Thursday, 4 August 2016

RENDERING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IV


FROM be blessed ·
RENDERING THE TEN COMMANDMENTS IV
Should the Church honor or venerate anyone or
anything like statues except God? For the
scriptures says I WILL NOT SHARE MY GLORY
TO ANYONE ELSE, NOR SHARE MY PRAISE
WITH CARVED IDOLS (Is. 42:8)
I think it will be mere hypocrisy if anyone will
think – based on the direct reading of Isaiah
48:8 or the likes – that one should honor no one.
Some even said that Jesus rejected the honor
that was given to His mother when someone said
to Him “Blessed is the womb that bore You, and
blessed are the breasts that nursed You” and
Jesus responded, “Blessed rather are those who
hear the word of God and obey it” (Lk 11:27-28).
This was not a rebuke of honor rather an
extension of honor to anyone who keeps His
commandment; those He loves (cf. Jn 14:15;
15:10).
Of course, the Bible says, we should honor our
father and mother (Ex 20:12; Deut 5:16; Matt
15:4); people of God bowed down before King
David to show him honor (2Sam 24:20; I Chron.
29:20;21:21) Obadiah prostrated before Elijah as
reference to the Prophet of God (1Kgs 18:7);
and Saint Paul says give “respect to whom
respect is due, (and) honor to whom honor is
due” (Rom 13:7).
In our life experiences we honor our presidents
and people in high places. Religious people
ascribe so much honor to their religious leaders
– Bishops, priests, overseers, pastors,
evangelists, Imam, Guru, that you sometimes
wonder if the “men of God” are deified by their
followers. We honor people with the Names of
God: Address dad as Father, Kings as “Your
Majesty” or “His Royal Highness”, Pope as “His
Holiness”, President and Governor as “Your
Excellency”, Bishops and Judges as “My lord”
etc. Yet, all these are simply giving honor to
whom it is due. In honor and reverence, we keep
the photographs or calendars with pictures of
these people in special places in our homes; we
treat the pictures of our loved ones with so
much affection as if they are actually with us –
kissing the pictures and holding them dearly.
Also we bow to the Judge, prostrate to the King
etc We praise one another for the good done,
and we sing praises of great people.
More than all these earthly people are the Saints
who fought the good fight, won the race, and got
the crown of victory (cf. 2Tim 4:6-8); those who
overcome, clothed and walk with God (cf. Rev
3:4) who sit with Christ on His Throne (cf Rev
3:21); who are like angels in heaven (Matt
22:30), shining like the sun in God’s Kingdom (cf
Matt 13:43) and have seen God face to face (cf.
1Cor13:12); beholding the glory of the Lord (2Cor
3:18) and reigning with Christ forever and ever
(Rev 21-22). Are these not worthy of our honor
and praises?
There is a difference between the honor and
praises given to God and the honor and praises
of human beings. Everyone knows that. Even
though Jesus made reference to the fact that
human beings are gods (cf. Jn 10:34; Ps 82:6)
and crowned with glory and majesty (Ps.8:5)
human beings are surely lower than and subject
to God (Ps. 8:5; Heb 2:7); and cannot be
compared to the Most High God (cf. Ps. 113:5)
in majesty, holiness, awesomeness, praises and
in wonders (cf. Ex. 15:11).
The Catholic Church has no problem venerating
or honoring the saints or venerating their statues
because of their dedication to God as long as it
remains honor proper for human beings and for
our heroes in faith. We honor the saints for their
love and trust in God (cf. Matt. 22:31-32; Heb.
11:1-12:1). Hence Hebrews 13:7 states,
“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of
God to you. Consider the outcome of their way
of life and imitate their faith” – for through faith
and patience they inherited what Christ promised
(cf. Heb 6:12; Jn 14:1-3)
However, the Catholic Church STRICTLY
condemns any act of adoration (divine worship)
of statues, images or even the saints,
consultation of diviners or fortune tellers (cf.
Deut 18:14; Jer 27:9) for these are idolatry in
direct violation of the First Commandment.
“So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking
within you. Have nothing to do with sexual
immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't
be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater,
worshiping the things of this world.” (Col. 3:5)
Be Blessed.

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