Not All Images are Idols. Let’s explore Solomon’s Temple, The Tabernacle, Herod’s Temple and the Synagogue in Our Own Time -By Bro Duane

Shared from BRO. DUANE'S BLOG - THE JOURNEY OF A CHRISTIAN APOLOGIST

It is a big sin for Christians to judge their fellowmen. Reading the Bible does not allow us to judge others especially if we have not studied entirely what is written in the Bible.

I decided to review the original text in Hebrew and Greek to fully understand the Word of God since many English versions were not translated correctly from the original text.

In my 16 years of defending Christianity, I often see people who introduce themselves as Christians judging fellow Christians particularly our Catholic friends.

The reason is they have images in their chapels and homes.

Many Christians use Deuteronomy 5:7 to conclude that all images are idols.

Personally, I am not in favor of treating images as god since this is idolatry. Yet, we will find out that not all images can be called idols if we study the Bible well.

Here is one of the oldest manuscripts of Deuteronomy and if we study closely verse 7.

The Hebrew word “Elohim Acherim” refers to other gods.

Normal word order in Hebrew is for adjective to follow verb, like often in Greek, the opposite of English. Thus, “other gods” is the proper English way to translate Elohim Acherim.

The Hebrew word “Pesel” is in Verse 8 and refers to idols.

These are the verses used by our brothers about “IDOLS” so we can read the Hebrew Word Pesel.

In Deuteronomy 5: 9, there is the Hebrew word, tishtachave and here is the meaning of the related word in Hebrew word which is tishtachave.

He will bow down to worship – yishtachave
I will bow down to worship – ‘eshtachave
You will bow down to worship – tishtachavoo
They will bow down to worship – yishtachavoo
Bow Down to Worship (command, singular) – hishtachavi
Bow Down to Worship (command, plural) – hishtachavoo

She (3f sing.) will bow down to worship ” tishtachave” is the same form as You (2m sing.) will bow down to worship tishtachave Also, the context is the ten commandments: you/thou shall not.

We will discover not all images are idols.

Let us find out what can be seen inside Solomon’s temple.

King Solomon built the temple in the Bible in 960 BC. To understand its purpose, we must know that God made the world and created the rules. It was destroyed by Babylonians in 586 BC.

The temple was located on the eastern hill. It is north of the City of David where we can find the Dome of the Rock today. The temple mount was significantly smaller. Solomon made it bigger. Herod also added to the present size of the platform. It is known as Haram esh-Sharif. This is “the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite”. (2 Samuel 24:18), “Mouth Moriah” (2 Chronicles 3:1), and possibly the “Zion of the Psalms. The term belonged to the city of David.

The Temple was envisioned as the tabernacle rectangular, with a porch or vestibule facing east, a nave an inner sanctuary or Holy of Holies.

Here is the image of Solomon’s temple. We can see the images clearly.

The holiest place housed the Ark of the Covenant and two winged figures (cherubim). These were made from olive wood coated with gold stretching from wall to wall. Similar doors separated the nave from the covered entrance. Only priests were allowed to enter the Holy Place every day.

The Most Holy Place (Holy of Holies) was God’s throne room which is the meeting place. This was between the two cherubim on the mercy seat above the Ark of the Covenant. The high priest sprinkled blood on the mercy seat on the day of atonement for the sins of the people.

We can also see the illustration in the Bible clearly.

“for the altar of incense made of refined gold, and its weight; also his plan for the golden chariot of the cherubim that spread their wings and covered the ark of the covenant of the Lord.All this, in writing at the Lord’s direction, he made clear to me—the plan of all the works.”(1 Chronicles 28:18-19, NRSV)

We can read The Ark of the Covenant in Exodus 25:18-20.

“You shall make two cherubim of gold; you shall make them of hammered work, at the two ends of the mercy seat. Make one cherub at the one end, and one cherub at the other; of one piece with the mercy seat you shall make the cherubim at its two ends. The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings. They shall face one to another; the faces of the cherubim shall be turned toward the mercy seat.”(Exodus 25:18-20, NRSV)

The Ark of the Covenant was the place where God talked to Moses Exodus 25:22. It was made from acacia wood and covered with gold.

The tabernacle (the “tent of meeting”) housed the Ark. The ark was the first furniture built after God ordered Moses to build the tabernacle Exodus 25:10-22.

The ark was to be the main focus of the Most Holy Place in the tabernacle as well as the temple Exodus 40:1-21.

The Ark was placed in the most holy place and separated by a thick veil Exodus 26:31-33.

According to scholars, when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem (586 BC) and plundered the temple, the ark could have been taken by Nebuchadnezzar and destroyed, or hidden by Levites.

Here is the Tabernacle

The tabernacle was a transferable “tent of meeting” that God commanded Moses to build Exodus 25:1-2, 25:8-9. God wanted to live with the Israelites. He had fellowship with them and communicated with them.

“There I will meet with you, and from above the mercy seat,from between the two cherubim that are on the ark of the covenant, I will deliver to you all my commands for the Israelites.”(Exodus 25:22, NRSV)

The tabernacle was the place that God dwelt with his people for 4000 years. This was from the exodus until the time of King Solomon when the temple was constructed.

The tabernacle was at the heart of the Israelite camp. The 12 tribes of Israel encamped around it. The figures in the boxes refer to the number of males (20 years and above) in each tribe numbers 1-3.

Here is Herod’s Temple

Scholars pointed at the illustration of Herod’s temple.
 

Here is the illustration of Herod’s temple and other details when Jesus was still on Earth.

It is different from Solomon’s Temple.

It started in 20 BC. Herod’s new structure was 15 stories high and followed floor dimensions of the former temples in the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place.

According to the Book written by Bruce Metzger, The Oxford Guide to People and Places of the Bible in page 308.

Within this holy place, there were increasingly sacred areas; the court of the women at the east, the court of the priest, then the temple (naos). This area was separated from the women’s court, being 15 steps higher, and could be entered through the nicanor gate. Only the priests could enter the temple, and only the high priest could enter the holy of holies, and that only on the day of atonement.

The whole structure was destroyed by the Romans in Ad 70.

Are there images in Herod’s temple like what we see in Solomon’s Temple?

According to the Babylonian Talmud.

“There were no cherubim in the temple of Herod, but the walls were painted with figures of them (Babylonian Talmud Yoma 54a).”

For our information, the Talmud is the anthology of the historic rabbis “discussing” or “debating” what the Torah means. The Talmud’s two elements are Mishnah (Hebrew: משנה, c. 200 CE), which is a written account of Rabbinic Judaism’s Oral Torah (Talmud means “instruction” in Hebrew)

Are There Images in the Synagogue?

Synagogue comes from the Greek term that means “house of assembly.” In Hebrew, the word used is “beit k’nesset.” It means house of assembly. English-speaking people do not translate it or use the Hebrew. They use an anglicized Greek word, synagogue.

According to a respected and famous Jewish scholar, Professor Lawrence Schiffman (leading scholar of ancient Judaism):

“Some synagogues have two lions above the ark and one of the interpretations of this imagery is that it represents the cherubim. There are certainly no sculpted images in synagogues.”

We can see inside the synagogue two images of lions in the upper part.

Professor Schiffman also said:

This is similar and look at the section above the ark curtain, where two lions face each other with a crown symbolizing the Torah beteen them.

Jews are more intelligent than us when it comes to the Old Testament because they know very well Hebrew.

If Deuteronomy 5:8 and Exodus 20:4 really forbid keeping images, even the Jews failed to obey this since they put images of lions inside their synagogue. Yet, they know the meaning of the Hebrew words: Elohim Acherim, Pesel and Tishtachave which we can read in Deuteronomy 5:7-9 and Exodus 20:3-5.

As a Christian, is my analysis correct that not all images are idols?

In our studies, it is very clear that some non-catholic pastors and their followers who were not able to study the Scriptures very well say all images are idols.

If we study closely, 2 noted scholars proved that not all images are idols.

1. Gleason Archer

Who is Gleason Archer?

Gleason Leonard Archer Jr. (May 22, 1916 – April 27, 2004) was a biblical scholar, theologian, educator and author. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gleason_Archer_Jr.)

He is not a Catholic.

Gleason Archer wrote this in his book.

The explanation of Archer is like that of Catholics who say not all images are idols since God ordered the creation of images.

2. Norman Geisler

Who is Norman Geisler?

Norman L. Geisler is an evangelical scholar, Christian apologist, and the author/coauthor of over fifty Christian books defending the Christian faith by means of logic, evidence, and philosophy. He has also authored many scholarly articles on a wide range of theological and philosophical topics. (https://www.theopedia.com/norman-geisler)

Norman Geisler is not a Catholic.

This is what Norman Geisler said in his book.

VISITORS AT ESTONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OFFERED TO KICK VIRGIN MARY'S IMAGE

Wait, until Islam will dominate their decaying democrazy! May God forbids! -CD2000

Source: Interfax-Religion via Pravoslavie.com
Posted October 3, 2016

The National Museum which opened in Estonia in the presence of President Toomas Hendrik Ilves last week, is offering its visitors to kick one of the exhibits, an interactive image of Virgin Mary, causing the picture to fall into pieces.

The virtual painting has been criticized by a number of politicians, entrepreneurs and parliamentarians in the Postimees newspaper. Thus, according to Priit Sibul, who chairs the parliamentary faction of the ruling Union of Pro Patria and Res Publica, "kicking an image of the Mother of God is something they did in the Soviet cultural space but would not demonstrate in public."

Meanwhile, the chairman of the parliamentary opposition Conservative People's Party, Mart Helme, warned against a particularly negative reaction in the Russian-speaking community where religious traditions are especially strong.

"Most Russians living in Estonia are actively religious people and their integration is not helped by religious insult approved on a state level," Helme said.

"The image should be removed as soon as possible because the virtual destruction the authors offer insults the feelings of religious Russian-speaking residents and hinders their integration," the politician was quoted in his party's press release as saying.

According to Helme, who was Estonia's ambassador to Russia in the 1990s, "mocking of the symbols of faith also has a political dimension to it." "An attack on symbols may lead to an escalation of social tensions and a cooling of the inter-state relations," he said.

For his part, Archbishop Urmas Viilma of the Estonian Evangelical Lutheran Church said the image is an affront to the whole Estonian society, all Christians, not just Orthodox ones but Catholics and Lutherans as well. For Estonians, Virgin Mary has a special meaning, no wonder the country is popularly called the Land of Mary, the archbishop said.

The installation on display at the Estonian National Museum is a depiction of Virgin Mary on a big light screen almost the size of a human being. It is static until someone kicks a specially marked spot at the bottom of the picture, causing the virtual figure fly into pieces and the word "Reformation" appear on the screen.

The Estonian National Museum is open in the city of Tartu and set to become the country's most important. It is predicted to attract up to 200,000 visitors per year.

UPDATE: A Ghanaian man was Arrested for Attacking Catholic Churches in Rome!

Report from EWTN

Heart-breaking vandalism desecrates four churches in Rome

A 39 year old Ghanaian national has been arrested for attacking four churches in Rome and vandalising many priceless sacred statutes, including some 300 years old. The perpetrator attacked sacred art in the 9th-century Basilica of Santa Prassede, near Saint Mary Major, the church of San Martino ai Monti, and the Basilicas of San Giovanni de' Fiorentini, on the Via Giulia, and San Vitale, on the Via Nazionale.

At about 19:30 on the 30th September the parish priest of San Martino ai Monti reported to the police that a man had damaged a statue of the Madonna and infant Jesus. Shortly afterwards, the parish priest of the Basilica of Santa Prassede reported to the police that a man had damaged two statues, one of Saint Anthony of Padua and the other of Saint Prassede. Then on the morning of 1st October the police received reports of attacks on the Basilicas of San Giovanni de' Fiorentini, on the Via Giulia, and San Vitale, on the Via Nazionale. At these two churches the man attacked statues, candlesticks and crucifixes, while protesting that "it was not right that we worshipped in this way."

The police arrested the perpetrator at Ripetta, in the centre of Rome, and charged him with religious hatred and insulting religious institutions. He is being held in Regina Coeli prison.

Comment

It is alarming that violent attacks such as these on churches in Rome are occurring more frequently across Europe according to reports documented on the Observatory on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians in Europe. The perpetrators of these attacks are more often than not motivated by secularism, feminism, LGBT ideology or Islam. At the present time, it is unclear what motivated the 39-year-old Ghanaian to attack four churches. However, the fact that he has been charged with religious hate crime suggests the authorities have concluded that his actions were not the result of mental illness.

10 Things Catholics Are Tired of Hearing

BY ELIZABETH GIDDENS VALVERDE for CATHOLIC365

POSTED IN 2/19/2015

Photo Credit: Flickr/On Being

1.“Catholics worship statues.”

This stereotype is painful to hear. Not only is this completely false, but it is ludicrous. Despite the fact that there are 801 millions Protestants world-wide, according to the Pew Research Center, my rant will be geared towards our brothers and sisters in the United States. In this country, approximately 51.5% of people are Protestant Christians. Realistically, most of these families have pictures in their home, which is completely normal, right? Right. They have pictures of their loved ones, both living and deceased. Is it not hypocritical then to say that Catholics are idol worshipers, when these families have portraits of their loved ones on the walls? If these Protestant families can have pictures of Uncle Bernie and Mawmaw hanging on the wall, then most certainly the Church can present pictures of our beloved Jesus, his disciples, and the saints.

2.“Catholics pray to Mary instead of God.”

This is a very common misconception throughout the Protestant community, and while I can understand why it is, I am also disheartened that many jump to such a harsh conclusion of the Catholic faith. We don’t pray to Mary, we ask her to pray for us, just as a Protestant asks their deceased grandparent/parent to watch over them.

3. “The saints can’t hear your prayers, because they are dead.”

I beg to differ. Since when is anyone who is in Heaven considered dead? We call it the afterLIFE for a reason. In fact, there is biblical proof that the saints can hear our prays:

-Revelation 5:8 “And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.”

-Revelation 8:3-4 “Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.”

4. “Mother Mary isn’t important; she’s just like anyone else.”

If our Blessed Mother isn’t important, then every female would have had an immaculate conception. For this reason, that is why the declarative statement above doesn’t make sense. Of course Mother Mary is important, she gave birth to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What is so amazing about the Catholic faith is the fact that we recognize the importance of Mary, and we honor her accordingly. She is a role model and saint for all Christians to look up to, because she submitted to God completely. Until the day another woman gives birth to Jesus, no one will ever be just like Mary. She is a very special, holy woman.

5. “Catholics made up all their rules.”

Every single tradition we have in the Catholic Church, namely during Mass, has biblical roots. Not to mention the fact that Jesus was the founder of our Church. I don’t know about you, but Jesus doesn’t make mistakes.

6. “God said to confess sins to Him, not a priest.”

This one is a personal favorite of mine. Drum roll please.

-James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

It is true that we pray directly to God, and ask Him to forgiveness, however for sins (mortal) we do as Jesus commands and confess it to one another (our priests). Jesus said this directly to his disciples, so through Him, they were able to forgive sins. This power passed down to every priest, and so on and so forth. That felt good.

7. “Catholicism is a cult.”

Jesus Christ founded this Church more than 2,000 years ago, I would hardly call it a cult.

8. “Catholics aren’t Christians.”

The word Christian is associated with anyone who follows Christ’s teachings, and since the Catholic Church does just that then we are to be called Christians. Not to mention Catholics were actually the first Christians.

9. “Catholics added books to the Holy Bible.”

This one is so hilarious it hurts. For 300 years there was no Bible, only random writings from the prophets like St.Peter etc, until the Catholic monks compiled and canonized what is now known today as the Holy Bible. (That is until the Protestant Reformation occurred, in which one man *Martin Luther* removed 7 books). Ouch.

10. “Catholics believe you can pay your way into Heaven.”

We definitely do not. That is a huge misconception which occurred during the Protestant Reformation.

Despite the many stereotypes that hang over our faith, the important thing to remember is our Church has stood the test of time and remained for more than 2,000 years. Whether you are Catholic or Protestant-- we are all followers of Christ, and He is the ultimate goal.

“The truth is like a lion. You don’t have to defend it, let it loose, and it will defend itself.”

-St. Augustine of Hippo

A 'Born Again' Protestant's hatred against Sacred Images

Iglesia Ni Cristo®'s Hypocrisy on Biblical Images!

Members of Manalo's INC™ Church who are very critical against Catholic images of Jesus, Mary and the saints are quick to say THAT those images AREN'T JESUS, MARY or the SAINTS.

But SHAMELESSLY PUBLISHING IMAGE(S) of MOSES in their PASUGO magazine that no Manalista can GUARANTEE if that's how MOSES LOOKED LIKE.

Images of Moses and his wife and Aaron. Source: PASUGO June 2011 p. 32.

HYPOCRITES!

Catholic Sculptor Willy Layug Received Papal Highest Award called Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice

Sculptor Willy Layug receives Catholic Church’s highest honor
Published March 10, 201
By RUSTON BANAL for GMANews

Willy Layug (front row, fourth from right) received the papal award from Catholic Church prelates, including Archbishop Socrates Villegas (middle row, third from left) on Wednesday. Photos: Ruston Banal

"Thirty years ago, nobody knew the name Willy Layug. Today, Willy Layug has [become] a household name for ecclesiastical art which even the Pope knows," Lingayen-Dagupan Pangasinan Archbishop Soc Villegas told the hundreds of people who attended the conferment of a papal award on the renowned sculptor at the San Fernando Cathedral in Pampanga on Wednesday.

The Pro Ecclesia Et Pontifice is bestowed on lay people for services to the Church, and is the highest honor the Church can award to the laity.

Layug, a premier ecclesiastical sculptor from the barrio of Sta. Ursula in Betis, Pampanga, was honored for creating beautiful retablos and santos over the decades, including a 7-foot tall wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary that was placed near the altar at the open-air Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in Tacloban in January last year.

Betis has been known as a center of woodcarving and woodworking since at least the Spanish colonial period. From creating folk art to making furniture, the woodcarving industry has been a source of livelihood for the townsfolk, especially during the post-war period.

The industry declined after the Mt. Pinatubo eruption caused a lot of furniture and carpentry businesses in the area to close. Layug, 57, is one of the few woodcarvers who stayed in Betis. " I think it was all God's providence that after Pinatubo, clients started to resurface and commissioned santos and retablos became regular," said Layug, adding that he actually became more prolific in the years after the disaster.

The medal bestowed on Layug.

In the late 90's, hungry for new knowledge and technique, Layug went to Europe to study the works of great masters like Bernini and Michelangelo. He apprenticed under contemporary Spanish masters, from whom he learned new techniques such as "estofado," or applying gold leaf on sculptures—something that had not been done before in Philippine ecclesiastical art.

In 2009, Layug was awarded the Presidential Medal of Merit Award and was one of the contenders for the National Artist designation under the Arroyo presidency.

Layug, who was unable to complete his college degree due to financial problems, is also now set to graduate with a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from the University of Sto. Tomas with the help of UST CFAD Regent Fr. Edgar Alaurin. "He only has some few remaining units left and I convinced him to enroll them so he can finally graduate," said Alaurin.

"I am so happy that my son—who also took a Fine Arts Degree in UST—and I will graduate at the same time," Layug happily said.

In the last two decades, Layug has created monumental works, altarpieces 20 or 30 feet high that now adorn parish churches and cathedrals all over the country. Some of these are the St. Joseph Cathedral in San Jose City, Nueva Ecija; the St. Joseph Cathedral in Butuan City; the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral in Virac, Catanduanes; the St. John Cathedral in Dagupan. He also created a retable for the Pontifico Collegio Filippino in Rome.

In 2013, Layug was the subject of "Dukit," a film by acclaimed screenwriter Armando Lao which won Best Picture (Full Feature) at the Metro Manila Film Festival in the New Wave Category. Layug won for Best Actor.


This year, a book on Layug's life and work will be launched alongside his receiving his bachelor's degree from UST. — BM, GMA News

Will our Church leaders just ignore this? All it does is add more fuel to the fire of the other misguided criticism that "Catholics" practice idolatry - something that, assuredly, had never been part of Catholic teaching and tradition. -Fr. Chito

Source: Fr. Chito Dimaranan

This is pastoral leadership sorely missing where it is needed most at this time. I have been saying all these years that the "devotion" to the Santo Nino will go the way of all misguided "popular devotions" that border more on the fanatical and the ridiculous.

Some of the statues that I see have nothing remotely related to the mystery of the Son of God becoming man, and assuming the humility and simplicity of a child in the Santo Nino image.

Increasingly, I see differing versions of the Santo Nino de la Suerte, Santo Nino de la Bolsa, Santo Nino holding a teddy bear, Santo Nino garbed in the color of money, or Santo Nino de Palaboy, holding a walking stick.

I love the mystery of God-become-man in Christ, including his image as a humble - if, helpless child.

But I think misguided shallow popular religiosity needs to be purified of the steadily encroaching showbiz culture, for one, and the pagan culture of "suerte" or luck, to name just two.

Will our Church leaders just ignore this? All it does is add more fuel to the fire of the other misguided criticism that "Catholics" practice idolatry - something that, assuredly, had never been part of Catholic teaching and tradition.

Oh, in case you are tempted to give me that traditional argument that popular religiosity has its "merits," please refrain from doing so, because I believe in it. But I also believe that if kept unguided and untaught, it is bound to ridiculous excesses and gross exaggerations.

Viva Senor Santo Nino! (But please don't give me the likes of that outrageous one holding a teddy bear and sporting oh-so-childish-and-cuddly apparel - and that one made to look like "Wonder Woman!"

MISGUIDED 'POPULAR DEVOTION' THAT BORDER MORE ON THE FANATICAL AND THE RIDICULOUS -Fr. Chito Dimaranan

Calling the kind attention of ARCHBISHOP SOCRATES VILLEGAS, President of the  CATHOLIC BISHOPS' CONFERENCE OF THE PHILIPPINES (CBCP) to issue a PASTORAL LETTER correcting these abuses concerning Catholic devotion to the Sto. Niño. -CD2000

Abused Sto Niño image, dressed as "Batman"

Abused Sto. Niño image dressed as "Superman"

MANDALUYONG City, Jan. 18, 2016 – A priest believes it’s time Church leaders take a firm stand against what he considers “misguided popular religiosity” among some Filipinos, specifically devotions to the Santo Niño (Holy Child), most of which he laments no longer bear the Good News of God-becoming-man.

“This is pastoral leadership sorely missing where it is needed most at this time. I have been saying all these years that the ‘devotion’ to the Santo Niño will go the way of all misguided ‘popular devotions’ that border more on the fanatical and the ridiculous,” notes Fr. Chito Dimaranan, rector of the Don Bosco Technical College (DBTC) Mandaluyong, in a social media post.

Incarnation

He shares some Santo Niño statues he sees have nothing remotely related to the Incarnation: of the “Son of God becoming man and assuming the humility and simplicity of a child.”

“Increasingly, I see differing versions of the Santo Niño de la Suerte, Santo Niño de la Bolsa, Santo Niño holding a teddy bear, Santo Niño garbed in the color of money, or Santo Niño de Palaboy holding a walking stick,” he says.

While Dimaranan affirms his love for the mystery of the Incarnation, with its image of a humble, helpless child, he points out “misguided shallow popular religiosity” needs to be purified of the steadily encroaching showbiz culture and the pagan culture of “suerte” or luck.

Excesses

The priest, however, clarifies he is not against popular devotions per se, but only against its extreme forms.

According to him, if kept unguided and untaught, such practices are bound to “ridiculous excesses” and “gross exaggerations.”

“Will our Church leaders just ignore this? All it does is add more fuel to the fire of the other misguided criticism that ‘Catholics’ practice idolatry—something that, assuredly, had never been part of Catholic teaching and tradition,” he adds [emphasis mine]. (Raymond A. Sebastián / CBCP News)

 

CBCP News: Black Nazarene is Bible-based—lay preacher

CBCP News, MANILA, Jan. 11, 2015—Non-Catholics might not buy it, but a lay evangelist asserts that no less than the Bible itself has inspired the popular depiction of the revered Black Nazarene.

Devotees attempt to touch the statue of the
Black Nazarene during last year's procession. (Photo: CBCPNews)

“The iconography of the Black Nazarene is thoroughly Biblical. No matter what the cause for the dark color of the Nazareno, it is here to stay. There are nevertheless Biblical and theological reasons for the black iconographic depiction of the Nazareno,” notes Dominican lawyer-preacher Marwil N. Llasos in a recent post on the top-rating blog site Know The Truth where he reflects on the phenomenal Filipino Catholic devotion.

Black and beautiful

He shares Scripture considers black beautiful, citing a verse from the Song of Songs (Song of Solomon) which reads: “I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Kedar, as the curtains of Solomon” (Song of Songs 1:5, KJV).

According to him, Christ is the final Davidic King spoken of in prophecy as the “fairest of the sons of men” (Ps. 45:2).

‘Suffering Servant’

Llasos stresses the Nazareno’s dark color aptly portrays Christ’s Passion, underscoring the pain the Lord had to bear for the sins of men, embodying as well His prophetic role as the Suffering Servant of Isaiah: “But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (Isa. 53:5).

“Even in our modern idiomatic expression, one who suffers much from being severely beaten is said to be ‘black and blue … He was black and blue all over His body because of the torture and unbearable sufferings He endured during His most sorrowful passion. He was one whole wound, from the crown of His head to the soles of His feet,” he says, adding that Syriac only has one word for black and suffering or sorrow.

‘Man of Sorrows’

Related to Isaiah’s description of Christ as Suffering Servant is of Him as a “Man of Sorrows,” Llasos states.

“Black is the color for mourning. It is also the color for sorrow. Black Madonnas are actually depictions of Mary as the Sorrowful Mother. The black images of Christ, like the Black Nazarene, points to Him as the Man of Sorrows

Isaiah 53:3-4 reads: “He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.”

Christ saves all

“The Black Nazarene reminds us that Jesus Christ is the savior of all – not just of those with fair complexion. He is also the Savior of people with dark complexion, those who have been traditionally exploited and treated as mere slaves. God in Jesus Christ loves them – and the salvation offered by God in Christ is also for them. The image of the Black Nazarene resonates with the theology of the Incarnation – that the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (Jn. 1:14),” he explains.

According to the apologist, in Jesus, God “is one of us”, but no single race or culture can exclusively appropriate Him.

“We all can relate to Him. He belongs to us all… The Black Nazarene is a symbol of faith in the Incarnation and Redemption, but one that is an inculturated faith,” he adds.

‘Became sin for us’

While no longer politically correct, Llasos recalls that black used to be associated with sin as suggested by the expression “sin of the blackest hue.”

In the image of the Black Nazarene, a black Jesus carries His cross, driving home the point that “in carrying the cross of our salvation, the Savior bore our own sins”.

1 Peter 2:24 reads: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (1 Pt. 2:24). It was the sinless Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world (Jn. 1:29).

“Jesus Christ took our place on the cross to save us. He who had no sin became sin for us so that we can be saved. The Pauline teaching is clear: ‘For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him’ (2 Cor. 5:21),” Llasos explains. (Raymond A. Sebastián/CBCP News)

Knowing the names of false gods mentioned in the Bible-- a refutation against the charges of Protestants that Catholics worship pagan gods

Our Lady and the Archangels and Saints (Source: st.takla.org)

Some protestant sects particularly all Born-Again groups, the Ang Dating Daan of Eliseo Soriano and the Iglesia Ni Cristo® of Felix Manalo accused Catholics of worshiping "gods" which according to them were in the Bible. However, they couldn't point out where it's written in the Scriptures the names of Mary, the Blessed Mother, or Joseph, the foster father of Jesus or any of the saints were among the "gods".  In fact, the Scriptures is very clear  that the saints in heaven were offering our prayers in the form of incense, in our behalf before the Throne of the Lamb, the saints who "washed their clothes" in the blood of the Lamb, offering prayers before the Throne of the Lamb (see Revelations 4:4, 6; 5:8; 7:9-17;  8:4 ).

Pastors and ministers who use the Scripture to deceive our pooly-catechized brethren must be exposed! Rise Up Catholics! And pray to saints for their conversion!

False gods/goddesses mentioned in the Holy Scriptures
NAME	WHERE WORSHIPED	DESCRIPTION	WHERE IN SCRIPTURE
Artemis (Diana)	Asia	many-breasted fertility goddess	Acts 19:28
Asherah symbol - a pole	Canaan	goddess of the sea wife of El	Judges 3:7 1 Kings 18:19 2 Kings 21:3 2 Chronicles 15:16; 24:18
Ashtoreth (Astarte Queen of Heaven)	Canaan Sidon	mother-goddess fertility goddess	Judges 2:13; 10:6 1 Samuel 12:10 1 Kings 11:5, 33 Jeremiah 7:18; 44:17-25
Baal	Canaan	young storm god chief god of Canaan until the Exile; the name Baal is often linked with place names, such as Gad, Peor, etc	Judges 2:13 1 Kings 16:31-32; 18:18-29
Baal-Zebub	Philistia	god of Ekron	2 Kings 1:2
Castor, Pollux	Greece	twin sons of Zeus	Acts 28:11
Chemosh	Moab ?Ammon	national god of war	Numbers 21:29 Judges 11:24 1 Kings 11:7, 33 Jeremiah 48:7
Dagon	Philistia	national god of rain/ agriculture	Judges 16:23 1 Samuel 5:2-7
Hermes (Mercury)	Greece	messenger god, god of cunning, theft	Acts 14:12
Marduk (Bel)	Babylon	young storm/war god chief god	Isaiah 46:1 Jeremiah 50:2; 51:44
Molech (Malcam) (Milcom) (Moloch) (?Rephan)	Ammon Israel	national god worshiped with child sacrifice	Zephaniah 1:5 Jeremiah 49:1, 3 1 Kings 11:5, 7, 33 Acts 7:43 Acts 7:43
Nebo (Nabu)	Babylon	son of Marduk god of wisdom, literature, arts	Isaiah 46:1
Nergal	Babylon	god of hunting/the underworld	2 Kings 17:30
Rimmon (Hadad)	Damascus	god of thunder, lightning, rain	2 Kings 5:18
Tammuz	Babylon	fertility god	Ezekiel 8:14
Zeus	Greece	chief of Greek gods	Acts 14:12

Legend ( ) = alternative name
Source: Bible Facts and Figures, Tim Dowley, A St. Joseph Bible Resource, Catholic Publishing Corp., New Jersey, USA, p. 16

10 Things Catholics Are Tired of Hearing.. and we've been hearing them again and again from Born-Again(st), some Protestants and the Iglesia Ni Cristo cult of Manalo

By Elizabeth Giddens posted in Catholic365

1.“Catholics worship statues.”

This stereotype is painful to hear. Not only is this completely false, but it is ludicrous. Despite the fact that there are 801 millions Protestants world-wide, according to the Pew Research Center, my rant will be geared towards our brothers and sisters in the United States. In this country, approximately 51.5% of people are Protestant Christians. Realistically, most of these families have pictures in their home, which is completely normal, right? Right. They have pictures of their loved ones, both living and deceased. Is it not hypocritical then to say that Catholics are idol worshipers, when these families have portraits of their loved ones on the walls? If these Protestant families can have pictures of Uncle Bernie and Mawmaw hanging on the wall, then most certainly the Church can present pictures of our beloved Jesus, his disciples, and the saints.

2.“Catholics pray to Mary instead of God.”

This is a very common misconception throughout the Protestant community, and while I can understand why it is, I am also disheartened that many jump to such a harsh conclusion of the Catholic faith. We don’t pray to Mary, we ask her to pray for us, just as a Protestant asks their deceased grandparent/parent to watch over them.

3. “The saints can’t hear your prayers, because they are dead.”

I beg to differ. Since when is anyone who is in Heaven considered dead? We call it the afterLIFE for a reason. In fact, there is biblical proof that the saints can hear our prays:

-Revelation 5:8 “And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people.”

-Revelation 8:3-4 “Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God’s people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God’s people, went up before God from the angel’s hand.”

4. “Mother Mary isn’t important; she’s just like anyone else.”

If our Blessed Mother isn’t important, then every female would have had an immaculate conception. For this reason, that is why the declarative statement above doesn’t make sense. Of course Mother Mary is important, she gave birth to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. What is so amazing about the Catholic faith is the fact that we recognize the importance of Mary, and we honor her accordingly. She is a role model and saint for all Christians to look up to, because she submitted to God completely. Until the day another woman gives birth to Jesus, no one will ever be just like Mary. She is a very special, holy woman.

5. “Catholics made up all their rules.”

Every single tradition we have in the Catholic Church, namely during Mass, has biblical roots. Not to mention the fact that Jesus was the founder of our Church. I don’t know about you, but Jesus doesn’t make mistakes.

6. “God said to confess sins to Him, not a priest.”

This one is a personal favorite of mine. Drum roll please.

-James 5:16 “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

It is true that we pray directly to God, and ask Him to forgiveness, however for sins (mortal) we do as Jesus commands and confess it to one another (our priests). Jesus said this directly to his disciples, so through Him, they were able to forgive sins. This power passed down to every priest, and so on and so forth. That felt good.

7. “Catholicism is a cult.”

Jesus Christ founded this Church more than 2,000 years ago, I would hardly call it a cult.

8. “Catholics aren’t Christians.”

The word Christian is associated with anyone who follows Christ’s teachings, and since the Catholic Church does just that then we are to be called Christians. Not to mention Catholics were actually the first Christians.

9. “Catholics added books to the Holy Bible.”

This one is so hilarious it hurts. For 300 years there was no Bible, only random writings from the prophets like St.Peter etc, until the Catholic monks compiled and canonized what is now known today as the Holy Bible. (That is until the Protestant Reformation occurred, in which one man *Martin Luther* removed 7 books). Ouch.

10. “Catholics believe you can pay your way into Heaven.”

We definitely do not. That is a huge misconception which occurred during the Protestant Reformation.

Despite the many stereotypes that hang over our faith, the important thing to remember is our Church has stood the test of time and remained for more than 2,000 years. Whether you are Catholic or Protestant-- we are all followers of Christ, and He is the ultimate goal.

“The truth is like a lion. You don’t have to defend it, let it loose, and it will defend itself.”

-St. Augustine of Hippo

Does the Seventh-Day Adventists believe in the Images of Jesus and the Cross?

"...kalokohan mo ang katoliko ay hindi sumusunod sa aral sa biblia." - INC™ Member

Another brainless comment from a member of the INC™ of Felix Manalo, taken from "Katie Holmes: Nagbalik-loob sa Iglesia ni Cristo"

Sakura (kung sino ka man),

Isang MALAKING KALOKOHAN ang naniniwala sa SABI-SABI. Ayon sa kasabihan, WALANG SARILING BAIT.

Ito bang sinabing mong "hindi sumusunod sa aral ng biblia Zzzzzzzzzz......" ay galing sa sarili mong pagkaunawa? O isang BAYARANG MINISTRO ang nagsabi nito sa iyo?

Huwag mong kalilimutan na itong BAYARANG MINISTRONG ito ang NAGSASABI sa inyong mga kaanib ng INC™ ni Manalo na "HUWAG MAGBASA NG BIBLIA" dahil SILA LAMANG (daw) ang "binigyan" ng Dios ng pang-unawa.

Kaya't kung isang BAYARANG MINISTRO lamang ang nagsabi nito, baka naman pwede, maging patas ka naman, buklatin mo ang Biblia mong galing sa mga Katoliko at Protestante (na sabi ng SUGO niyo ay mga kampon ni Satanas) at baka sakaling MABUKSAN pa ang iyong isipan.

"IDOL WORSHIP"

Hindi porke't libre ang katang*han ay inaraw-araw mo na!

Kailan ba naging IDOL si Maria, si Jose, si Juan, si Bartolome, si Mateo, si Santiago, si Lukas, si Agustin, si Domingo, si Francisco, si Lorenzo Ruiz, si Pedro Calungsod?

Kailan ba naging "dios" sina Maria, Jose, Juan, Bartolome, Mateo, Santiago, Lukas, Agustin, Domingo, Francisco, Lorenzo Ruiz, Pedro Calungsod?

At HINDI pala sila idol at di rin naman sila dios, BAKIT SILA DAPAT SAMBAHIN?

Ah... yung pagluhod nila at paghalik sa mga IMAHE? Yung pag-aalay nila ng bulaklak at pagtitirik ng kandila?

Yun ba ang ibig mong sabihin sa 'IDOL WORSHIP"?

Ibig mo bang sibihin ay HINDI sila dapat luhuran, alayan ng bulaklak, sindihan ng kandila, dasalan etc sapagkat SILA'Y MGA BATO LAMANG?

Di ba 'yon ang ibig sabihin ng "IDOL WORSHIP"? Yung lumuluhod, nag-aalay, nagtitirik, nagdarasal at nag-aalay ng bulaklak sa ISANG BATO o ISANG MUOG di ba?

Nakikita mo ba ang larawan sa itaas?

Ito ang KA'ABA ng Mekka sa Saudi Arabia. Ito ang tawag nilang "BLACK STONE"!

Sa DAKONG ITO ng DAIGDIG, ang LAHAT ng mga MUSLIM ay nakatuon, nagpapatirapa, nag-aalay, nagdarasal-- sa ISANG ITIM NA BATO?

Pagano ba sila?

MATAPANG ba ang inyong mga BAYARANG MINISTRO na SABIHIN sa buong mundo na ang mga MUSLIM ay mga PAGANO? Matapang ba si EDUARDO V. MANALO (EVM) na ipangaral sa 2 billion Muslim sa buong mundo na ANG MGA SUMASAMBA SA BATO ay mga PAGANO?

Ewan ko lang kung kaya ng TAPANG niyo na sila'y BATIKUSIN niyong mga PAGANO? Baka bukas-makalawa ay may gugulong na ulo sa loob ng INC™ ni Manalo!

Takot kayong mamatay ano? Sigurado kong diyan pupulutin ang inyng mga ulo kung IPANGARAL niyo sa TV o magasin na ang mga MUSLIM ay mga PAGANO at nagdarasal at sumasamba sa isang "BLACK STONE."

Ito rin ang ginagawa ng mga HINDU sa India!

Pinapaliguan!

Binibihisan!

At inaalayan!

MGA BATO pero NILULUHURAN, INAALAYAN, DINADASALAN, SINASAMBA!

Mga PAGANO ba sila sa INYONG PAMANTAYAN?

MUOG, IMAHE, BATO LANG BA SILA?

Ang larawan sa itaas ay ang MUOG o BANTAYOG ni GAT JOSE RIZAL sa Luneta Park sa Maynila.

Ayon sa Wikipedia, ang muog ni Gat. Jose Rizal ay yari sa BRONZE at GRANITE, mga chemical na walang kinalaman kay Jose Rizal.

Nakikita niyo sa itaas, bagamat yari sa mga material na BRONZE at GRANITE po 'yan pero MAINGAT na BINABANTAYAN at INIINGATAN ito ng mga Philippine Marine Corps at Marine Security and Escort Group.

Sinasaluduhan (PAGPUPUNYAGI) ang BATO ni Presidente Noynoy Aquino.

Binibisita ay INAALAYAN ng BULAKLAK ang muog ng iba't ibang pinuno ng mga bansa!

Ngayon Iglesia Ni Cristo®, ano ba ang binibigyan nila ng PUGAY? Bato o ang imahe?

Di lang iisa, MAY REPLIKA pa ang muog ni Rizal sa Madrid, Spain!

Pagano rin ba sila?

Ang BATO este MUOG o BANTAYOG ni FELIX MANALO sa INC Central

Ang URI ba ng PAGGAWA sa MUOG ang INAALAYAN ng mga INC™ ni Manalo?

O ang IMAHE (representation ng muog) ang INAALAYAN?

Kung NAG-AALAY sila ng BULAKLAK sa isang BATO, hindi ba't PAGANO rin sila ayon sa PAMANTAYAN at SUKATAN ng mga INC™ ni Manalo?

Kung hindi naman, BAKIT napaka-KITID nilang INTINDIHIN kung ano na lamang ang PAGSINTA natin sa mga BAYANI ng KAKRISTIANUHAN?!!

Ang PAGSINTA ay PWEDE kay RIZAL, PWEDE kay FELIX MANALO, bakit naman HINDI PWEDE kay SANTA MARIA ina ni CRISTO HESUS (at iba pang mga banal)?

Mga IPOKRITO ang tawag namin doon!

CATHOLIC DOCTRINE CONTRADICTS THE BIBLE?

How sure are you when your INC™ Church of Manalo just celebrated their 100th Year Anniversary, built an ARENA (for their god INC) and NAMED a place to CIUDAD DE VICTORIA (City of Victors o LUNGSOD ng MANALO?!)

When the Bible was written and compiled by the Catholic Church in c.380 A.D. your INC™ Church of Manalo wasn't even there.  The Apostles never called themselves "Iglesia Ni Cristo Ako" phrase?!

None of the Apostles or early Christians EVER identified themselves as "INC Ako"!

DO NOT FORGET Mr./Ms. INC™ member, that BEFORE the BIBLE came to be, THE CATHOLIC CHURCH came FIRST!

And because of the CATHOLIC CHURCH that the WHOLE OF CHRISTIANITY have BIBLE!

So how could the OWNER of the BIBLE contradicts ITSELF? That's ABSURD!

I'd rather believe the MORE OBVIOUS... FELIX MANALO CONTRADICTED THE BIBLE!

When FELIX MANALO denied JESUS-- his being GOD who BECAME FLESH (Man - kasi di naman pwedeng "magkatawang-tao" ang isang TAO NA!), HE (Felix) IS the FULFILLMENT of the COMING DECEIVER and ANTI-CHRIST"