GBA,
You made a good point in your post: “Rather than the objects themselves being idols or that the statues are being worshipped, they’re being used like focal points for our thoughts and intentions that help facilitate communication with Jesus....”
Along the lines of remembering a favorite hymn when preparing to pray. One is using the hymn as a tool for prayer and is not worshiping it.
No judgement. An object is just an object, but meaning is viewer dependent.
One person sees a pistol on the coffee table and barely notices it.
Another person sees that same pistol and won’t even come into the room, they are so scared.
I probably shouldn’t admit how clueless I am about things, but, for example, I had never given much thought to the Cross with or without Jesus. To me, the Cross is the Cross.
But now I realize that people choosing one or the other might say quite a bit about their beliefs denominationally, or it might be an indication of where they feel they are in their faith in relation to Jesus, or it might have no specific meaning, as both Crosses might be equally the same to them.
I just don’t know... and these days that’s okay.