[aMorePerfectUnion]

Must be a big Father’s Day sale on old Red Herrings!

“If anything is distinctive of the devotional practices of the Catholic Church compared to Protestant Christians, it’s the Church’s practices surrounding relics.”

Yes, idolatry became firmly rooted when paganism became tradition in Rome.

[Fester Chugabrew]

As with anything we encounter in life, abuses can and do occur. We do not despise the things of the creation, nor do we idolize them. There may be a salutary use for relics (as defined herein), but the substance of all that matters is the Body of Christ.

It is unfortunate to see general Protests go overboard in rejecting relics altogether, but it would be a mistake to insist upon the acceptance of relics as a condition of faith or salvation.

LORD, have mercy upon us.

[ealgeone]

In the accounts from the OT and NT instant results were seen from the various encounters with the bones in the case of the OT and with the Apostles in the NT.

What we do not see in Roman Catholicism is the same instantaneous result.

In addition, we're not told to keep or to "venerate" the bones or pieces of cloth from the Apostles.

That is where the Roman Catholic again veers off into error.

For the Roman Catholic they've become an item of worship...aka an idol.

[Ciaphas Cain]

Relics as physical evidence of the ministry of Christ and His followers? Yes. They can be appreciated.

Relics as the focal point of faith to the point that they are seen as conduits to God and instruments of power and obligatory veneration?

That way lies idolatry most foul.

[Nifster]

Using people’s healing because they touched Jesus or his clothing is hardly a rational way to explain relics

If you think a relic is going to save your soul so be it

My salvation comes by God’s grace and the belief in His only begotten Som

[Salvation]

The Ancient, Biblical Christian Practice of Venerating Relics
[CATHOLIC/ORTHODOX CAUCUS] Relics

Symbols in Christian Art and Architecture (Variations of Crosses)
Lessons In Iconography : The Chi Rho - Christ
The Holy Cross
Pope Benedict explains veneration of images before heading to Holy Land (CATHOLIC/ORTHODOX CAUCUS)
Liturgical Vestments (and prayers the priest says while vesting for Mass)
Jubilee Medal of St. Benedict [Catholic/Orthodox Caucus}
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Scapulars [Ecumenical]
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, The Miraculous Medal [Ecumenical]
'Holy Things To The Holy': Sacred Things, Places, and Times [Ecumenical]
Purification of Sacred Vessels in U.S. (and more on the Purification of our Lord)

Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Relics and the Incorruptibles
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Ashes
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Palm Branches
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Incense
Why We Need Sacred Art
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Sacred Images: Statues and Other Icons
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Crucifixes and Crosses
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, [New] Fire, Paschal Candle
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Holy Oils
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, [Holy] Water Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Relics and the Incorruptibles

[Manly Warrior]

“When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, because she thought, “If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed.” Immediately her bleeding stopped and she felt in her body that she was freed from her suffering. (Mark 5.27-29)”

Maybe you ought to read the next two or so verses- The Lord asks “who touched me?” the disciples were a bit amazed, as there was a crowd pressing in on them, Jesus states that He knew “power had gone out of Him” ( I think He knew more than that, though, he was asking rhetorically IMO- the event was to describe the type of living faith He provided and that the woman appropriated for herself....).

Well, golly, there you have it, the hem of His robe did the miracle, not the Lord Himself.

The Lord then discusses the instance with the woman ( who by Hebrew laws was not supposed to be out on public due to her condition, let alone touch a man). He kinda sorta states that “her faith” made her well ( He didn’t mention the hem of his garment, she did).

How do you get a doctrine to venerate ( worship??) a piece of clothing or a part of a dead man from these instances of scriptural events?

Worship the LORD, He is living and is seated at the right hand of the Father until all enemies are made his footstool....

Regards;

[RansomOttawa]

Elisha died and was buried. Now Moabite raiders used to enter the country every spring. Once while some Israelites were burying a man, suddenly they saw a band of raiders; so they threw the man’s body into Elisha’s tomb. When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came to life and stood up on his feet. (2 Kings 13.20-22)

So someone in a rush chucked a body on top of Elisha, he came to life, and this is "veneration" of relics? LOL, OK. Keep reaching!

[onedoug]

IMHO, there’s something creepy about this reliquary business, and especially on the fixation of body and blood. Seems akin to cannibalism.

OT believer. Again, IMHO.

[HarleyD]

Veneration=Worship

Same difference. Check the dictionary.

As far as your biblical examples, one could also point to the serpent on the stick that was destroyed because the people were worshiping (venerating) it, the ephod of Gideon which became a snare to him and his family, Peter refusal to have Cornelius adore him (Acts 14:15), Paul and Barnabas adamant that the people of Lystra not venerate them (Acts 14:15), or the angel’s admonishment to John not to worship him (19:10; 20:7).

But one can always justify one’s action just as the Jews undoubtedly justify having Asherah poles inside the temple. (2 Kings 23)

[johngrace]

If the relic of the Ark of the covenant is found these same Protestants will be venerating/ honoring it as a Catholic would do it. And it has statues of Angels with wings no less. Watch if it happens in our lifetime. It will be very interesting. It has everything to do with the end times in their scenario theories.