You can get any doctrine you want out of Scripture, if you wrest it enough. There is nothing at all pertaining to the conclusions Salvation and the Catholic Church get out of the Scriptures USED to support the idolatrous false doctrine of so called venerating statues, saints or other things.
Also, I am not a Catholic hater. Are you a homosexual hater because you stand against their sin? They also use Scripture to excuse and support their sin, wresting it of course. Because they desperately want to justify their sins they convince themselves and believe that Scripture supports their sins. Anyone who isn't trying to support their false conclusions, knows that the Bible doesn't support homosexuality. It is the same with Catholics. Scripture is used, in ways that are so obviously unintended, to support the false doctrine of so called veneration, which obviously amounts to worshiping idols, saints, pieces of bread and a little wine, definitely Mary and who knows what else.
Because you recognize and worship the true and living God doesn't mean that when you bow down to, kiss and pray to statues etc. that you aren't worshiping them. The Old Testament Israelites thought that they could worship both The LORD and idols, but our God is a jealous God.
You have no idea how old it gets when Catholics accuse those who are lovingly trying to warn them out of a system of false worship of hate, even though your own accusations of me and others of being haters border on being hateful.
I do not hate Catholics. I just hate the false doctrines that thrive in the Catholic Church. On the other hand, I very much appreciate the Catholic Church for many of the things it does teach and stand for. The Catholic Church, in doctrine, stands for the life of human individuals from conception until death. For this the Catholic Church must be commended. Also, the Catholic Church holds to the all important doctrine of the Trinity. The Trinity is central doctrine to true Christianity. The Catholic Church also wisely and according to Scripture believes that Christians are to be fruitful and multiply, not using contraceptives etc. This is important doctrine that the Catholic Church stands on. The Catholic Church stands against the sin of homosexuality. There are many, many more important doctrines that the Catholic Church stands on.
Though right about much, the Catholic Church must stop worshiping and being consumed with idol worship and advancing Mary to the level of God. By making her sinless, calling her co-redemptrix, calling her a mediator between God and man, feverishly adulating her, praying to her, giving her abilities that only belong to God such as being believing she has the ability to be everywhere, hear every prayer from millions at one time, answer millions of prayers at one time, play a central role in our salvation, whereby she is needed for salvation and do miracles as well as who knows how many other qualities that belong to God alone. Idolatry is a grievous sin. If you could stand back and look at yourselves you would know that idolatry is what you are doing, and though idolatry has a tremendous draw and can seem very spiritual it is totally sinful.
If I were a "Catholic hater" I could not appreciate so much about the Catholic Church. To call me a hater is an Saul Alinsky technique. You use it and you don't have to face reality. When you use Alinsky techniques it shows that you don't have truth on your side or you wouldn't have to resort to such tactics.
Sadly, many caught up in false doctrine never come out from them. The only way you will, is if you love truth more than your traditions and more than the sins that you are feverishly caught up in and consumed with.
For the “enth” time.....Catholics do not worship statues or pictures. They remind us to pray or ask for something through prayer.
Nor do we worship Mary.
We ask her to pray for us. After all, she is in heaven and close to her son.
Where, or where, are you getting these false accusations?
We are not “caught up” in falsehoods. Someone along the way has fed falsehoods about the Catholic Church to you.
Please read these apologetics essays with an open mind.
do you know the difference between venerate and worship? They don’t mean the same thing, but your answer seems to equate them.
I will continue to pray for you, Bellflower.