CATHOLIC CHURCH AND THE USE OF IMAGES AND STATUES

 by Lawrence Sunday Ogwang and the team

Background

“Catholics worship statues and images!”. Because Catholics have statues in their churches, goes the accusation, they are violating God’s commandment: “You shall not make for yourself a graven image or 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 or serve them” (Ex. 20:4–5).

It is a truth universally acknowledged that Roman Catholics around the world have been using statues and other creations of man like rosaries, crosses among others in their Churches for more than two centuries now. This has raised a lot of accusations from non-Catholic Christians, calling the practise idolatry. Seeing Catholics kneeling before statues and other sacred art is idolatry, the giving to another creature or object the worship due to God alone.

One of the Anti-Catholic writers by name Loraine Boettner, in his book Roman Catholicism, makes the blanket statement, “God has forbidden the use of images in worship but the Catholic Church has persisted to use them. This is idolatry”.

It is also not uncommon that Sometimes these anti-Catholics cite Deuteronomy 5:9, where concerning idols, God said “You shall not bow down to them.” Since many Catholics sometimes bow or kneel in front of statues of Jesus and the saints, they are seen as bowing to idols against God`s instruction.

Another charge made by Protestants is that the Catholic Church “hides” the second commandment. From this, it is argued that Catholics have deleted the prohibition of idolatry from the commandments to justify their use of religious statues which God forbids.

Opinions from interviews

In an attempt to find out more about these accusations concerning the use of images and statues in the Catholic Church, we caught up with Sheikh Abdullah, the Imam of Nkozi Muslim student community who said that the use of any form of statues or images is a form of polytheism. He adds saying that “…for our case in Islam, drawing of anything that forms a shadow is inappropriate and it is not allowed…” sheikh Abdallah then quotes Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who according to the authentic hadith said that “…The image makers shall be the most severely punished people on the resurrection day. Those who tried to imitate the creation of Allah will be told to ‘Give life to that which they shall have created’.

According to the leader of Christian union fellowship the Catholics are always worshiping statues. He adds that an image created in the mind of man can not be a representation of the Holy like Jesus or Mary. “...These are people we do not know. So how and from where do you find their images...?” he asks. He went ahead and quoting with accustom ease, the Bible verse which says: “You shall not make for yourself a graven image or 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 or serve them” (Ex. 20:4–5). “the Catholic Church must come to its senses and realize she has been misleading the children of God into idolatry” he concluded.

As the accusations heaps more and more, we turned our focus to the accused, wanting to know the reasons why with all the blames, the Catholic Church still entertain images and statues in their places of worship. Do they really worship these images as it is allegedly advanced by her accusers? To these, Rev. Dr. Celestine Safari a theologian and catholic priest lecturing at Uganda Martyrs University said the use of images and statues in prayer is not for worship. Worship he said, is an act that is reserved for God alone. Safari said images and statues has been used in the Catholic Church to aid people who did not know how to read and write, understand the key teachings of the Bible most especially in the early 1800s. “…These images were to aid people to connect with what is higher than us as the individuals…” he says.

He adds that for the people to understand what they were reading in the Bible most especially fundamental areas about individuals like the virgin Mary, St. Joseph and events like the way of the cross, they had to transfer this into drawings, symbols and statues. “…I think we as humans work best when we interact with images. When we are praying with these images, they are a mere representation of something but we do not worship statues and images. During prayer let us say the Uganda martyrs, we pray that they intercede for us but we do do not worship them. We worship one higher being who is God…” He opines, adding that the images are sacramentals. “…They help us to get in touch with the sacred. Sacramentals are not an end to themselves, they are a means to something higher…” He speaks.

But why should one pray while looking at these statues and images? Bibian Nakato a devout Catholic at Nkozi Catholic Church emphasizes that the statues help one get into a feeling of prayer. “…when you are praying before these statues, they help you to remain focused. For example, when you are looking at mother Mary during prayer, you are focused. You are committed. We do not worship them as claimed by these other people from other religious sects…” she adds.

Teachings of the Church about Images and Statues

The above findings are personal opinions from different individuals. We take keen interest in knowing what the church teaches about the contentious issues of images and statues. A close scan through the official documents of the Church, we discovered the following:

The Catholic Church teaches and has always taught that idolatry is a serious sin and a gross violation of God’s Commandments. Since the days of the Apostles, the Catholic Church has consistently condemned the sin of idolatry. The early Church Fathers warned against this sin, and Church councils also dealt with the issue. Sacred images in churches are not to be treated as gods.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC), "Sacred images in our churches and homes are intended to awaken and nourish our faith in the mystery of Christ. Through the icon of Christ and his works of salvation, it is him whom we adore. Through sacred images of the holy Mother of God, of the angels and of the saints, we venerate the persons represented." (CCC 1192).

Therefore, Sacred art is used to evangelize, catechize and inspire.  It is also used to show reverence and honor for God and His saints.  When a Catholic kneels or bows in prayer before a statue, they are not worshiping it in any way whatsoever.  They are using it as a person might use a picture of his family to recall them, even pray for them, when he is not with them.  He obviously does not consider a picture of his children as being his actual children, but simply a reminder of them.  And so, it is with sacred art in any form.  It is used ultimately to raise our hearts and minds to God to aid us in prayer honoring/venerating the Saints and asking for their intercessory prayers will be a future topic.

The document further says, All the signs in the liturgical celebrations are related to Christ: as are sacred images of the holy Mother of God and of the saints as well. They truly signify Christ, who is glorified in them. They make manifest the "cloud of witnesses" who continue to participate in the salvation of the world and to whom we are united, above all in sacramental celebrations. Through their icons, it is man "in the image of God," finally transfigured "into his likeness," who is revealed to our faith. So too are the angels, who also are recapitulated in Christ:

 

“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” (CCC 1161).

 

Consequently, St. John Damascene is quoted in the CCC to have said "The beauty of the images moves me to contemplation, as a meadow delights the eyes and subtly infuses the soul with the glory of God." Similarly, the contemplation of sacred icons, united with meditation on the Word of God and the singing of liturgical hymns, enters into the harmony of the signs of celebration so that the mystery celebrated is imprinted in the heart's memory and is then expressed in the new life of the faithful (CCC 1162).

What Some Church fathers said about images and statues

Gregory the Great holds that for a picture is provided in churches for the reason that those who are illiterate may at least read by looking at the walls what they cannot read in books.

 

St. John of Damascus said “I do not venerate matter, but the Creator of matter, who became matter for my sake and deigned to live in matter and bring about my salvation through matter. I will not cease therefore to venerate that matter through which my salvation was achieved. But I do not venerate it in absolute terms as God!”

So, when a Catholic spends time in prayer before an icon or a statue of a saint, they understand that the saint is in Heaven with God. It is by God’s grace that the material of the icon, statue, or image has become a channel of grace by which our human senses are turned to the divine. As human beings, we need visual reminders. God knows us and He knows this.

St. Clement of Alexandria (AD 153-217) wrote: “And let our seals be either a dove, or a fish, or a ship scudding before the wind, or a musical lyre, which Polycrates used, or a ship’s anchor, which Seleucus got engraved as a device; and if there be one fishing, he will remember the apostle, and the children drawn out of the water.”

All these still seems to be opinions from different walks of life. We finally turn our focus to the Bible to catch a glimpse of what God really said in the Holy Bible.

What does the Bible really say?

“You Shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is the water under the earth; for I the Lord your God am a jealous God….” (Ex 20:3-5).

This quotation from the bible seems to be at the base of every accusation against the catholic use of images and statues in their places of worship. However, for a better comprehension, the above text should be read in its context. Throughout the history of God’s people, there is always a tendency to fall away from the worship of the One, True God and adopt the pagan practice of worshipping false idols.

When the Jews were under the bondage of the Egyptians there was a temptation to worship the animal like gods of the Egyptians. Many of the Egyptian gods were made in the images of jackals, birds and other animals. In the above text God is making a direct condemnation of this practice when he says do not make a graven image of anything in heaven, the earth, under the earth and in the water. God is not condemning the making of all images, just 5 chapters later in Exodus 25: 17-22 God actually commands Moses to make graven images of two cherub (angels) to be part of the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant.

“And you shall make two cherubim of gold; of hammered work shall you make them, on the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub on the one end, and on cherub on the other end; of one piece with the mercy seat shall you make the cherubim on its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out its wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim.”

Is God contradicting himself here? No, God condemns the practice of making false idols to be worshiped as gods as in the case of the golden calf, not images that are used to aid in the worship of God as in the case of the cherub on the Ark of the Covenant.  In Exodus 32:1 the people said to Aaron “Up, make us gods, who shall go before us; as for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we do not know what has become of him.” The above text is what God is condemning in Exodus 20, making images or statues and proclaiming them to be gods.

Another good reference to God commanding man to make graven images is in Numbers 24:8-9 with the bronze serpent. “And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent, and set it on a pole; and every one who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” So, Moses made a bronze serpent, and set it on a pole; and if a serpent bit any man, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.”

Now it is true that centuries later King Hezekiah destroyed it; however, this action was done because the people worshipped it as a god (2 Kings 18:4).

Twice here, we have shown from scripture that God commanded the creation of graven images. If a graven image is made with the intentions to worship as a false god, then this is idolatry, but if the image is made to aid in the worship of God and not be worshiped itself as in the case of the Cherub and the Bronze serpent it is actually beneficial to the Christian people.

Another place in the Bible where graven images are mention is in Ezekiel 41: 17-26.  The following verses depict how the inner walls and doors of the Temple in Jerusalem had graven images of cherub, palm trees, man’s faces and lion’s faces:

“…..on every wall on every side in both the inner and outer rooms were carved the figures of cherubim and palm trees: a palm tree between every two cherubim. Each cherub had two faces: a man’s face looking at a palm tree on one side, and a lion’s face looking at a palm tree on the other; thus, they were figured on every side throughout the whole temple. From the ground to the lintel of the door the cherubim and palm trees were carved on the walls…Each door had two movable leaves; two leaves were on one doorjamb and two on the other. Carved upon them (on the doors of the nave) were cherubim and palm trees, like those carved on the walls. Before the vestibule outside was a wooden lattice. There were splayed windows (and palm trees) on both side walls of the vestibule, and the side chambers of the temple……”

The graven images mentioned in the text above were made in the likeness of things that are in “heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath” (Ex 20:4). If taken out of context this also would look like God is directly contradicting himself. God isn’t contradicting himself because he condemned the creation of graven images that were made for the purpose of idolatry, not graven images that were used, like in this case, to aid in the worship of God and adorn the Holiest place in the Jewish world.

In the Gospel, Jesus compared Himself to the bronze serpent (John 3:14). Continuing in the Old Testament, the inner sanctuary of the Temple contained two large statues of angels according to   1 Kings 6:23-28. In the following verses, Solomon also had the walls of the Temple decorated with carved images of angels, palm trees and flowers (1 Kings 6:29ff).

Likewise, 1 Chronicles 28:18-19 – tells how David gave Solomon the plan for an altar made of refined gold and "a golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord." What is surprising is that all these were not condemned by God.

These biblical evidences make the point clear that God did not forbid the use of images to aid people’s worship of him but only those images made for the sake worship as it was the case with the image of the golden calf in the book of Exodus 32.

Logical conclusions

Basing on the findings from different sources, opinions from contemporary and church history personalities and above all the Bible from which every theological teaching emanates, from investigation comes the following conclusions:

Ø  There is never a ban on the use of images and statues in places of worship: God allowed the statues of Cherubim in the Old Testament to help people to open their minds and hearts and turn them back to God (Ex 25:17-22) which clearly means that the Old Testament does not forbid the crafting of images of heavenly creatures other than God. In Catholic art, images of the angels, Mary and the saints; these are not gods, but rather creatures of God, who help Catholics understand what God has done for humanity. In the Biblical sense, images of Christ and the saints are not idols because there are spiritual and physical realities in the glorified bodies of Christ and his beloved saints whom the images represent.

 

Ø  God’s ban on statues and images is only for those made to be worshiped in themselves: God does not ban the use of images even for religious ritual as in the case of the bronze serpent. God forbids the worship of images as gods, but He doesn’t ban the making of images. God doesn’t prohibit the making of statues or images of various creatures for religious purposes (cf. 1 Kgs. 6:29–32, 8:6–66; 2 Chr. 3:7–14).  It is when people begin to adore a statue as a god that the Lord becomes angry (2 Kgs. 18:4). A Catholic who may kneel in front of a statue while praying isn’t worshiping the statue or even praying to the statue but to the one whom the statue represents.

From these logical conclusions, we finally come to the question ‘Do Catholics worship Images and statues? The answer to these depends on how the reader of the investigation report interprets the document but to the best of our knowledge, the above logical conclusions can help bail the reader from the abyss of ignorance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sources

Interviews with some religious leaders and Christians

Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Bible

Do Catholics pray to statues? Available at https://lifeteen.com/blog/why-do-catholics-pray-to-statues/ Accessed on the 26th April 2021                 

Idolatry - what is it and who does it? Available at: http://net-abbey.org/idolatry.htm. Accessed on the 26th April 2021

  Early Church Fathers on Relics, Statues, and Images. Available at: https://practicalapologetics.blogspot.com/2013/07/early-church-fathers-on-relics-statues.html. Accessed on the 26th April 2021                                                                                                                                            

 Do Catholics worship statues? Available at: http://www.catholic.com/tracts/do-catholics-worship-statues. Accessed on the 26th April. 2021