| Apr 14, 2007 @ 2:51 PM |
Are Some Christians Pagan?
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raykl
Posts: 566
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As a general rule, I would believe that a Christian would attempt to obey the Ten Commandments.
But I see many denominations breaking one of the most important Commandments of all:
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:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to 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;
and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
Would this not be the crucifix or even the cross?
What about statues and paintings of Jesus, Mary, Joseph and any of the saints?
These were made acceptable by the 2nd Council of Nicea $$$$.
Many denominations name their House of Worship after saints.
Some will say, “We do not worship the statues, they are just to honor their goodness”.
Are these any different than statues of the Sun God or others in Paganism?
Remember when Christopher was the saint of travelers and many had him dangling in the car.
Or those that bury a statue in their yard to sell their house (more like voodoo to me).
Pray to Saint Valentine for love.
St. Theresa is the saint of flowers.
St. Francis the saint of animals.
Catholics seem to be one of the primary worshippers (I was raised Catholic).
Many of their churches look like an art gallery with all of the paintings and statues.
The existing Pope has placed John Paul on the fast-track to becoming a saint.
In order for this to happen, people have to pray to John Paul, not God,
for 3 miracles and he becomes a saint.
No, this is not an anti-religious thread: just something for you to reflect on.
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| Apr 14, 2007 @ 3:04 PM |
Are Some Christians Pagan? |
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kattsmeow
Posts: 22,833
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Would this not be the crucifix or even the cross?
Some churches have went so far as taking all crosses down. As far as a necklace or any body jewerly of the cross? I have a small necklace of the Cross I wear once in awhile. Why? I see it as an outward show of my faith. To show other people who I am and what I believe in.
I do have to agree with you on all of this though.
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| Apr 14, 2007 @ 3:18 PM |
Are Some Christians Pagan?
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Angel54214
Posts: 19,017
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I agree with your post also ray.
Violation of the Second Commandment takes two general forms; first, the worship of false gods by means of religious statues or pictures, and second, the worship of the True God by means of religious statues or pictures.
What does the Bible warn about the use of statues and pictures for worship?
Isaiah 44:8-11 (KJV)
"Fear ye not, neither be afraid: have not I told thee from that time, and have declared it? Ye are even My witnesses. Is there a God beside Me? Yea, there is no God; I know not any. They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed. Who hath formed a god, or molten a graven image that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his fellows shall be ashamed: and the workmen, they are of men: let them all be gathered together, let them stand up; yet they shall fear, and they shall be ashamed together."
God is not made of wood, plastic, or cement - God is not to be represented by wood, plastic, or cement:
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."
I not preaching in my post, but just showing scripturres from the O.T. and the N.T. to show the simularities of graven images of "thou shalt not" in in the second commandment.
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| Apr 14, 2007 @ 3:23 PM |
Are Some Christians Pagan? |
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Heaveninawildflower
Posts: 19,371
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If you ever get a chance to visit Prague, the Charles Bridge is like an outdoor gallery of religious art...larger than life size, it's an awesomely beautiful display of art, regardless of your beliefs.
Since I'm not a Christian, I just don't worry about any of it.
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| Apr 14, 2007 @ 3:46 PM |
Are Some Christians Pagan?
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hammertime
Posts: 14,071
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Christianity in general is a copy of pagan worship. Its a copy of Dionysus and Isis/Osiris paganism. Virgin births, man god, God and a virgin copulating. Just a copy with different names and new myths.
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| Apr 14, 2007 @ 3:53 PM |
Are Some Christians Pagan? |
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Angel54214
Posts: 19,017
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I sorry "heaven" I didn't go into depth on my post for it would be too lengthy. God mean't by Graven Images, was not to make them as gods and to worship them. I will do it this way and break down ray's scirpture with explaination, this way it will be much clearer in depth.
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:
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image
An image of anything graven by art or man's device, cut out of wood of stone, and so anything that was molten, or cast into a mould or form, engraved by men, and this in order to be worshipped.
Caesars or emperors in their temple, because they seemed to be placed there as deities, and had a show of religious worship: however, any image of God was not to be made at all, since no similitude was ever seen of him, or any likeness could be conceived.
or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above
any form, figure, portrait, or picture of anything or creature whatever, whether in the supreme, starry, or airy heaven; as of angels, which some had gone into the worship of. Including the sun, moon, and stars, the host of heaven and of any of the birds of the air as the hawk by the Egyptians and the dove by the Assyrians.
or that is in the earth beneath
likeness as the oxen, sheep, goats, cats, dogs, such as were the gods of Egypt.
or that is in the water under the earth
as of fishes, such as were the crocodile of Egypt, the Dagon of the Philistines, and the Derceto of the Syrians.
Thou shall not bow down thyself to them
Perform any worship to them or show any reverence of them by any gesture of the body; one being mentioned, bowing the body, and put for all others, as prostration of it to the earth, bending the knee, kissing the hand, lifting up of hands or by any outward action expressing a religious esteem of them, as if there was divinity in them.
nor serve them
In a religious manner, internally or externally by offering sacrifice and burning incense to them or by praying to, or praising of them. By expressing love to them oor faith and trust in them. Hope and expectation of good things from them and the like.
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