Catechism teaches Catholics to worship images

 A picture of a Catholic church's altar

Catholic catechism requires that members should have for themselves idols or images to worship:

“13. Is the worship of the saints confined to their persons?

 No; it extends also their relics and images…

15. Ought we to worship holy images?

-- We should have, particularly in our churches, images of our lord, as also of the blessed Virgin and the saints, and we should pay them due honor and veneration.”

(Catechism of Christian doctrine, no. 3, p. 87)

 

[[ Pagbangon mo sa banig ay agad kang manikluhod sa harap ng isang Cruz o isang mahal na larawan. Kung maninikluhod ka sa tapat ng Altar ay magwika ka ng ganito "Sinasamba kita" (Catecismong tagalog p.82 ni Padre Luis de Amezquita) ]]

In English: When you wake up on a mat, you immediately kneel infront of a cross or to a beloved image. If you will kneel infront of the altar is say this: "I worship you.."

  Eduard Syndicus, a Jesuit Priest says:

“Moreover, following other schoolmen, Thomas also showed in a wonderful section of his summa Theologica, his understanding of the irrational element in the cult image and its veneration: When one turns to an image, he says in so far as it is a thing—either a painting or a statue—it deserves the same reverence as Christ himself. ‘Since Christ is worshipped with humble veneration, it follows that his image, too, must be worshipped with (relatively) humble veneration’ ”

(Summa Theol. III, pu. 25, art. 3)(Early Christian Art, p.151)

[[ Kung ating SINASAMBA ang LARAWAN NI KRISTONG NAPAPAKO SA KRUS, dinadasalan natin: 'Sinasamba kita at pinupuri, Panginoon kong Jesu Cristo,...." (Siya Ang Inyong Pakinggan: Ang aral na Katoliko p. 12 ni P. Enrique Demond, S.V.D.) ]]

 

In English: If we worship the image of Christ nailed on the cross, we pray: "I worship and worship you Lord Jesus Christ..."

In the Bible, It was taught by Apostle Saint Paul that God should not be worshipped with men's hands like the images:

Acts 17:24 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;

Acts 17:25 Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

In the original Greek, the term used in verse 25 is not really worship but SERVE. but are they synonymous?

FROM: http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/2323.htm

Original Word: θεραπεύω

Part of Speech: Verb

Transliteration: therapeuó

cure, heal, worship

From the same as therapon; to wait upon menially, i.e. (figuratively) to adore (God), or (specially) to relieve (of disease) -- cure, heal, worship.

Use of Sacred Images of the Catholic Church in the Bible

The decorations inside the Temple of Solomon

CATHOLIC EXPLANATION: 1 Kings 6:23 And within the oracle he made two cherubims of olive tree, each ten cubits high. 6:24 And five cubits was the one wing of the cherub, and five cubits the other wing of the cherub: from the uttermost part of the one wing unto the uttermost part of the other were ten cubits. 6:25 And the other cherub was ten cubits: both the cherubims were of one measure and one size. 6:26 The height of the one cherub was ten cubits, and so was it of the other cherub. 6:27 And he set the cherubims within the inner house: and they stretched forth the wings of the cherubims, so that the wing of the one touched the one wall, and the wing of the other cherub touched the other wall; and their wings touched one another in the midst of the house. 6:28 And he overlaid the cherubims with gold. 6:29 And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without.

1 Kings 7:25 It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward. 7:29 And on the borders that were between the ledges were lions, oxen, and cherubims: and upon the ledges there was a base above: and beneath the lions and oxen were certain additions made of thin work. 7:36 For on the plates of the ledges thereof, and on the borders thereof, he graved cherubims, lions, and palm trees, according to the proportion of every one, and additions round about.

plus this:  Exodus 25:18 And thou shalt make two cherubims of gold, of beaten work shalt thou make them, in the two ends of the mercy seat. 25:19 And make one cherub on the one end, and the other cherub on the other end: even of the mercy seat shall ye make the cherubims on the two ends thereof. 25:20 And the cherubims shall stretch forth their wings on high, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and their faces shall look one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubims be.

MY REFUTATION: We should know that It was God who ordered this that this design should be made in 1 Kings Chapter 6 and 7 and It was not of King David's own idea.

1 Chronicles 28:12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things: 28:19 All this, said David, the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern.

Catholic Defenders may ask, Why will God violate his own instruction not to make graven images if making of it is a violation to his commandment according to Exodus 20:4-5? 

First, What God dont want men to make graven images that they THEMSELVES WILL MAKE IMAGES. (read Deuteronomy 16:22) and not the images He ordered to make it.

Second, These images are made just for designs of the Ark or of the temple and not to be used to pray upon to (another way of worship) by children of Israel and offer some candles or flowers to them.

Last, Why will you require God to follow his commandment? Dont they know that the commandments are only for sinners to follow as taught by Apostle Paul:

1 Timothy 1:9 Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 1:10 For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine.

We should also notice that God never ask to make a graven images of the saints like Mother Mary.

If really the Catholic Church is really following this God's order, Catholic churches' altars should be the same as written in the Scriptures but sadly it is not. They just add on what is really written on the Scriptures that made the Catholic clergies liars.

Proverbs 30:6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. 

In desperation, Catholic Church will cite a verse that Christianity has an altar just to say that their idolatry is justified.

Hebrews 13:10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.

In the tabernacle made by hands, there was an altar where the high priest offers blood for himself and errors of the people in Hebrews 9:7, Hebrews 9:1-6.

The tabernacle of Christians is not MADE WITH HANDS in Hebrews 9:11 but the Catholic altar is MADE WITH HANDS.

Since the tabernacle made with hands has an altar, the same the tabernacle of Christians MADE NOT WITH HANDS has an altar.

That altar is in heaven because heaven is not made with mens' hands. (That's the Christian altar in Hebrews 13:10)

Revelation 14:17 And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.

Revelation 14:18 And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.
Jesus Christ taught us on how to pray to the Father. We are taught to worship HIS NAME and not the image.

Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

There is no commandment by Jesus Christ or his apostles to make graven images as a way to remember God, instead these area taught to Christians:

2 Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)

2 Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

John 20:29 Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

Do we need images to remember God? NO NEED!

The name of God is the one we Christians should worship as Jesus taught and not the graven image (read again on Matthew 6:9)

Idol worshippers/Idolaters in fact are commanded to be removed from the Christian Church (read 1 Corinthians 5:11-13)

Idols are with ears, eyes, mouth which cannot see, hear or speak and they do not have breath and those who trust them will be like them (not physically but spiritually) - Read Psalms 135:15-18

In the Bible, the thing that can make us remind of God is this: (HIS CREATIONS AND NOT THE GRAVEN IMAGES)

Romans 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

A Catholic saint statue was fell and broken

If that image cannot save itself from being broken, Whats more to the men who pray infront of it?

Isaiah 45:20 Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, ye that are escaped of the nations: they have no knowledge that set up the wood of their graven image, and pray unto a god that cannot save.

Different faces of Jesus

 

Jesus who is a True God should not be depicted by art and then use it for worshipping Him.

Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. 

Worshipping Him should be in Spirit as mentioned in John 4:24.

A Spirit has no physical form that cannot be touch or see similar to the human body

Luke 24:39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.

It means worshipping the true God like Lord Jesus should never include graven images or pictures depicting Him to be used in worship.

Catholic sacred images in the Bible

ONE OF THE GREATEST ALIBI:  Ezekiel 41:19 The face of a man was toward the palm tree on one side, and the face of a lion was toward the palm tree on the other side: set forth through all the house round about. (Douay Rheims Version)

Catholic Apologists say that in the temple there was a face of the man, they already concluded that in verse 19 that It is okay to make images of men and soon they pray and kneel down on it.

ANSWERS TO THIS ALIBI:

First refutation: read verse 18. It was written there that every cherub had two faces.

Ezekiel 41:18 And there were cherubims and palm trees wrought, so that a palm tree was between a cherub and a cherub, and every cherub had two faces.

so in verse 19, one of them has face of a man. AND NEVER REALLY AN IMAGE OF A MAN LIKE WHAT WE CAN SEE ON THE CATHOLIC ALTARS.

but look at this Catholic altar, are these cherubs? NO!

Second refutation: This is not part of the Christian era. They should read from the New Testament that Christians made images and bow down and pray to them but where?

Third refutation: The temple mentioned is not a Temple of Christians but of the Jews.

Fourth refutation: God himself said not to bown down on images. God knows that these images will be made by men but not for the purpose of worshipping it by praying and kneeling down on it but as decorations.

Deuteronomy 5:9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,

Sixth refutation: You cannot read that these images should be worshipped.

But Catholic Cathechism says to worship the images of Christ, saints and of Mary.

“13. Is the worship of the saints confined to their persons?

 No; it extends also their relics and images…

15. Ought we to worship holy images?

-- We should have, particularly in our churches, images of our lord, as also of the blessed Virgin and the saints, and we should pay them due honor and veneration.”

(Catechism of Christian doctrine, no. 3, p. 87) 

Eduard Syndicus, a Jesuit Priest says:

“Moreover, following other schoolmen, Thomas also showed in a wonderful section of his summa Theologica, his understanding of the irrational element in the cult image and its veneration: When one turns to an image, he says in so far as it is a thing—either a painting or a statue—it deserves the same reverence as Christ himself. ‘Since Christ is worshipped with humble veneration, it follows that his image, too, must be worshipped with (relatively) humble veneration’ ”

(Summa Theol. III, pu. 25, art. 3)(Early Christian Art, p.151)

Seventh refutation: God himself in the Old Testament said that the altar for Him has no images but the Catholic altars have it.

Exodus 20:23 Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.  

Exodus 20:24 An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee.

These gods of silver and gold have body parts of human but they cannot see, hear, touch etc.

Psalms 135:15 The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

Psalms 135:16 They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;

Psalms 135:17 They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.

Psalms 135:18 They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.

Christians were commanded not to worship the idols but to flee from it. so they should not use images while worshipping God.

1 Corinthians 10:14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry.

Idolatry will make them not inherit the Kingdom of God as mentioned in Galatians 5:20-21.

Because Jesus taught them to worship God in Spirit as mentioned in John 4:24.

A Spirit has no form to be seen. They must worship God w/o visual aids like images or pictures.

LAST GREATEST ALIBI: Joshua 7:6 And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.

ANSWERS TO THIS ALIBI:

First refutation: Catholics did not imitate Joshua. they did not fell to the earth before the ark of the LORD.

Second refutation: This is not part of the Christian era. They should read from the New Testament that Jesus or his apostles commanded to make some images and soon fell to the earth upon their faces on those images.


Third refutation: God did not accept Joshua's action in Joshua 7:6.

Joshua 7:10 And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?

Because God knows that He commanded not to bow down on images made by men even the 2 golden cherubs were commanded by God to be created (of course not for the purpose of worshipping it but AS A DECORATION)

Deuteronomy 5:9 Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me,

Fourth refutation: There is only one golden ark and sadly you cannot see an Ark of the covenant in the Catholic churches where Catholics bow down on it.

Instead what you can see there are images not of gold and Catholic saints and not 2 golden cherubs in the Ark.

Fifth refutation: God forbade the Israelites to have images near his altar.

Deuteronomy 16:21 Thou shalt not plant thee a grove of any trees near unto the altar of the LORD thy God, which thou shalt make thee.  

Deuteronomy 16:22 Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; which the LORD thy God hateth.

The reason why God hated Mannasseh for putting an image inside the Temple. Putting an image that God never asked to make like the bronze serpent, images in the Temple of Solomon as mentioned in 1 Kings Chapter 6 and 7 and 2 cherubs on the Ark of the Covenant.

2 Chronicles 33:7 And he set a carved image, the idol which he had made, in the house of God, of which God had said to David and to Solomon his son, In this house, and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen before all the tribes of Israel, will I put my name for ever:

2 Chronicles 33:2 But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel.

This is what the Catholics did. they instead make graven images which is abominable to Him. Images which he never commanded to make like the bronze serpent, 2 cherubs in the Ark of the Covenant and Images in the Temple of Solomon as mentioned in 1 Kings Chapter 6 and 7 which you cannot even see in a Catholic church.

Deuteronomy 27:15 Cursed be the man that maketh any graven or molten image, an abomination unto the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and putteth it in a secret place. And all the people shall answer and say, Amen.