We Must Only Worship God

[Snowy]

Jesus said in Matthew 4:10, "You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve." If we worship God in spirit and in truth, we cannot worship anyone or anything else. Anything we worship, other than God, is an idol. According to Webster, an idol is "an image used as an object or instrument of worship."

God forbids us to make and worship idols. God says in Exodus 20:4-5, "You shall not make for yourself a carved image, any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God." We see we are not to make any image whether it is a statue or any likeness of anything in heaven or earth to worship them. But this is done today when people worship icons. People bow down and pray to these statues and painted pictures whether they be the supposed likeness of Mary the mother of Jesus or one of the many other dead people who are called saints. This is in direct disobedience to the command of God.

In 1 John 5:21 we read, "My little children, guard yourselves from idols." When I see people bowing down, burning candles, praying, and worshipping an icon image of a saint, my heart bleeds for them because they are putting their souls in jeopardy of being lost. We are warned in Colossians 2:18, "Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worshipping angels." We can loose our reward in heaven if we worship someone other than God. He is the only one we are to worship because He is a jealous God. God will not allow us to worship anyone else other than Himself. Revelations 21:8 tells us that "idolaters shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death." We must only worship God and our worship must be in spirit and in truth if we expect to be with Him in heaven when this life is over.

[drdeancrosby]

Hey Snowy where are you getting all these good teachings?I didn't know the Catholic church believed all these things.I'd just like to add one thought to what you wrote.The next time you see a minister preaching in front of an American flag,beware of false doctrines.The United States has now created the most evil and sin-ridden nation in the entire history of the world.And yet so many pretend Christians worship it.A nation that allows its babies to be murdered,that allows pornography to be sent into almost all its homes,that prevents even the public mention of God in it's schools,that has millions of it's citizens stoned on drugs,that promotes fornication and violence in its media,that sends its young adults to maim and murder in foreign countries to change the leadership,is not a nation to be worshiped.In addition to the whole huge problem of not being able to serve two masters (Jesus taught love,forgiveness and peace while the United States government teaches hate,retaliation and war) there is the even more chilling biblical teaching that he who loves the world is an enemy of God.So your quotation from Matthew warning Christians to only serve God applies to those who try unsuccessfully of course,to serve both God and country.WE NEED TO WORSHIP THE PRINCE OF PEACE.Have a blessed,holy and non-materalistic Christmas.

[Snowy]

Hey Snowy where are you getting all these good teachings?I didn't know the Catholic church believed all these things.

I'm gettign them from emails..websites..and friends :)....btw I'm not Catholic..I'm Baptist

[Cat59]

We see we are not to make any image whether it is a statue or any likeness of anything in heaven or earth to worship them. But this is done today when people worship icons. People bow down and pray to these statues and painted pictures whether they be the supposed likeness of Mary the mother of Jesus or one of the many other dead people who are called saints. This is in direct disobedience to the command of God.
Snowy- you have made some lovely posts recently that I have really enjoyed reading.
I just wanted to point out, in case anyone thinks otherwise, that the Catholic Church teaches in its Catechism that it is wrong to worship anyone but God and Catholics I know do not bow down and worship or pray to statues, icons etc.
Take care

Cat

[Kelly]

Hey Snowy where are you getting all these good teachings?I didn't know the Catholic church believed all these things.I'd just like to add one thought to what you wrote.The next time you see a minister preaching in front of an American flag,beware of false doctrines.The United States has now created the most evil and sin-ridden nation in the entire history of the world.And yet so many pretend Christians worship it.A nation that allows its babies to be murdered,that allows pornography to be sent into almost all its homes,that prevents even the public mention of God in it's schools,that has millions of it's citizens stoned on drugs,that promotes fornication and violence in its media,that sends its young adults to maim and murder in foreign countries to change the leadership,is not a nation to be worshiped..
Spare us please.:rolleyes:

[aanjt]

[/QUOTE] We see we are not to make any image whether it is a statue or any likeness of anything in heaven or earth to worship them. But this is done today when people worship icons. People bow down and pray to these statues and painted pictures whether they be the supposed likeness of Mary the mother of Jesus or one of the many other dead people who are called saints. This is in direct disobedience to the command of God.

When I see people bowing down, burning candles, praying, and worshipping an icon image of a saint, my heart bleeds for them because they are putting their souls in jeopardy of being lost. [/QUOTE]







Me: I don't know anyone who worship saints. People will ask saints to pray for them. Have you ever done that before? Also, do you have anything that looks like and angel, sealife, or any kind of animal at all? If you do, then you are being a hypocrite, because by what you are saying, if anyone has anything like this (I noticed you only mentioned in your words about things in heaven above, but forgot about things on earth and in the sea) then they must be worshiping them. That is not true. Icons were never to be worshiped in any way. If you do not believe me, look up the church history, and I don't mean by sources that are not of that church. The church has never (whether RC, Orthodox, EC) said to worship icons, statues, etc.

My husband used to believe all of this and I had to explain to him why he thought was wrong. I am not RC, but I am Episcopalian and I have studied church history from the beginning and have even conversed with RC priests. Even they say that those who worship saints have grossly misunderstood what the RCC teaches.

Yours in Christ,
Jen

[aanjt]

Yours in Christ,
Jen

[Lizquests]

(I noticed you only mentioned in your words about things in heaven above, but forgot about things on earth and in the sea) [/QUOTE]
Actually she did state about things on earth and in the sea.

[aanjt]

(I noticed you only mentioned in your words about things in heaven above, but forgot about things on earth and in the sea)
Actually she did state about things on earth and in the sea.[/QUOTE]

Evidently, I missed it, so my apologies. But, the question remains. Does she have any pictures of anyone or anything? If so, according to her interpretation, she is worshiping them and breaking God's law. God says not to make images of heaven above, on the earth or below the earth and bow down to worship them. I don't worship St. Francis. I don't worship Blessed Virgin Mary, I don't worship angels, I don't worship dolphins, I don't worship my family, I don't worship my goddaughters, etc.

Yours in Christ,
Jen

[Karl - Liberal Backslider]

We see we are not to make any image whether it is a statue or any likeness of anything in heaven or earth to worship them. But this is done today when people worship icons. People bow down and pray to these statues and painted pictures whether they be the supposed likeness of Mary the mother of Jesus or one of the many other dead people who are called saints. This is in direct disobedience to the command of God.
Why the false witness against the Catholic and Orthodox churches?

[secretdawn]

Hey Snowy where are you getting all these good teachings?I didn't know the Catholic church believed all these things.I'd just like to add one thought to what you wrote.The next time you see a minister preaching in front of an American flag,beware of false doctrines.The United States has now created the most evil and sin-ridden nation in the entire history of the world.And yet so many pretend Christians worship it.A nation that allows its babies to be murdered,that allows pornography to be sent into almost all its homes,that prevents even the public mention of God in it's schools,that has millions of it's citizens stoned on drugs,that promotes fornication and violence in its media,that sends its young adults to maim and murder in foreign countries to change the leadership,is not a nation to be worshiped.In addition to the whole huge problem of not being able to serve two masters (Jesus taught love,forgiveness and peace while the United States government teaches hate,retaliation and war) there is the even more chilling biblical teaching that he who loves the world is an enemy of God.So your quotation from Matthew warning Christians to only serve God applies to those who try unsuccessfully of course,to serve both God and country.WE NEED TO WORSHIP THE PRINCE OF PEACE.Have a blessed,holy and non-materalistic Christmas.
America did not create a sin filled country. America gives us what God gave us. The freedom to choose. It is man's own nature that causes the country to be so sin focused and lost. It is the individuals of this nation gathering together and fighting for things of the devil (didn't know how to put that)...but america gives everyone the freedom to choose their own actions.
that is good.

[secretdawn]

not to mention if it weren't for this country you would probably be shot for saying what you just said....

[Lizquests]

I always thank God that I was born in the country. I couldn't even imagine out others go thru in other countries.

[Blessed-one]

*mod hat on*

please leave the debate on the practices of catholics in the inter-denominational forum.

*mod hat off*