It’s a good thing we Catholics don’t adore and serve the statues we make then!
Because that’s the point of that commandment. It’s saying, don’t make statues AND adore (serve) them (meaning the statues).
It’s NOT saying don’t make statutes PERIOD. It can’t be saying that. Or else Mount Rushmore, the Washington Monument, and even GRAVESTONES people put to commemorate their beloved dead are all idolatrous.
And speaking of the gravestones, some of which do have likenesses of the dead (presumably in heaven) on them, when people visit a graveyard and kneel “before” the gravestone they aren’t worshipping the gravestone, rather they are showing respect and devotion to the one they love.
That’s not idolatry either, just like when Catholics, on occasion, kneel before statues of the Saints.
This has all been explained before, but of course, I’m going to guess (I cant know for sure since I can’t read minds but I’ll bet I’m right), you are still going to insist “It IS worship of a statue, because some BOW before them and not just kneel”.
To that I would reply, “Irrelevant “. Because a simple physical act doesn’t change what’s in a person’s heart, and that is what God judges when it comes to the sin of idolatry. Otherwise, I guess we’re under the Law!
I see nothing further to add, as that’s the entire “debate” as it has always gone around here, ad nauseum, time and time again. Those who insist we Catholics are idolatrous evidently won’t stop (even given the perfectly reasonable apologetic above) and the Catholics won’t stop, not committing idolatry, but loving and honoring the Saints in Heaven.
I just posted this because no one had chimed in already (probably too sick of doing it over and over again) and I had the time now to do it.
But go ahead, if you wish, INSIST you know what is in our hearts if you must. I won’t be responding further.
It says “make not.” Which means don’t do it.
In the Catholic NABRE:
Exodus 20:4 NABRE
You shall not make for yourself an idol or a likeness of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth;
My point is not to poke folks in the eye. Present the scriptures for all to examine on the subject of worship and prayer and what the scriptures say. Frankly this comes to mind when these debates come up.
Revelation 22:8-9 NABRE
It is I, John, who heard and saw these things, and when I heard and saw them I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who showed them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t! I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brothers the prophets and of those who keep the message of this book. Worship God.”
Revelation 19:9-10 NABRE
Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who have been called to the wedding feast of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These words are true; they come from God.” I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “Don’t! I am a fellow servant of yours and of your brothers who bear witness to Jesus. Worship God. Witness to Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”