Worshippers Of Creatures
To prove that the worship of images is not just an allegation, Apostle Paul made an enumeration of some of the objects worshipped by men.
"Instead of worshipping the immortal God, they worship images made to look like mortal man or birds or animals or reptiles." (Rom. 1:23, Ibid.)
The worship of graven images is commonly found among so many practicing Catholics. Biblically, it is a downright lie that one is worshipping God but doing it in front of an image. The true children of God are admonished by the Apostles not to think that the Divine Being is like gold or silver or stone -- an image made by man's design and skill.
" Since we are God's children, we should not suppose that his nature is anything like an image of gold or silver or stone, shaped by the art and skill of man." (Acts 17:29, Ibid.)
The true God introduced by our Lord Jesus Christ is a spirit.
'"God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth'." (John 4:24, NKJV)
There is a lie in the actual religious practice of the Catholic Church, because knowing what God is really is, a Spirit, they still worship graven images. The stand of the Catholic Church concerning the true nature of God is pefectly in line with the teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ. John Francis Noll, a Catholic priest, gave this testimony:
"We can best know God by knowing some of His perfections. First of all, He is an infinitely perfect spirit. This means that He has perfect understanding and freewill, but there is nothing material about Him. He hasn't a body, and He will never die, for He is immortal." (Father Smith Instructs Jackson, p.7)
Thus, the Catholic Church correctly identifies the true nature of God, but denies that she advocates worship of graven images. This denial was articulated in the book called The Catholic Catechism by John Hardon, on page 442:
"The technical name for the worship of God is adoration or latreutic worship (from the ancient Greek word latreia, which means the service given to the gods.) The lesser form of veneration given to the angels and saints that Catholicism recognizes has the theological name of dulia (from the Greek term douleia, which means the respect shown to a master by his servant.) The blessed Virgin said to be honored with heperdulia, i.e., a higher form of what is essentially the same veneration paid to other creatures among the saints but in essence unlike the adoration given only to God."
Technical words are used by the Catholic in substantiating her denial that image worship is a Catholic practice. Nevertheless, the veneration or worship of other creatures is an act so different from her allegation. In the esence of God's prohibition, the Catholic Church failed miserably in putting certain Gospel teaching into practice when a lie was substituted for the truth. Her actions deny what her words try to prove. Idols or graven images are commonly found in the Catholic dwellings and places of worship standing as objects of worship, and not for anything else. The bible gave this testimony:
"They claim that they know God, but their actions deny it. They are hateful and disobedient, not fit to do anything good." (Titus 1:16, TEV)
The act of idolatry is found among people who claim that they know God. There is a lie being perpetrated and the culprit behind this is the devil who nowadays continues to plague the world with these lies in the guise of false prophets. The deadliest deceiver of all time in all places under the sun is no less than the devil in the guise of so-called preachers of the truth which is actually or in reality a lie. It really makes sense to give serious thought concerning the issue forewarned by our Lord Jesus Christ:
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves." (Mathew 7:15, New International Version)
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