{"id":1414,"date":"2017-09-24T10:07:25","date_gmt":"2017-09-24T15:07:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebcsv.com\/pa\/?p=1414"},"modified":"2017-09-24T10:08:16","modified_gmt":"2017-09-24T15:08:16","slug":"flee-idolatry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebcsv.com\/pa\/flee-idolatry\/","title":{"rendered":"Flee Idolatry"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Flee from Idolatry<\/h4>\n

What constitutes idolatry? It\u2019s easy for us to look at Hinduism with its multitudes of idols and know they are clearly guilty of engaging in idolatry. The same could be said for Buddhism- but how about Americans? How about Christians in general?<\/p>\n

In 1054 one of the Great Schisms in Christianity took place. The Eastern Church centered in Constantinople had begun the practice of utilizing \u201cicons\u201d or \u201cimages\u201d of saints as part of their worship. When an Eastern Christian would enter a church or place where an icon was located- he would cross himself and kiss the icon before engaging in worship.<\/p>\n

In Eastern theology, the icon is not an image or depiction of the saint or Jesus- but rather the actual manifestation of the heavenly represented on earth. This practice led to an irretrievable break in the Christian church. So even today, we western Christians know very little about Christians in the East- Syriacs, Coptic\u2019s, Orthodox.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, the western church then went on to promulgate relics, prayer to the saints, and use of Stained glass depictions of Biblical characters and God Himself. Just consider the paintings by Michelangelo on the Dome of the Sistine chapel. Furthermore, we American evangelicals love our paintings of Christ and movies that portray Him. So where is the line? When does a depiction of God become idolatry? Good question- lets wrestle with it.
\nBecause of grace,
\nTim<\/p>\n

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