Idolatry In About Every Church

Is it really idolatry...or your personal ideas on idolatry?

 

its idolotry and shouldn't be allowed in the church the way they are today

so the cross is a divine figure...it possesses divinity? interesting.

I guess we should worship the Cross and not the Savior that hung on it

anyhoo...try not to make your preference/conviction (which does not carry the weight of Scriptural evidence) normative for all the rest of us who don't share your limited view

 

The error of iconoclasm arising from an incorrect interpretation of the second commandment has been around in Christianity since 700AD.

 

Idolatry
IDOL'ATRY, n. [L. idololatria. Gr. idol, and to worship or serve.]
1. The worship of idols, images, or any thing made by hands, or which is not God.
Idolatry is of two kinds; the worship of images, statues, pictures, &c. made by hands; and the worship of the heavenly bodies,the sun, moon and stars, or of demons, angels, men and animals.
2. Excessive attachment or veneration for any thing, or that which borders on adoration.

I don't know anybody who woships a wooden cross in a church. I do see catholics bow down and even kiss the statue of Mary, which I believe is idolatry.

 

Unthinking literalism clouds the clear meaning of the scriptures and works against the Kingdom of God.

The first thing to notice is the context of the Second Commandment: It is in regard to making idols, not mere representations.

The second thing to notice is that, if your interpretation is correct, then God doesn't think very highly of the Second Commandment. After this commandment is given, God instructs Moses to create:

• Cherubim for the tabernacle (Exodus 25:18-20)
• Almond blossoms for the tabernacle (Exodus 25:33-34)
• Bronze serpent as a point of faith for healing (Numbers 21:8)

Please note that the bronze serpent later began to be worshipped as a idol (2 Kings 18:4), but was originally created at the direct and specific command of God.

Therefore, your interpretation/application of the Second Commandment cannot be correct.

 

As Baptist Believer noted, that literalist interpretation of the second commandment is not a biblical one, a mistake made repeatedly by Christians throughout history.

 

We have a cross on our church. It doesn't matter to me one way or the other, since it's not idolatry in itself. However, if I pulled into the parking lot and there were people out there bowing down to it, it would matter and I would push to have it pulled down.

 

If you take it too literally, you won't accept artwork... A painting of scenery, or even a painting of fruit on the table, would be suspect.

 

The cross does not fit the definition of a graven image. You have a closer argument with statues and pictures. But the cross is a symbol that reminds us of the sacrifice of Christ and the cost of our salvation. It is not a graven image in any since. Now a crucifix does constitute a graven image. Do you see the difference?

Bro Tony

 

I don't think it was being sneaky. It was lying.

 

...or "I was wrong and I don't want to admit it". :smilewinkgrin:

 

This would be worse as it would suggest Jesus is an energy or is impersonal. New Agers would like it.

 

Graven image was only one criteria, it goes on to say "or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth." I believe the point of this commandment is that Man would worship the image or symbol instead of GOD.

Baptist Believer, I did not think about the Ark of the covenant. You raise an interesting point as it contained the mercy seat and was GOD ordained. Do you think any of them ever saw a Cherubim? How would they know how or if they made one if no one knew how one looked?

 

gekko said:

what's wrong with taking the second commandment literally?

Nothing. Taking the second commandment literally means that a) you don't make graven images, then b) worship them.

Neither drinking nor driving is illegal in itself, but drinking and driving is a serious offense. Similarly, the second commandment, taken literally, does not forbid the making of images, nor does it forbid worship. It forbids worship of images. The wooden cross on a Baptist church is not an object of worship; it is a symbol of the faith, nothing more.

 

If you'll read exodus 20 carefully you'll see it says some often forgotten words " to worship them", do not make images to worship. Otherwise your family photos would be a no no as they are images of soemthing God created.