I Will Answer Anything You Dare To Ask

I was a teenage Jesus freak and never really lost my faith, but I haven't been involved with a church for a while and I've been thinking of joining a local protestant church lately. Here is my question. What is the difference between an idol and an artefact which are often used to adorn churches without being objects of worship. My personal view is that it is not the object itself but the way people see it. So out of two people in the same room one may admire or appreciate an artefact for it's beauty while another person worships it and thereby commits a sin of idolatry. Do you agree or disagree and why? I would like to know your reasons.

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Lynb1960 · 61-69, F

2"I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3"You shall have no other gods before Me. 4"You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth.…

will999 · 70-79, M

@Lynb1960 What about a crucifix? If that is a likeness of a thing from heaven above then most of the churches both Catholic and Protestant have got some explaining to do.

Lynb1960 · 61-69, F

@will999 I had this very same argument with my Mother once many years ago.. I cant quite remember her wording, but basically she said it is not something that was in the house of God in the beginning of time so it is considered and Idol... Difficult thing to argue about because all religions believe what they believe.. Myself I dont believe in religion as it separates people, I believe in spirituality because it Unites people..

will999 · 70-79, M

Well religion sure caused a bit of a stir in Egypt when Moses agreed to lead it's slaves to the promised land.

Lynb1960 · 61-69, F

@will999 Exactly and that stir is still on going...

will999 · 70-79, M

@Lynb1960 The great controversy is the personal Messiah. The gentiles accepted him more readily than the descendants of Abraham. To quote the Lamb Of God speaking to the religious authorities 2000 years ago - Tax Collectors and Prostitutes will enter the kingdom of God ahead of you.

Lynb1960 · 61-69, F

@will999 Yes they were considered the salt of the earth... It just goes to show how far we have fallen... Not many people out there willing to accept who these people are and many wouldnt even consider calling them friend.. sad but true. Far too much judgement and hate in the world.

will999 · 70-79, M

@Lynb1960 And they are fighting for the posession of a piece of land which symbolized an eternal promise yet when the fulfilment of the promise arrived they could not see it [b]and still can not see it[/b]. Blessed are the peacemakers.

Lynb1960 · 61-69, F

@will999 Yes It is just because they dont have now so this is why they want it... greed has crept in and so they want it... for What purpose is anyones guess.

will999 · 70-79, M

@Lynb1960 Their hopes and their spiritual home is in this world which is passing away.

Lynb1960 · 61-69, F

@will999 They were given that chance right at the very beginning and chose not to accept... why now are they so worried about it?

will999 · 70-79, M

@Lynb1960 I'm not sure why they can not share the land in peace. I think they would if their hopes were set on an eternal heavenly kingdom. I know from personal experience that brothers can be the bitterest of rivals.

Lynb1960 · 61-69, F

@will999 It has a lot to do with the fact that they want the total control over all the land and If im not wrong Isreal has some of the richest oil in the world which they want, so its all a money thing.. My opinion only.

will999 · 70-79, M

@Lynb1960 If we're not careful we may get reported for libel. IMHO we have all lost sight of what the land symbolized, justice and eternal peace through trust in God. Today it is the whole world's problem. The US president recently said he would withdraw aid from any country that did not accept that Jerusalem is the capital city of Israel. I am trying not to take sides in that bitter dispute. It is looking like the end time scenario that evangelical Christians believe will indicate the triumphant return of the Messiah. I want to be ready for that. My hope is in the heavenly kingdom.

Lynb1960 · 61-69, F

@will999 dont panic so much I think this site is small fry.. nobody will have any time or interest in what is being said here.. we are just two people discussing the bible..

will999 · 70-79, M

@Lynb1960 We are also discussing some fairly hot politics which has the potential to offend other members of Similar Worlds. (The Bible of course, has always offended people because it exposes their personal shortcomings.)

Lynb1960 · 61-69, F

@will999 I guess you are correct.. Perhaps we should call it a day.

will999 · 70-79, M

@Lynb1960 OKAY. See ya' - here, there or in the air.

Lynb1960 · 61-69, F

@will999 cool, If it rows your boat.. Lifes good..

will999 · 70-79, M

@Lynb1960 In case we talk again sometime soon, the new testament contains an admonition not to forsake the assembly of the saints (that's ordinary believers like you and me), hence my roaming in search of a local fellowship that is not too, dare I say, bigoted, idolatrous greedy or war mongering. They are few and far between. It does not have to be perfect, just spirit filled.

Lynb1960 · 61-69, F

@will999 Well I hope you find your path spiritual path soon.. And im sure we will have many more discussions in the future..Take care of you and I wish you enough.

iagreed · 61-69, M

@Lynb1960 So that means no art then. This is the excuse ISIS used for their destroying of art and ancient treasures. So I guess you agree with them then.

Lynb1960 · 61-69, F

@iagreed No of course I don't agree with them and the reason I don't agree with them is because I don't believe that it's right to kill in the name of their God which is exactly what they are doing... I personally believe in spirituality as it united all people... I was just quoting what it said in the bible and was giving my own interpretation to the words that was written in the text.. I find this world harsh and cruel and ISIS is just the head of the snake.