Seeing is Believing

You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; you shall not bow down before them or worship them. (Exodus 20:4-5)

Protestants break this commandment out as a separate one of the ten given to Moses (and combine coveting of neighbor's wife and goods). Many of them will typically point to this commandment when arguing that Catholics use statues and icons in their worship which is forbidden.

I can see where their confusion comes from, but I believe they are misinterpreting this verse in the Old Testament. My understanding of this rule is that God is telling the Israelites to neither (a) create a statue and worship THAT STATUE, nor (b) do not worship created things in place of the Creator. On both counts, Catholics are not at fault. We do not create icons and statues in order to worship the statue itself, nor do we worship any of God's created things.

Some non-Catholics are misguided in thinking that we worship Mary or the saints, both things that are created by God. In fact, we do not worship these men and women, but rather honor them as examples of brothers and sisters who provide models for a grace-filled life and faith in God.

When we place artwork in our churches of Jesus or the Holy Spirit (in the form of a dove or a tongue of fire), we are not worshiping the artwork but using it as a visual representation -- something that we can focus our senses on to assist in our prayer life. God incorporates man's senses in to all His covenants. Whether we see a rainbow in the sky, read about Jesus curing a blind man with mud and spit, or see John the Baptist baptizing Christ in the Jordan, we see how God understands that we as humans are created to incorporate our senses into how we worship Him. The very fact that He sent His Son to become man suggests that He desired for us to SEE him in a tangible way.

So do not design a sculpture out of dollar bills and worship the materials in the sculpture. Do not embalm a cow and pray for "udder" happiness. And do not wear a lucky rabbit's foot, a charm bracelet, or carry a special coin in your pocket and place your faith in the object itself. But if you hang a crucifix in your home, or burn incense, or place a holy card of St Christopher in your car to serve as reminders that we should trust in God and turn to Him at all times, then delight your senses while proclaiming Him as the Lord your God!