Against Protestants: Catholics and Images

Catholics and Images

Exodus 20:4-5; "You shall not make for yourself a graven image ... thou shall not bow down to them or serve them."

This issue will be addressed under the following headings;
1. Did God condemn the making of images?
2. Do Catholics adore images.
3. Is it wrong to Bow?

DID GOD CONDEMN THE MAKING OF IMAGES.
Certainly not. God only condemned the making of images AND adoring(worshipping) them. If he condemned the making of images, why did He instruct Moses to make a bronze serpent in Num. 21: 8 - 9; He also instructed Moses to make two cherubim of beaten Gold in Exodus 25:18 - 19. The temple was engraved with images of cherubim, trees flowers, bronze oxen, lions etc. (see 1 kings 6: 23 - 29; 1 kings 7: 25 - 45). It so unfortunate that some self-acclaimed "bible believing Christians" think Catholics outrage God by making statues or images. If they truly follow the teachings of Christ, where did Christ condemn the making of images?

Do Catholics adore Images?
Catholics don't adore(worship) images. We keep pictures and images of Our Lord and the Saints to remind us of them just as you keep the picture of a loved one to remind you of him or her. The veneration given to the Virgin Mary and Saints is directed to God. For all praise goes to the inventor when his invention is praised. So also the Creator when the creature is venerated. Anyway, on veneration, what would you say when you see a soldier who salutes the picture of a fallen hero or a dead comrade?  Well...If you insist on calling him an idol worshipper, just make sure that his gun is not loaded.

Is it wrong to bow?
Bowing can be an act of veneration as well as adoration. What God forbids is the act of "bowing in adoration", if not, He would not have  said "I am a jealous God" in the following sentence of Ex 20:4-5. For adoration also involves "worshiping" and "serving" as seen also in Deut. 5: 8 - 9.
If bowing is ENTIRELY wrong, what would you say to Joseph's brothers who bowed to Joseph with their faces on the ground(see Gen. 42:6); or to Jacob who bowed seven times to Esau in Gen. 33:3.
To these "bible addicts" I ask, did Christ condemn bowing or other acts veneration? Don't forget that in His time some knelt before Him, others kissed or anointed hands or feet.
Please note; the worship given to God alone is called Latria. Veneration to the Blessed Virgin Mary is called Hyperdulia, and that of the Saints - Dulia. Hence we don't worship the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints.
There are some obstinate protestants, "especially the catholic ones", who, when faced with the Catholic truth, suddenly pretend not to know how to read. Soon, they fly off to "flex muscles" with poor novus-ordo Catholics whose sunday "masses" are as good as a protestant service and their Catholic faith, not even up to the size of a peanut. Unfortunately, these "catholics" become to these Protestants, a helpless sheep at the mercy of a ravenous wolf. Jesus Christ thanked the Father for revealing the eternal truths to babies; It would be great if these heretics start this journey of truth on the path of humility. Humility is the key to true knowledge.
God bless you.

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