It just seems to me that if we followed directions we would not find ourselves in this situation.
I'm with you on the following directions bit. I might also add that I can't figure out why so many folks want to pray to the Virgin Mary or other Saints that have been declared Saints by living men. Why pray to what were once mere humans when the Living God exists?
"You shall not make for yourself a carved image - any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth"
If we followed that injuction to the letter our art would resemble that of Mecca and Medina.
As for the last part of the quote, Catholics don't worship statues - they revere the individuals they represent. As a matter of fact, even the pagan Romans and Greeks didn't actually worship the statutes of their gods - they recognized them as representations. The Ancient Egyptians, on the other hand, appear to actually have believed that their Gods like Amun, resided in statues.
Who's bowing down or serving? Not Catholics.
The important point. Otherwise God would be contradicting himself when he commands the carving of images:
Numbers 21:8The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live."
It is a common misconception by protestants that Catholic's adore statues. The images only help to concentrate on the prayers and sacrifices. Catholic's do not "bow down to the statues nor serve them." A little research on your part would have dispelled this nonsense.
So are you against all statutes of people, animals, and plants, or just ones of religious figures?
In seriousness, your point is taken, in that too many people (and NOT singling out the Roman catholic denomination) tend toward paganism/iconism, rather than focusing on the actual Christ/ represented by some statue.
I mean people use crosses like they are magical totems -- they're not special, just metal/wood/whatever.
What they represent is what is Holy.
Let us not prooftext out of context.
Seems so obvious... how can anyone call themselves Christian and fawn over a carved image?
So you follow all the other rules in the Old Testament to the letter too? Glad to hear it!
How's it going with those monthly new-moon sweet-smelling holocausts of bullocks, rams and lambs?
Seriously, the distinction is in the worship. Contrary to popular, yet ignorant, belief, Catholics do not worship statues!
So I guess that means that we should destroy all sculpture and oil paintings and burn down the museums. After all, the Bible tells us not to make "any likeness of anything" - the ban is not only not to bow down to it - but just to MAKE it. I believe this is one of the tenets of Islam, and the reason they forbid drawings or carvings of people or animals.
Is that what you are suggesting?
And for the umpteenth time - Catholics do NOT worship Mary - they venerate her - a big difference.
That quote is from the Old Testament. Christ, by his death and vicarious atonement, freed us from the requirements set for in the Old Testament needed for salvation.