So does this mean that all Protestants eschew all photographs, paintings, statues, sculptures, etc., and avoid museums like the plague lest they be witness to the sin of the artists who painted or sculpted anyone’s or anything’s likeness? Somehow I doubt it. I likewise doubt that God really meant for no person to ever draw or paint or sculpt anything that resembles anything in creation. Clearly what He meant was not to create a likeness which one would then attribute qualities to and then worship it.
In our Catholic faith, we recognize the nature of human beings, and fill our churches (or sometimes don’t fill much) with images of Christ on the cross, the Holy Family, and the risen Christ. Depending on the church, there may also be some statues or likenesses of those who have led an exemplary Christian or Jewish existence, because when we are sitting in the pews for an hour or more, should our minds and eyes begin to wander, the images we behold serve the purpose of bringing our thoughts back around to God and salvation history, rather than focusisng on the tag sticking out the back of someone’s shirt, or another person’s cowlick. Regardless of what the readings and homily are about, we are reminded weekly (or in some cases even daily) about all that the Lord has done for us throughout the history of mankind, and all that He has promised to do. I really don’t believe that He has any problem with that, else He would have directed for Solomon’s Temple to have been built as an austere, unadorned meeting space. As anyone who has read the descriptions would know, that is far from the truth, therefor there is biblical precedent set for having a worship space that reminds one of exactly where you are when you enter.
Catholics do not worship anything but the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,including Christ in the Holy Eucharist, though we are well aware of the falsehoods that are repeated about us among non-Catholics, who seem to always be looking for a way to tear down the true Church which Christ founded Himself (and admittedly, whose stewards may have led astray from time to time. No person becomes perfect and sinless just because they become ordained, and logic and reason would tell you that.). Spreading falsehoods about the oldest Christian Church in existence is a waste of time, try learning the truth about us instead. Remember, Jesus said the gates of hell shall not prevail against His Church.
Remember also that whichever Christian faith you follow (for the most part), the important thing at the base of it is we are believers in Christ and His sacrifice for us, and that makes all of us part of His Body, so it is more productive to make the effort to try to get along. I personally have no problems with Protestants or Jews, they are all my brothers and sisters in the Lord. I only have a problem when someone who is misinformed casts aspersions and accusations at my faith, which is precious and beautiful to me, just like my country, even when someone in charge makes a mistake.
Jesus was not speaking of your ongoing, developing religion...
Spreading falsehoods about the oldest Christian Church in existence is a waste of time, try learning the truth about us instead.
I watch your popes bow to graven statues...I see your popes telling us we can not have salvation outside of your religion...I see your popes, bishops, and priests telling us that salvation has to come thru Mary...
That is not spreading falsehoods...You do not get to define what worship is...God does...
As a former Catholic (confirmed, alterboy of the year, and parish council member) and now having left a protestant Church (Sunday school teacher, Elder, etc.) and looking for a new home church I found this discussion interesting.
In both cases I left the churches because people in the leadership got hung up on their beliefs instead of what God’s Word states.
As a Christian I would look to Matthew 22:36-40 “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Having this as the starting point I would understand the “Ten Commandments” that are being discussed as filling in the detail of what God would expect to see if we actually followed these two commandments...If we love God with all our heart, soul, and mind then obviously there would be no other god, no idols (common among religions of the time), we would respect His name and His day. If we love our neighbour as our self then we would honor our parents (God gave us to them to raise us), we would not murder, commit adultery, steal, lie (false witness), or covet (want to take what is somebody elses). This would tell me that the actual numbering of a list of the “Ten Commandments” does not mean a thing and could actually be harmful if it is being used to avoid actually reading God’s Word to understand what He is trying to communicate to us, His people.
God Bless