Do Catholics Worship Statues?

In this 2nd installment of "Do/Are Catholics...? Former protestant pastor Keith Nester tackles one of the most common non-Catholics have about Catholics "Do Catholics Worship Statues?" Check it out and share it with someone who has this same question.

To support the channel and Keith's ministry:

For more info about Keith visit:

[michaelremillard]

Thank you brother for making clarity in all things Catholic ❤️❤️❤️

[jellojenna]

I'm glad you brought up the passages about the golden cherubim on the mercy seat! To me, on my way into the Catholic Church, that was a very convincing argument.

[CarolinaAlcantaraHirsch]

I was born and raised Catholic but it wasn't until I moved with a Protestant friend that I found out how much I love being a Catholic. She started questioning my faith s and tried to change me to her church by attacking me. She didn't notice that she actually helped me understand more and more my Catholicism and the reason for everything we believe. I love the Church that Jesus established. Following any other would mean for me not honoring what Jesus decided.

[shawnmarwein]

Keith you're truly a man of God 🙏 God bless you

[alyce-kayruckelshaus]

So good! As a Protestant, this really helps me to understand! Thank you!

[Doug]

Am a cradle Catholic and I never heard such stupidity until last year. Never in my life we were taught to worship status, so it was weird to me for hear that. Many times I thought the person asking that had a severe mental challenge or ignorance.

[Catholic]

Well said, thank for sharing the faith 🙏🏽

[tubinho]

Very well said Keith.

Matthew 7:1-2
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you"

One thing I noticed among many Protestants, is that they are very quick to judge, too self righteous, like they know everything, almost acting as if they were God.
My advice for my dear Catholics brothers would be, let them talk...and for my dear Protestant brothers would be, be careful, Satan was cast from heaven because of pride that originated from his desire to be God. Only God knows everything.

[julieelizabeth]

Viewing Protestant worship, it can also look like they are worshiping the music. Why is it okay to use our ears but not our eyes for aids to worship? BTW, we can thank St. Francis of Assisi (a Catholic saint) for the Nativity Scene!

[rfp]

Protestants are quick to criticize the use of statues and icons, but fail to realize when they use the same type of things themselves for the same exact reasons. What do I mean? Evangelicals and Protestants don't think twice about watching movies about Jesus. Nobody would logically say, "Look at them. They worship that film" or "They worship Jim Caveziel." They use those films because the movies help them imagine what happened 2000 years ago. Everyone understands it's a representation.

So what was a society that didn't have photography do? Icons and paintings are the ancient world's equivalent to modern day movies, ESPECIALLY given the fact that the vast majority of the world, to this day, is illiterate. So imagery is the only way they can engage or see the story of the gospel.

So the question arises: Why do they kneel before a statue? I believe it's simply a natural mode to get into when speaking to the holy. When I kneel before a statue of any kind I recognize it is a representation and nothing more and that includes pictures/statues of Mary, Jesus, any saint, etc.

In truth, if we're being totally blunt: every crucifix is historically inaccurate given that the reality of what happened to Jesus is that he was likely totally naked on the cross. But the purpose of a crucifix isn't to be historically accurate. It's to do as you said in your video, it's about veneration of those represented.

[MarioPoluan]

Thx for a great video.. I'm catholic from Indonesia 🇲🇨

[l.carorivas]

My best friends from the University are Protestants and you have helped me understand them. Before we went to Mass together and others I went with them to their temple, we respected the faith, they are good people, but sometimes they asked me a lot of questions and they didn't even let me answer the first one when they were already on # 20, 2 against 1. At that moment I asked the Holy Spirit to calm me down and not respond in a bad way since it is to fall into temptation, especially when they offended Mary, Our Mother saying that Jesus could have come to the world through a clay cup or Even from a donkey, that she was not special, they wouldn't let me explain anything, that's why I kept quiet. I ask the Holy Spirit to open the Understanding .

[raymond-rodrihealth.]

In the old testament God ordered that an image statue be made of a snake that all who presented themselves in front of it be healed from the snake bites.

[queenofhearts]

Awesome explanation, Keith! I hear this objection all the time and get find I get the same reaction. I often explain it like this:

Catholics DO NOT pray to or worship statues. Statues are for visualization purposes much like that photo of a beloved family member you have in your home... so are pictures. Nor do Catholics "worship" Mary or the saints... worship (latria - meaning the highest form) is for God in the Trinity of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit ONLY.

We honor (hyperdulia - highly honor) Mary as the mother of Jesus, as Jesus did, and our Spiritual Mother that Jesus gave to us. Mary is the perfect human example for us to follow... she said yes to what God asked of her when it could be a problem for her in her human life. We must also say yes to God’s will as Jesus did, too.

The saints we honor (dulia - simple honor). They and their lives are much better examples to follow than any sports figure, actor or music artist. God created all these human examples to us... they are his creations for us to admire much like an artist will make a painting for us to admire. Does admiring one of God’s creations take away anything from Him? No... it praises Him for making such wonderful creations and this makes Him happy much like admiring a painting would make the artist happy. We worship God and thank Him for all he has created.

If anyone wants details about the Catholic Faith, I recommend they download the Laudate app. It’s free and contains a searchable Catechism and all the documents, including two versions of the Catholic Bible, referenced in the footnotes. It has prayers, daily Mass readings with reflexions and interactive rosary with bible verses that go with the mysteries, etc. It’s a “one stop shop” for everything Catholic explained.

“There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be."
Fulton J. Sheen

[seliga_mn]

thank you so much for all the videos you made, i learn a lot even when i been catholic all my live but you give us like the right tools to defend our faith, God bless u

[donm-tvcm]

Great treatment on this topic, Keith. As I've previously mentioned, I'm a Protestant working on becoming Catholic, eagerly awaiting the start of the next RCIA cycle. Of all the “issues” leveled at the Catholic Church, this one has probably been the biggest struggle for me in my journey. Your explanation goes a long way – thank you! But I foresee being uncomfortable with the idea for some time yet. That's what RCIA is for, right?

Question: as a Catholic, is this practice a “requirement”? I can easily see how the core concept of 1 Corinthians 8:1-12 could be applied here (especially with my being of “weak conscience” in this area). And I also think of Ephesians 5:3-5, where it talks about how there must not be among us “even a hint” (or appearance) of things that are idolatrous (v. 5). I'm not asking this to criticize at all. I just want to know: is this something I'm going to be asked to do before I can be in full communion, or can I abstain until I become more comfortable with it as long as I'm not judging others that do it?

[leonardstefanyshyn]

Thankyou sir. Before there was a bible there was icon writing. Stories and details in pictures. I have done icon writing with a Byzantine priest. Opens the eyes to a beautiful part of the early church.
The arc of the covenant was a perfect example of how we humans need material things so we can understand. It’s when we use all the senses that we can go really deep.

[JohnAlbertRigali]

I’m still surprised that this is a thing. Even before I started inquiring into Christianity, I understood that Catholics (and Orthodox) use icons for what they are and don’t worship them. Come on, Protestants!

Keith, you said much more than necessary, but you’re so good at this that it was a pleasure to hear anyway. 👍🏻✝️

[rubenmartinez]

Good vid! I go straight to the scriptures and use the same you used and that usually chills them out.

[cynthiax]

➨CARVED IMAGES IN THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, INTERCESSION OF MARY AND THE SAINTS, HONOURING MARY, AND BOWING AS A SIGN OF HONOUR AND RESPECT
(All copied from the protestant version of the bible by me)
Sacred Images are Biblical & mocking & destroying them is a serious sin, an act of blasphemy:

➨ SACRED IMAGES: Sacred images are not idols and it is an act of blasphemy to attack them:

● EXODUS 25:18-22 God commands Moses to make STATUES of Angels.

● NUMBERS 21:8-9 God commands another image to be made, a serpent.

● EZEKIEL 41:18-25 KJV
(EZEKIEL's VISION OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD ADORNED WITH CARVED IMAGES:)...
18 And it was made with CHERUBIMS (ANGELS) and PALM TREES, so that a palm tree was between a CHERUB and EVERY CHERUB HAD TWO FACES;
19 So that the FACE OF A MAN was toward the PALM TREE on the one side, and the FACE OF A LION toward the PALM TREE on the other side: it was made through all the house round about.
20 From the ground unto above the door were CHERUBIMS (ANGELS) and PALM TREES made, and on the wall of the temple.
21 The posts of the temple were squared, and the face of the sanctuary; the appearance of the one as the appearance of the other.
22 The altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me, This is the table that is before the Lord.
23 And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors.
24 And the doors had two LEAVES apiece, two turning leaves; two leaves for the one door, and two leaves for the other door.
25 And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, CHERUBIMS and PALM TREES, like as were made upon the walls; and there were thick planks upon the face of the porch without.

➨ BOWING as a sign of honour / respect:
●1 KINGS 2:19 Solomon bows to his Mother. (he HONOURS Her)
● JOSHUA 7:6: 6 Joshua & the elders of Israel tore their clothing and lay prostrate (face down on the ground) before the Ark of the Lord. (an OBJECT)

➨ HONOURING MARY:
● LUKE 1:48 All generations will call Mary blessed.

➨ INTERCESSION OF MARY & THE SAINTS IN THE BIBLE: ...
Including proof that saints are not among the dead
The Protestant claim that we are forbidden to speak to / pray to Mary and the saints is NOWHERE in the Bible. In fact, the following scriptures were copied (by me) directly from the Protestant version of the Bible: ...
➨INTERCESSION of a holy person on our behalf:
● JOB 42:8 8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams, and GO TO MY SERVANT JOB, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and MY SERVANT Job SHALL PRAY FOR YOU, FOR I WILL ACCEPT HIS PRAYER NOT TO DEAL WITH YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR FOLLY; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.
➨INTERCESSION of MARY: JOHN 1 At the wedding feast at Cana, it was Mary who asked Jesus to help the wedding party.
➨INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS: REV 5:8 The prayers of the Saints are offered to Jesus the lamb.
➨The KING Honours his mother's request:
● 1 KINGS 2:20: Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you.”
(Jesus is the Greatest King and he also honours his mother's requests)

SAINTS ALSO WORKED MIRACLES:
➨ JOHN 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.
➨ PAUL RAISES A MAN FROM THE DEAD:
ACTS 20:7-12
9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead.
10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.20:
➨SAINTS ARE NOT AMONG THE DEAD: AND THEIR INTERCESSION IS BIBLICAL: They share in the ressurrection of Jesus: (Protestants attack Biblical saints while they follow dead reformers)
● MATTHEW 27: 52 -53: When Jesus was raised from the dead Many were raised up with him. 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
● LUKE 23 v 39-43...Jesus told the good thief "today you will be with me in paradise"
● REV 19 v 14...when Jesus returns he will be accompanied by his heavenly armies of saints.
● 2 COR 5 v 8...Paul tells us that to be absent with the body is to be with the Lord.
● JOHN 11 v 25-26...Jesus said I am the ressurrection and the life, he who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives, believing in me will never die.
● LUKE 1619-30 The story of the rich man and Lazarus show The Rich man, Lazarus and Abraham, all concious and interacting with each other even though they have physically died.
● LUKE 9:30-31 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias:
31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.
(Moses & Elijah were alive, and were yalking with Jesus)
● REV 6:10 The souls of the martyrs are before the throne of God, crying out for justice. (they are conscious and actively petitioning God)
● HEB 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,
● MATT 17:1-13 ...At the Transformation of Jesus, he is seen speaking to Moses and Elijah, further showing that Holy ones of God are not among the dead.
➨HONOURING MARY: LUKE 1:48: All generations will call Mary Blessed. We Catholics are the ones who call her the BLESSED Virgin Mary and treat her accordingly.

➨NOWHERE does the bible permit protestants (or anyone else) to Scrutinize & monitor the prayers of other people, nor to judge their sincerity or their salvation.

Protestantism does not come from jesus. It began with Martin Luther in 1517 & exists Only to oppose the Catholic church which Jesus founded 15 centuries B4 the protestant revolt. They only know & accept the PARTS of the Bible that suit them and they do not have an accurate bible either.