The Ancient, Biblical Christian Practice of Venerating Relics

Aleteia ^ | 17.09.2013 | Brantly Millegan

[xone]

How does interrupting a burial and throwing a man in a hole to get away from marauding Moabites become relic veneration? The man revives after hitting Elisha's bones. Nothing more is said about the incident. Centuries later, venerate relics.

As for touching the hem of Christ clothes Jesus said her 'faith' had saved her, not the act ie. work of her touching.

Acts 11

11 And God was doing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that even handkerchiefs or aprons that had touched his skin were carried away to the sick, and their diseases left them and the evil spirits came out of them.

God was doing, don't praise God for His mercy, preserve handkerchiefs and aprons to venerate. The handkerchiefs and aprons weren't the source of the power that performed the healing acts, God was.

[ifinnegan]

This is like worshipping little shards of the Buddha’s tooth.

http://web.archive.org/web/20091026165608/http://geocities.com/mstkg/tooth.htm

Pagans go crazy over this kind if stuff. They love it.

As Christians, we ought not to.

[Uri’el-2012]

So Protestants (and Catholics) may be surprised to learn that the Church’s beliefs and practices surrounding relics actually come from the Bible and the early Church.

2 Kings 13 20-22 Interesting Eisegesis.

The early "ekklesia" consisted of Torah observant messianic Jews,
and therefore they did not believe in and rejected Pagan Traditions
such as worshipping bones, blood, and garments.

The tzitzit on the corners of the Tallit ( prayer shawl )
consist of knots which spell out the NAME of the LORD (YHvH).
And thus have nothing to do with Pagan Relics. The woman was
calling on the NAME of the LORD for salvation.

In Acts 19.11-12, Paul is alive.

This article is either purposefully deceitful or
shows complete ignorance of Holy Scriptures.
This exercise consists of ripping verses out of context
in order to prove the existing Pagan Traditions.

What is the need of Pagan Tradition when
calling on the NAME of Yah'shua is all
that is needed for salvation ?

Since Jesus' NAME in Hebrew is Yah'shua
which in Hebrew means YHvH be/is my Salvation !

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach

[Mrs. Don-o]

OK. So be a saint!

[Carpe Cerevisi]

I’ve got a jar of toenail clippings for sale.

Simony is a sin (yeah, I know you were being facetious).

[humblegunner]

So be a saint!

Can't.

Got kicked out of Saint school the first week.

[Salvation]

The Ancient, Biblical Christian Practice of Venerating Relics

Former atheist promises encounter with God through saints' relics
Russians Flock to See Virgin Mary Relic
Israeli archaeologists: tiny Christian relic found
Christ's 'True Face' Relic Found in Tenn. Thief's Closet
The True Face of Jesus Christ: Holy relic hidden in a closet
Nearly 800-Year-Old Religious Relic Stolen From Calif. Church
The "Titulus Crucis" Sign of I.N.R.I, a True Relic of Rome
Spanish Man Miraculously Cured by John Paul II's Hat (i.e. relic) [Catholic Caucus]
Police recover relic stolen from Boston cathedral [Catholic Caucus]
[CATHOLIC CAUCUS] Relic of True Cross stolen from cathedral recovered (Boston)

Relic of cross, stolen from Boston church, recovered in Vermont
Pagan Relic Found at Ashkelon Hospital Site
Relic of Saint Mary Magdalene...Makes First North American Tour
Relic of St. Mary Magdalene to visit U.S. [Catholic Caucus]
Delighted antiques dealer discovers 1,300-year-old Knights Templar relic at car boot sale
Healed by monk’s divine intervention? (miraculous recovery linked to monk relic) [Catholic Caucus]
Catholic relic (of St. Therese of the Child Jesus) nicked from Toronto church [Catholic Caucus]
Mother Teresa's Relic Heads For Europe
Spiritual gift, Paterson Catholic gets relic of 1st U.S.-Born Saint (Catholic Caucus)
Being Catholic: Sacred Things, Relics and the Incorruptibles

[Pyro7480]

Wow, thanks for the link!

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Obviously the Old Testament King Hezekiah did not share the belief in relics.

2Ki 18:4
He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan.

If this had not happened I wonder what chapels would be built for it, and votive offerings would today’s Christians be offering to it! After all, it is connected directly with Moses!

[Alex Murphy]

I’ve got a jar of toenail clippings for sale.

FWIW, I hear that Catherine of Sienna's wedding ring may be available, too.

I'm always amazed that Catholics don't consider it blasphemy for them to fill Tupperware containers with odd bits of skin that dropped off of Jesus during his life. They go apoplectic when Protestants take notice of their pantry shelves, however!

[roamer_1]

EXACTLY right bump.

[wonkowasright]

You forgot to include.... pagans wore clothes....... :-)

[Mrs. Don-o]

Knock on the door, hard. Make them let you in.

[Albion Wilde]

Thanks for the original thread — lovely!

[The_Reader_David]

Unfortunately in our day many such bishops are unworthy of the office.

In our day? What was it St. John Chrysostom said about Hell being paved with bishop's skulls? No one is worthy of the episcopal office, though some, by God's grace, execute it well enough that in the end they will hear "Well done, good and faithful servant."

[The_Reader_David]

If after your death the Latin church canonizes you, or the Orthodox proclaim your glorification, I’m sure there will be interested buyers when your estate puts it up for auction. If you’re hoping for that, you’ll need to devote rather more time to repentance of sins, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and the like, and a bit less to suppressing blog pimps here at FR. In the meantime, I think we’ll all pass on the offer.

[:-)======

[boatbums]

For you are dust, And to dust you shall return. (Genesis 3;19)

[Brian Kopp DPM]

That’s the best post I’ve seen on FR so far this year.

[SuperSonic]

4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.

5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;

Exodus 20:4, 5