Idol Worship

The other day, over at Creative Minority Report, there was a post on Hilary Clinton’s recent trip to Mexico. Here is a excerpt:

During her recent visit to Mexico, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton made an unexpected stop at the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and left a bouquet of white flowers “on behalf of the American people,” after asking who painted the famous image…. After observing it for a while, Mrs. Clinton asked “who painted it?” to which Msgr. Monroy responded “God!”

Now I’ve never been a fan of Hilary. I’m actually surprised she didn’t know much about the Virgin of Guadalupe. But then again, if you were raised Catholic like I was, maybe you wouldn’t know much about it. But that’s not the point of this.

Up until several years ago, I was really fascinated by the Shroud of Turin, a 14 foot linen cloth with the image of crucified on it. Like Guadalupe, both are apparently unexplained by science. As a result, the Catholic Church considers them holy relics.

But both of these beg the question: would God a) paint the Virgin of Guadalupe or b) allow a pseudo-photograph of Himself to exist or be worshiped? I’m only talking about these two relics, but I know there are many more. If we consult God’s Word, the answer has to be “no.”

“You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneth or in the water under the earth. You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God….” –Genesis 20:4-5.

Growing up Catholic, we were always told that although there are statues in the church, they are “reminders”; we do not worship them. I know the rhetoric behind this and while that sounds nice, it’s a slippery slope. If we only talk about Guadalupe, Mexicans–and since my family traces their origin back to Mexico, I think I can speak on this–have an almost fanatical reverence for “La Virgen.” I don’t think God would have painted this picture so it can be worshiped.

Jesus told Thomas:

“Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” –John 20:29.

That’s us! We believe in a risen Savior though we have never seen Him. He alone is worthy to be praised!

May He Increase!