Catholics Don't Worship Saints

[James307]

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Question: "Is worship of saints / Mary Biblical?"

Answer: The Bible is absolutely clear that we are to worship God alone. The only instances of anyone other than God receiving worship in the Bible are false gods, which are Satan and his demons. All followers of the Lord God refuse worship. Peter and the apostles refused to be worshipped (Acts 10:25-26; 14:13-14). The holy angels refuse to be worshipped (Revelation 19:10; 22:9). The response is always the same, "Worship God!"

Roman Catholics attempt to "bypass" these clear Scriptural principles by claiming they do not “worship” Mary or saints, but rather that they only "venerate" Mary and the saints. Using a different word does not change the essence of what is being done. A definition of "venerate" is "to regard with respect or reverence." Nowhere in the Bible are we told to revere anyone but God alone. There is nothing wrong with respecting those faithful Christians who have gone before us (see Hebrews chapter 11). There is nothing wrong with honoring Mary as the earthly mother of Jesus. The Bible describes Mary as "highly favored" by God (Luke 1:28 ). At the same time, there is no instruction in the Bible to revere those whom have gone to Heaven. We are to follow their example, yes, but worship, revere, or venerate, no!

When forced to admit that they do, in fact, worship Mary, Catholics will claim that they worship God through her, by praising the wonderful creation that God has made. Mary, in their minds, is the most beautiful and wonderful creation of God, and by praising her, they are praising her Creator. For Catholics, this is analogous to directing praise to an artist by praising his sculpture or painting. The problem with this is that God explicitly commands against worshipping Him through created things. We are not to bow down and worship anything in the form of heaven above or earth below (Exodus 20:4-5). Romans 1:25 could not be more clear, "They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator — who is forever praised. Amen." Yes, God has created wonderful and amazing things. Yes, Mary was a godly woman who is worthy of our respect. No, we absolutely are not to worship God "vicariously" by praising things (or people) He has created. Doing so is blatant idolatry.

The major way Catholics "venerate" Mary and the saints is by praying to them. As the following article demonstrates, prayer to anyone other than God alone is anti-Biblical – praying to saints and Mary. Whether Mary and/or the saints are prayed to, or whether they are petitioned for their prayers – neither practice is Biblical. Prayer is an act of worship. When we pray to God, we are admitting that we need His help. Directing our prayers to anyone other than God is robbing God of the glory that is His alone.

Another way Catholics "venerate" Mary and the saints is by creating statues and images of them. Many Catholics use images of Mary and/or the saints as "good luck charms." Any cursory reading of the Bible will reveal this practice as blatant idolatry (Exodus 20:4-6; 1 Corinthians 12:12; 1 John 5:21). Rubbing rosary beads is idolatry. Lighting candles before a statue or portrayal of a saint is idolatry. Burying a Joseph statue in hopes of selling your home (and countless other Catholic practices) is idolatry.

The terminology is not the issue. Whether the practice is described as "worship" or "veneration," or any other term, the problem is the same. Any time we ascribe something that belongs to God, to someone else, it is idolatry. The Bible nowhere instructs us to revere, pray to, rely on, or "idolize" anyone other than God. We are to worship God alone. Glory, praise, and honor belong to God alone. Only God is worthy to "...receive glory and honor and power..." (Revelation 4:11). God alone is worthy to receive our worship, adoration, and praise (Nehemiah 9:6; Revelation 15:4).

http://www.gotquestions.org/worship-saints-Mary.html

[josephdc]

@necrotic freak: Thus it is very important that we continually study our Catholic faith.

Good point about kissing the pictures of our loved ones as a gesture of our affection and longing for the object of our love who is actually the person and not the picture itself.

[junmar4]

sugod karon bro ayaw na jud pag kiss sa mga picture sa imong mga minihal sa kinabuhi labi na naa ka sa lain dapit... bitaw bro tinuod jud daghan catholics labi na mga tiguwang kuwang jud sa kaalam mahitungod sa sakto nga pamaagi sa simbahan..

and often misquoted by opportunistic groups as the real catholics.

[handsoff241]

@james you want to start this again or what?

please take time reading the first post.

[James307]

Roman Catholic Church Catechism vs. The Holy Bible


Catechism

1. Peter was the Head of the Apostles [552,768,880]

Bible

- Christ was the Head of the apostles (John 13:13)

Catechism

2. The Bishop, is the Successor
Of the Apostle [861-862, 936]

Bible

- The Apostles had no Successor, for to Succeed them one needed to be a witness of Christ's Resurrection (Acts 1:21, 22)

Catechism

3. The Pope, as the bishop of Rome, is the successor of Peter [882, 938]

Bible

-Peter had no Successor

Catechism

4. The bishop, with Popes as their head, rules the universal Church [883, 894-896].

Bible

-Christ, the Head of the Body, Rules the Universal Churches (Colossians 1:1

Catechism

5. God has Entrusted revelation to the Roman Catholic Bishops [81, 86]

Bible

- God has Entrusted revelation to the Saints (Jude 3)

Catechism

6. The Magisterium is the authoritative teacher of the Church [85, 87]

Bible

- The Holy Spirit is the authoritative teacher of the Church (John 14:26; 16:13; 1 John 2:27)

Catechism

8. The Pope is infallible interpreter of the Scripture [891]

Bible

-God Alone is infallible (Numbers 23:19)

Catechism

9. The Magisterium alone has the ability and the right to interpret the Scripture [85, 100,
939]

Bible

-Every Christian, aided by the Holy Spirit, has Ability and the right to interpret the Scripture (Acts 17:11; 1 Corinthians 2:12-16)

Catechism
10. Scripture is to be interpreted in the sense in which it has been define by the Magisterium [113, 119]

Bible

- Scripture must be Interpreted in the original sense intended by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 3:14 -16)

Catechism

11. The Magisterium has the right to define truth found only obscurely or implicitly of the revelation [66, 82

Bible

- No One has right to go beyond what is written in Scripture (1 Corinthians 4:6, Proverbs 30:6)

Catechism

12. The Scripture and Tradition together are the Word of God [81, 85, 97, and 182]

Bible

-Scripture is the Word of God (John 10:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20, 21). Tradition is the Words of men (Mark 7:1-13)

Catechism

13. Scripture and the Tradition together are the Church’s Supreme rule of Faith [80, 82]

-Scripture is the Church’s only Rule of Faith (Mark 7:7-13, 2 Timothy 3:16, 17)

[joshua259]

@james307

and what is your point sir?

[handsoff241]

@james dude seriously! wtf!

[junmar4]

@james307

and what is your point sir?

i guess this is a member of the group/s i am referring in my previous post.

[handsoff241]

i think there is a group of people carefully studying and thinking to come up with ingenious post so that they can express their terrible grief to the Roman Catholic church here in the forums, of which they cannot do in real life.

boo hoo poor guys hiding in a handle.

[necrotic freak]

Now honoring Manny Pacquiao is IDOLATRY!