Detestable Idol Worship!

2 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 7:-   7 for we are walking by faith, not by sight.

What exactly is Idol Worship?  A dictionary definition states:-  The worship of idols; the worship of physical objects or images as gods.   But there is much more to this practice than worship? Anything that is used in religious celebrations or worn by people to represent their religion, or worn to protect them from evil spirits, or as an aid to prayer, or as a symbol of the one they worship, is an idol. By this standard idol worship is not just statues of saints, but even the Cross worn by many as a symbol of their religious beliefs is without doubt an idol!

Ezekiel chapter 5 verse 11:-   11 “‘Therefore as surely as I am alive,’ declares the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, ‘because it was my sanctuary that you defiled with all your disgusting idols and with all your detestable practices, I will also reject you; my eye will not feel sorry, and I will show no compassion.

Worship of Idols.

Turin Shroud.

A newly uncovered medieval document is the earliest known to suggest that the Shroud of Turin, widely believed to have been used to wrap Jesus’ crucified body, is not authentic. The findings, published in the Journal of Medieval History, add evidence that even in the Middle Ages, people knew that the Shroud was fake.

In the document, medieval theologian Nicole Oresme rejected the Shroud as authentic, with the future bishop claiming it as a “clear” and “patent” fake that was the result of deceptions by “clergy men”. Mr Oresme later became the Bishop of Lisieux in France and rose as an important figure, well-regarded for his attempts to provide rational explanations for so-called miracles. In the document, Mr Oresme writes: “I do not need to believe anyone who claims: ‘Someone performed such miracle for me’, because many clergy men thus deceive others, in order to elicit offerings for their churches.”

Saints who never existed:

Saint Christopher.

the existence of Saint Christopher cannot be historically proven, and there is no concrete evidence to support his life as a real person, though some traditions claim he was a real martyr.

The Catholic Church removed his feast day from the universal calendar in 1969 due to the lack of historical evidence for his life, but he still remains a venerated figure in some denominations and is still on the official list of Catholic saints.

Saint George.

Saint George: Known for the tale of slaying a dragon, St. George is the patron saint of England and other regions. While a Christian martyr named George likely existed, his heroic tales are medieval myths. In 1969, he was relegated to the status of a local saint.

Saint Philomena.

Her popular devotion, spread in the 19th century through alleged visions, was based on the misinterpretation of bones found in a catacomb. In 1961, the Holy See officially removed her from all liturgical calendars, citing a lack of historical evidence.

Saint Catherine of Alexandria.

A favourite icon of the Middle Ages, St. Catherine was said to be a princess who was tortured on a breaking wheel for her faith. Though a popular figure, it is now believed she probably never existed. Her feast day was suppressed in 1969.

Saints Sergius and Bacchus.

These Roman soldiers, supposedly martyred for their faith and who became widely venerated, are believed to be historical fictions. There is insufficient evidence for their existence as depicted in traditional accounts. They were removed from the General Roman Calendar in 1969.

Saint Ursula.

The leader of a group of female martyrs, Ursula's legend claimed she and 11,000 virgins were massacred. Her story evolved into a fantastical narrative, and no factual information is known about her. Her feast was suppressed in 1969.

Saint Wilgefortis.

The devotion to this saint with a beard is believed to have originated from a misunderstanding of a Byzantine crucifix depicting Jesus. The medieval legend developed that a young woman prayed to become repulsive to avoid a forced marriage and grew a beard, leading her father to have her crucified. She is almost certainly a fictional character.

The Turin Shroud.

Probably you have seen pictures of the Turin Shroud on television or maybe in person!  There is great debate on whether this cloth portrays an impression of Jesus Christ or is a fake? The truth however is supported by two main facts about the practices of all Israelite men  during that period of time.  1.  No Israelite man would ever have long hair, it was considered shameful to have hair like a woman, and it is certain that Jesus Christ would have respected that rule as coming from God!  2.  The impression on the shroud would have taken a great deal longer to have formed on the shroud that the 3 days Jesus was in the tomb, because when the women came to the tomb on the third day, Jesus' body had gone!

The image on the cloth is much more likely to have been from someone living in the 16th century or later, because long hair in men was common place at that time, and the artists of those days always painted Jesus as having long hair which would have been disgraceful to him! Common sense dictates that this image whether real or fake is definitely NOT one of Jesus Christ, but another form of idol relic worship adored by the Catholic Church and their so called Christians!

1 Corinthians chapter 11 verses 14 to 16:-   14 Does not nature itself teach you that long hair is a dishonor to a man, 15 but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her? For her hair is given to her instead of a covering. 16 However, if anyone wants to argue in favor of some other custom, we have no other, nor do the congregations of God.

More False Worship.

Deuteronomy chapter 4 verse 24:-   24 For Jehovah your God is a consuming fire, a God who requires exclusive devotion.

These and other figures were fabricated (invented) over time, and became objects of devotion through a centuries-long, organic process. Their veneration is typically attributed to:

Oral tradition and folklore: Legendary stories and tall tales about virtuous individuals were passed down and embellished over time.

Misinterpreted artefacts: Graves or remains found in catacombs were sometimes mistakenly identified as martyrs, and elaborate stories were created to fill in the blanks.

Allegory and symbolism: In some cases, symbolic stories were mistaken for literal historical events.
While their feast days were removed from the universal calendar of Catholic Saints, some of these figures may still be venerated locally, and private devotions are permitted.

Psalms chapter 65 verse 2:-   2 O Hearer of prayer, to you people of all sorts will come.

Conclusion:   Nowhere in the Holy Bible is there any allowance for the worship or veneration of people or objects, only God is to be worshipped and he demands exclusive devotion, any other form of devotion through prayer or otherwise is idol worship. The Catholic church is responsible for collecting dubious at best so called religious relics and the conferring of Sainthood on individuals, but the right to do this was never granted by God to any person or religion, in fact the creating of so called Saints and religious relics has brought about a system of worship through prayer to these false Saints and dubious relics instead of worship to God who is the only hearer of Prayer!

The worship of idols is not confined to statues and images, but to anything that takes what belongs to the true God and corrupts it, prayer to and through these objects is a form of idol worship, no matter what the religious nature of the item is believed to be, and no matter what or how the religion tries to justify it!

You Have Been Warned!