Thanks for the insight. I figured it was along those lines.
This reminds me of the sin of the calf in Exodus 32. The conventional opinion among Bible scholars for many years was that the calf was another god that the Isrealites decided to worship when they thought Moses would not return. That opinion among Bible scholars is now changing and the text would seem to agree. The prevailing opinion now is that the calf was meant as a throne to Yahweh, replacing the ark of the covenant, since they thought they had lost their mediator, Moses. If this be the case then the sin of the calf is not a First commandment violation but rather a Second commandment violation.
I’m struck by the similtude of the sin of the calf and the temples of Rome. Like the Israelites, the Romanists set up their graven images and altars performing their ritualistic dances while the mediator, Christ, is in conference with Yahweh.
Even sadder, when reform is enacted to put away the graven images the people hearts remain cold to repentance and decry the loss of their graven images.
***I’m struck by the similtude of the sin of the calf and the temples of Rome. Like the Israelites, the Romanists set up their graven images and altars performing their ritualistic dances while the mediator, Christ, is in conference with Yahweh.
Even sadder, when reform is enacted to put away the graven images the people hearts remain cold to repentance and decry the loss of their graven images.***
Many Protestants don’t understand icons whatsoever, their beginning, their purposes and their effectiveness.
Christians were largely recruited from the lower class Jewish and Gentile populations who were illiterate. Having written Scripture was fine for the temples and for the priestly class, but over 95% of the population was illiterate. Icons were developed in the first century in order to remind the people of the faith, prayers, etc.
The icons are not ‘graven images’ of gods and objects of worship. They are reminders of Christ and Christianity. They are not necessary, and no good Catholic will claim that. But they are nice, and 2000 years of Church history affirms their utility.