Adoration
The English word adoration is derived from the Latin word adorare, which meant to "speak to." It was originally used to describe the ancient pagan Romans' act of kissing the hand or foot of a statue that was used to represent a particular "god," or person, that they were worshiping - they bowed before, and prayed to, a lifeless piece of stone. When the Roman empire (see Ancient Empires - Rome, Emperors and Popes and Daniel's Statue) became (after the Romans had crucified Jesus Christ, and martyred most of the true apostles) "Christian" (their own version of it, that is, which was, and continues to be, an abominable substitute of the true Bible-based Christian Church founded by Jesus Christ and His apostles), many of their old heathen practices and beliefs were simply re-labeled as "Christian" - including the use of idols which were then supposedly used in a "holy" way to "worship the true God," or "the saints" (see What Is A Saint?), or in particular, Mary, who would be horrified to see how she is being sinfully idolized by millions of generally well-meaning, but grossly misled and deceived, Christian-professing people (if you have any such religious statues, rid yourself of them without delay - they are detestable in God's sight).
The Second Commandment
"You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them; for I The Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate Me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love Me and keep My Commandments." (Exodus 20:4-6 RSV)
God Will Shame And Condemn Those Who Have Idols
"Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any." All who make idols are nothing, and the things they delight in do not profit; their witnesses neither see nor know, that they may be put to shame. Who fashions a god or casts an image, that is profitable for nothing? Behold, all his fellows shall be put to shame, and the craftsmen are but men; let them all assemble, let them stand forth, they shall be terrified, they shall be put to shame together." (Isaiah 44:8-11 RSV)
God Is Not Made Of Wood, Plastic, or Cement
God Is Not To Be Represented By Wood, Plastic, or Cement
"Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the Deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now He commands all men everywhere to repent, because He has fixed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom He has appointed, and of this He has given assurance to all men by raising Him from the dead." (Acts 17:29-31 RSV)
Idols Are Of Demons
"What do I imply then? That food offered to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons." (1 Corinthians 10:19-21 RSV)
Only God, The One True God, Can Save You
"For they themselves report concerning us what a welcome we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols, to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, Whom He raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come." (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 RSV)
Fact Finder: Worshiping pagan idols is obviously wrong. But is it also improper to use idols that supposedly represent The True God, to attempt to worship Him with them?
Exodus 32:4-5,7-8
Note: The Israelites intended the infamous golden calf to represent God. They described it as, "These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!" (Exodus 32:4 RSV), and they were going to use it for a "feast to The Lord" (Exodus 32:5 RSV). Did God accept their worship of Him with the use of an idol? No, God declared that they had "corrupted themselves" (Exodus 32:7-8 RSV)
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