Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: Romulus
"at the name of Jesus every knee should bow"

This is veneration not of Jesus, but of a thing -- his name -- that represents him.

In case you haven't noticed a name is NOT an idol or anything physical that can be created by human hands.

It is not idolatry, of course, because it's understood that the veneration passes to its prototype. The Church's veneration of images derives from the Incarnation, in which God himself, through the cooperation of the Virgin Mary, made his own image.

You people mindlessly repeat that man made doctrine, yet nowhere in the New Testament is there any mention of the "veneration" of images of Jesus or anyone else. In fact, ACTS 19:21-41 chronicles how the idol makers of Ephesus nearly rioted because the spread of the Gospel meant the end of their business.

ACTS 19:21 ¶ After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.
ACTS 19:22 So he sent into Macedonia two of them that ministered unto him, Timotheus and Erastus; but he himself stayed in Asia for a season.
ACTS 19:23 And the same time there arose no small stir about that way.
ACTS 19:24 For a certain [man] named Demetrius, a silversmith, which made silver shrines for Diana, brought no small gain unto the craftsmen;
ACTS 19:25 Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation, and said, Sirs, ye know that by this craft we have our wealth.
ACTS 19:26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
ACTS 19:27 So that not only this our craft is in danger to be set at nought; but also that the temple of the great goddess Diana should be despised, and her magnificence should be destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worshippeth.
ACTS 19:28 And when they heard [these sayings], they were full of wrath, and cried out, saying, Great [is] Diana of the Ephesians.
ACTS 19:29 And the whole city was filled with confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia, Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the theatre.
ACTS 19:30 And when Paul would have entered in unto the people, the disciples suffered him not.
ACTS 19:31 And certain of the chief of Asia, which were his friends, sent unto him, desiring [him] that he would not adventure himself into the theatre.
ACTS 19:32 Some therefore cried one thing, and some another: for the assembly was confused; and the more part knew not wherefore they were come together.
ACTS 19:33 And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the people.
ACTS 19:34 But when they knew that he was a Jew, all with one voice about the space of two hours cried out, Great [is] Diana of the Ephesians.
ACTS 19:35 And when the townclerk had appeased the people, he said, [Ye] men of Ephesus, what man is there that knoweth not how that the city of the Ephesians is a worshipper of the great goddess Diana, and of the [image] which fell down from Jupiter?
ACTS 19:36 Seeing then that these things cannot be spoken against, ye ought to be quiet, and to do nothing rashly.
ACTS 19:37 For ye have brought hither these men, which are neither robbers of churches, nor yet blasphemers of your goddess.
ACTS 19:38 Wherefore if Demetrius, and the craftsmen which are with him, have a matter against any man, the law is open, and there are deputies: let them implead one another.
ACTS 19:39 But if ye enquire any thing concerning other matters, it shall be determined in a lawful assembly.
ACTS 19:40 For we are in danger to be called in question for this day's uproar, there being no cause whereby we may give an account of this concourse.
ACTS 19:41 And when he had thus spoken, he dismissed the assembly.

174 posted on 12/01/2001 7:38:02 AM PST by Unbeliever
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 169 | View Replies ]


To: Unbeliever
What is this idol of Diana that fell down from Jupiter? A meteorite? There are many idols that aren't made by human hands. It isn't the agency of manufacture that's key; it's the confusion of the thing with its symbol. The name of God is not God in itself, yet we venerate it because it represents him.

You DO venerate the name of God, right? Why?

176 posted on 12/01/2001 7:54:10 AM PST by Romulus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 174 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson