possibility of falling into idolatry towards the cross than we do Buddha because the cross means more to us than Buddha does.

Decorative wise I wouldn't go with oriental. I would go with Renaissance!!! Now I'll put Michealangelos David in my garden...and somehow this is less disturbing than having a fat little jade dude in your front walk way?
Slainte!
Eruliel.

 

[jak]

Interesting question; and in my own country, converts of other religions including Buddhism usually get rid of all their idols; but then for them its very important to do so, as they thought them sacred or worshipped them before. Christians also tend to not keep any other religion's symbols in the house, as it would imply, here, that we are its disciples. In your context, none of those things may be concerns, and the idol may be nothing more than a decorative statue, and so you are free, I think, to keep it or get rid of it as your conscience permits, keeping in mind also how your having that idol will affect others.