Where did God forbid us from bowing before or kissing the texts of Scripture? The Jews do this, and apparently did not get the memo. They also kiss the mezuzah every time they go in and out of a doorway with one on it.
And while we have a command against bowing before idols (and also making them, or worshiping them), there is no command in the Old Testament or the New against bowing before or kissing a sacred image. In fact, the Bible commanded the Israelites to bow before the Ark, and that had two images on it.
“Where did God forbid us from bowing before or kissing the texts of Scripture?”
Exodus 20:5
you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Deuteronomy 5:9
you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me,
Is bowing always an act of worship? No. Can bowing be an act of worship? Yes. Is it possible for images of Christ, Mary, apostles, etc. to become idols? Yes. Is there any command of scripture to bow to images? No. Is there any prohibition against bowing to images? Yes. See above.
It is further disingenuous to make kissing a point of debate because I did not say kissing was prohibited. However, I will add that there is no instruction in scripture to kiss objects. Your bringing up of Jewish custom is salient. Jews were rebuked by Christ for ignoring the commands of God to keep their traditions. This is exactly what Catholic and Orthodox clergy do.
“In fact, the Bible commanded the Israelites to bow before the Ark, and that had two images on it.”
There is no such command. As I pointed out on a similar thread, if Psalm 99 has in mind bowing before the ark of the covenant, no one got to see the ark of the covenant except the High Priest once each year. And further, God actually met with men there. People would be bowing to God, not the ark. And this is part of the problem, apparently some people think God is meeting them at the images they are bowing toward, praying toward, and making offerings toward.
God destroyed His own temple twice because of similar idolatry and sacrilege. Apparently Catholic and Orthodox religious leaders did not learn from this error and seek to repeat it, justify it, and promote it.
And yet Catholics don't do that...If ever there was anything worthy to be venerated it is the written words that God spoke...You guys don't mess with that tho...
And while we have a command against bowing before idols (and also making them, or worshiping them), there is no command in the Old Testament or the New against bowing before or kissing a sacred image.
That's because there are no sacred images in the bible to bow down to or kiss...
In fact, the Bible commanded the Israelites to bow before the Ark, and that had two images on it.
Do you know why??? The bible tells you why they did this...You don't know???