Catechism and Statues/Images

Catechism and Statues/Images

Comparison between "Catechism of the Catholic Church"
(published in 1995 by Doubleday, 1540 Broadway, New York, New York 10036)
and the Bible -- the Authorized King James Version of 1611

RCC Catechism

Bible

Images increase faith

"Sacred images in our churches and homes are intended to awaken and nourish our faith in the mystery of Christ. Though the icon of Christ and his works of salvation, it is he whom we adore. Through sacred images of the holy Mother of God, of the angels and of the saints, we venerate the persons represented." (Pg. 337, #1192)
Faith comes by hearing the word of God
Nothing short of hearing and doing the Word of God will increase our faith.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17

Keep images in your home & church
"Following the divinely inspired teaching of our holy Fathers and the tradition of the Catholic Church (for we know that this tradition comes from the Holy Spirit who dwells in her) we rightly define with full certainty and correctness that, like the figure of the precious and life-giving cross, venerable and holy images of our Lord and God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, our inviolate Lady, the holy Mother of God, and the venerated angels, all the saints and the just, whether painted or made of mosaic or another suitable material, are to be exhibited in the holy churches of God, on sacred vessels and vestments, walls and panels, in houses and on streets." (Pg. 328, #1161)
Do not make images
(a) A Catholic will quickly respond, "We don't worship statues!" Please note carefully that it has nothing to do with worshipping statutes [Tracy thinks it does], but MAKING AND HAVING GRAVEN IMAGES. The Catholic church contends that these graven images are "intended to awaken and nourish our faith in the mystery of Christ" which is a transgression against the second commandment:

"Thou shalt not make unto thee ANY GRAVEN IMAGE, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:" -Ex. 20:4

God hates it and continues to command:

"Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD God hath forbidden thee." -Deut. 4:23

God still hates it:

"Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; WHICH THE LORD THY GOD HATETH." -Deut. 16:22

(b) The Bible tells us you have been "corrupted" and therefore are given to graven images:

"Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves...Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female." -Deut. 4:15-16

(c) God forbids the bowing down to statues, which is a common practice in the Catholic church. In the convent I spent many days saying novenas (which is a recitation of prayers and devotion for a special purpose during nine consecutive days), bowing down before a certain statue saying my rosary. The next time you bow down before a statue, remember the following:

"Thou shalt NOT BOW DOWN THYSELF TO THEM, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy am a jealous God..." -Ex. 20:5

(d) Bowing down before statues will not awaken and nourish your faith in the mystery of Christ. Rather, behind every graven image is a devil:

"What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?...the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice TO DEVILS, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils." -1 Cor. 10:19-20

(e) God says to stay away from idols for your own good. Everytime you bow down to one, you bow to the kingdom of Satan. This is not a command which the Lord hath given and He despises the practice. He will not share His glory with graven images, Mary worship or "saint" worship.

"TURN YE NOT UNTO IDOLS, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God." -Lev. 19:4

Tradition says exhibit images

"Following the divinely inspired teaching of our holy Fathers and the tradition of the Catholic Church (for we know that this tradition comes from the Holy Spirit who dwells in her) we rightly define with full certainty and correctness that, like the figure of the precious and life-giving cross, venerable and holy images of our Lord and God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, our inviolate Lady, the holy Mother of God, and the venerated angels, all the saints and the just, whether painted or made of mosaic or another suitable material, are to be exhibited in the holy churches of God, on sacred vessels and vestments, walls and panels, in houses and on streets." (Pg. 328, #1161)
Holy Ghost says do not make images
(a) Does this doctrine come from the Bible? No. The Bible clearly states, "NO IMAGES!" Again, the Roman Catholic Church admits it is another TRADITION. If the Roman Catholic Church also got this tradition from a spirit, it's certainly not the Holy Spirit of the Bible. It is Satan who ALWAYS corrupts and changes the word of God. The spirits of Romanism defy what God has commanded!

It is significant that the Catholic religion says that the Holy Spirit guided this practice of images. Anytime someone attributes the work of Satan to the Holy Ghost they blasphemy. Read Matthew 12:22-24 and 31-32--in this passage, the Pharisees said Jesus cast out devils by Beelzebub the prince of the devils when in actuality He cast them out by the Holy Ghost. He told them:

All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. -Matt. 12:31

There is no Scripture to support her tradition. Ask yourself how these idols will awaken and nourish your faith in the mystery of Christ when you are forbidden to make them and bow down to them? The only conclusion is that these "MEN" (so-called "holy fathers"), "tradition," and another "spirit" set out to violate God's word. Their idols are nothing. They speak not, hear not, see not, and breathe not. They are nothing and benefit nothing.

"The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them." -Ps. 135:15-18

Jesus says men reject the commandment of God that they may keep their own tradition:

"Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." -Mk. 7:9

Can you really bow down in front of a statute or have them in your home after God has warned us in His word:

"Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God: -Lev.26:1

To Think About...

God's people, including Mary, Joseph, the disciples, who were Jews, were taught from infancy to abhor statues. They were instructed in the ways of God, and the Ten Commandments were very much included.

What would Jesus do if He were to walk in a Roman Catholic Church today with all its statutes? My friend, please read your Bible. There is no evidence in the Bible that any of the apostles, or even Mary, made any prayers to the dead. There is no evidence in the Bible that you are to bow down before statutes so that they will nourish your faith in Christ. They will only corrupt you. There is no evidence in the Bible that your prayers or the prayers of the dead can change a person's eternal destiny. There is plenty of Bible evidence contrary to everyone of these Romanist doctrines.

Each and every person needs to be saved by personally trusting in the finished work of Christ on the cross and His resurrection from the dead, plus nothing. And with that decision, you need only go to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. Your eternal destiny is settled with Him, not your prayers to the saints before graven images.

"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. -Rom. 10:9

Back to Table of Contents for 'Catechism vs. the Bible'

RCC Catechism	Bible
Images increase faith "Sacred images in our churches and homes are intended to awaken and nourish our faith in the mystery of Christ. Though the icon of Christ and his works of salvation, it is he whom we adore. Through sacred images of the holy Mother of God, of the angels and of the saints, we venerate the persons represented." (Pg. 337, #1192)	Faith comes by hearing the word of God Nothing short of hearing and doing the Word of God will increase our faith. So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17
Keep images in your home & church "Following the divinely inspired teaching of our holy Fathers and the tradition of the Catholic Church (for we know that this tradition comes from the Holy Spirit who dwells in her) we rightly define with full certainty and correctness that, like the figure of the precious and life-giving cross, venerable and holy images of our Lord and God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, our inviolate Lady, the holy Mother of God, and the venerated angels, all the saints and the just, whether painted or made of mosaic or another suitable material, are to be exhibited in the holy churches of God, on sacred vessels and vestments, walls and panels, in houses and on streets." (Pg. 328, #1161)	Do not make images (a) A Catholic will quickly respond, "We don't worship statues!" Please note carefully that it has nothing to do with worshipping statutes [Tracy thinks it does], but MAKING AND HAVING GRAVEN IMAGES. The Catholic church contends that these graven images are "intended to awaken and nourish our faith in the mystery of Christ" which is a transgression against the second commandment: "Thou shalt not make unto thee ANY GRAVEN IMAGE, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:" -Ex. 20:4 God hates it and continues to command: "Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD God hath forbidden thee." -Deut. 4:23 God still hates it: "Neither shalt thou set thee up any image; WHICH THE LORD THY GOD HATETH." -Deut. 16:22 (b) The Bible tells us you have been "corrupted" and therefore are given to graven images: "Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves...Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female." -Deut. 4:15-16 (c) God forbids the bowing down to statues, which is a common practice in the Catholic church. In the convent I spent many days saying novenas (which is a recitation of prayers and devotion for a special purpose during nine consecutive days), bowing down before a certain statue saying my rosary. The next time you bow down before a statue, remember the following: "Thou shalt NOT BOW DOWN THYSELF TO THEM, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy am a jealous God..." -Ex. 20:5 (d) Bowing down before statues will not awaken and nourish your faith in the mystery of Christ. Rather, behind every graven image is a devil: "What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing?...the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice TO DEVILS, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils." -1 Cor. 10:19-20 (e) God says to stay away from idols for your own good. Everytime you bow down to one, you bow to the kingdom of Satan. This is not a command which the Lord hath given and He despises the practice. He will not share His glory with graven images, Mary worship or "saint" worship. "TURN YE NOT UNTO IDOLS, nor make to yourselves molten gods: I am the LORD your God." -Lev. 19:4
Tradition says exhibit images "Following the divinely inspired teaching of our holy Fathers and the tradition of the Catholic Church (for we know that this tradition comes from the Holy Spirit who dwells in her) we rightly define with full certainty and correctness that, like the figure of the precious and life-giving cross, venerable and holy images of our Lord and God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, our inviolate Lady, the holy Mother of God, and the venerated angels, all the saints and the just, whether painted or made of mosaic or another suitable material, are to be exhibited in the holy churches of God, on sacred vessels and vestments, walls and panels, in houses and on streets." (Pg. 328, #1161)	Holy Ghost says do not make images (a) Does this doctrine come from the Bible? No. The Bible clearly states, "NO IMAGES!" Again, the Roman Catholic Church admits it is another TRADITION. If the Roman Catholic Church also got this tradition from a spirit, it's certainly not the Holy Spirit of the Bible. It is Satan who ALWAYS corrupts and changes the word of God. The spirits of Romanism defy what God has commanded! It is significant that the Catholic religion says that the Holy Spirit guided this practice of images. Anytime someone attributes the work of Satan to the Holy Ghost they blasphemy. Read Matthew 12:22-24 and 31-32--in this passage, the Pharisees said Jesus cast out devils by Beelzebub the prince of the devils when in actuality He cast them out by the Holy Ghost. He told them: All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. -Matt. 12:31 There is no Scripture to support her tradition. Ask yourself how these idols will awaken and nourish your faith in the mystery of Christ when you are forbidden to make them and bow down to them? The only conclusion is that these "MEN" (so-called "holy fathers"), "tradition," and another "spirit" set out to violate God's word. Their idols are nothing. They speak not, hear not, see not, and breathe not. They are nothing and benefit nothing. "The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them." -Ps. 135:15-18 Jesus says men reject the commandment of God that they may keep their own tradition: "Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." -Mk. 7:9 Can you really bow down in front of a statute or have them in your home after God has warned us in His word: "Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God: -Lev.26:1