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===Avoiding the appearance of evil in worship: Iconoclasm===

===Avoiding the appearance of evil in worship: Iconoclasm===

Protestants have been taught to "avoid every appearance of evil" <ref>1 Thessalonians 5:22</ref>. This includes the appearance of idolatry. They respond that whether idolatry is intended in the heart or not, idolatry is in fact being committed. The very '''''act''''' of bowing and kneeling before images and representations of God, of any one of the Persons of the Holy [[Trinity]], of Jesus, Mary and the saints—and what many people regard as the "ghoulish" and "loathsome" veneration of bits and pieces and parts (relics) of the dead bodies (corpses) of the saints as sacred remnants of the temple of the Holy Spirit and parts of the body of Christ <ref>[http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/6-19.htm 1 Corinthians 6:19] and [[http://biblhub.com/1_corinthians/12-27.htm 12:27]</ref> —is ''[[ipso facto]]'' of itself, by the very fact of the action itself, seen by them as [[proof]] of an undeniably clear cut '''''act''''' of idolatry and a superstitious worship of the dead,<ref>The Bible condemns the worship of the dead. Deuteronomy 18:9-13; 2 Kings 21:6; 23:24; 1 Chronicles 10:13-14; Isaiah 8:19; 29:4; Luke 16:31. <br>Protestant [[polemic]] against Catholicism represents Catholic and Orthodox devotion to the saints as evidence of the [[Syncretism|syncretistic]] cultivation of pagan idolatry. See the article [https://www.bible-knowledge.com/praying-to-dead-saints/ Praying to Dead Saints (bibleknowledge.com)]. See also [[Great Apostasy]].</ref> which God condemns and abhors as an [[abomination]], whether or not they admit it. This has been the motivation for all the various, recurring campaigns of [[iconoclasm]] throughout history, which was condemned as [[Heresy|heretical]] by the [[Ecumenical council|Seventh Ecumenical Council]]. Catholics respond to the charge of idolatry with the words of Jesus in the Gospel: "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" John 7:24 (KJV). They say that since they do not intend to commit idolatry, therefore they don't. They claim they have been wrongly judged.<ref>See Revelation 22:11; 1 Peter 2:11-17; Romans 14:1–15:13</ref> <ref>See the following articles:

Protestants have been taught to "avoid every appearance of evil" <ref>1 Thessalonians 5:22</ref>. This includes the appearance of idolatry. They respond that whether idolatry is intended in the heart or not, idolatry is in fact being committed. The very '''''act''''' of bowing and kneeling before images and representations of God, of any one of the Persons of the Holy [[Trinity]], of Jesus, Mary and the saints—and what many people regard as the "ghoulish" and "loathsome" veneration of bits and pieces and parts (relics) of the dead bodies (corpses) of the saints as sacred remnants of the temple of the Holy Spirit and parts of the body of Christ <ref>[http://biblehub.com/1_corinthians/6-19.htm 1 Corinthians 6:19] and [[http://biblhub.com/1_corinthians/12-27.htm 12:27]</ref> —is ''[[ipso facto]]'' of itself, by the very fact of the action itself, seen by them as [[proof]] of an undeniably clear cut '''''act''''' of idolatry and a superstitious worship of the dead,<ref>The Bible condemns the worship of the dead. Deuteronomy 18:9-13; 2 Kings 21:6; 23:24; 1 Chronicles 10:13-14; Isaiah 8:19; 29:4; Luke 16:31. <br>Protestant [[polemic]] against Catholicism represents Catholic and Orthodox devotion to the saints as evidence of the [[Syncretism|syncretistic]] cultivation of pagan idolatry. See the article [https://www.bible-knowledge.com/praying-to-dead-saints/ Praying to Dead Saints (bibleknowledge.com)]. See also [[Great Apostasy]].</ref> which God condemns and abhors as an [[abomination]], whether or not they admit it. This has been the motivation for all the various, recurring campaigns of [[iconoclasm]] throughout history, which was condemned as [[Heresy|heretical]] by the [[Ecumenical council|Seventh Ecumenical Council]].  

 

Catholics respond to the charge of idolatry with the words of Jesus in the Gospel: "Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment" John 7:24 (KJV). They say that since they do not intend to commit idolatry, therefore they don't. They claim they have been wrongly judged.<ref>See Revelation 22:11; 1 Peter 2:11-17; Romans 14:1–15:13</ref> <ref>See the following articles:

*[https://www.papalencyclicals.net/councils/ecum07.htm Second Council of Nicaea, 787 A.D. (papalencyclicals.net)]

*[https://www.papalencyclicals.net/councils/ecum07.htm Second Council of Nicaea, 787 A.D. (papalencyclicals.net)]

*[https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/the-bible-supports-praying-to-the-saints The Bible supports praying to the saints, Fr. Mitch Pacwa (catholic.com)] ''A point-by-point discussion of and response to Protestant objections''.

*[https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/the-bible-supports-praying-to-the-saints The Bible supports praying to the saints, Fr. Mitch Pacwa (catholic.com)] ''A point-by-point discussion of and response to Protestant objections''.