There is a very kind Protestant theologian and pastor on You Tube. I think he’s Reformed Baptist. Anyway, he basically said that Catholics are idolators while saying that he couldn’t judge people’s hearts. It’s about, you know, the icons and images used in devotional worship.
Now, I am sure that some worship saints, but Catholics are warned not to. It’s complicated, I know...
So, here’s my response that I would like to save here.
This nice pastor is trying to build bridges, which I appreciate, but he “went there”. No offense meant or taken and everywhere, really, in a short space of time. It was some kind of rebuttal or something...
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I don’t see how you are debating with Catholicism. You seem to be arguing with your Mom, the Church, my dear separated brother. I’ve been there…sola scriptura is a doctrinal development, the result of Protestant tradition. Scripture is a result of Church Tradition. It would be nice if Protestants recognized those two facts. Tradition is not necessarily bad even in the opinions of Protestants. Otherwise why are there so many and varied Protestant traditions that are held with great dogmatic insistence?
Friendly advice. If you are going to try to refute Catholicism, know what the Church actually teaches. The CCC is free online. Idolatry is rampant in Reformed circles and the subject of numerous sermons on the subject. Protestants are idolatrous evidently.
The truth is that every believer has to face the issue of his or her own idols. Even you, my brother, are an idolator. Besides, you don’t understand what an icon is in practice. Remember. Luther opposed the iconoclasts among the Lutheran ranks. If they were idols as being used to worship false gods who were really demons, wouldn’t he have become an iconoclast himself instead of opposing the removal of icons from churches?
Here’s a good book on idolatry written by a Catholic woman - gasp! Strange Gods by Elizabeth Scalia.
Your arguments are weak at best and even a bit silly may I say? How can I say that? They used to be mine, and I was weak and silly! Not that I am now strong and smart, but I do understand better what icons are and how to properly use them in worship. Basically, worship the God who created the saint and realize that God’s goal is that every believer become saintly. Godly if you prefer. Christlike.
There is a great cloud of witnesses that have gone before and they are cheering us on. Really. They can pray for us - which is another issue...
Take care, and God bless! Stay away from idols!
https://www.amazon.com/Strange-Gods-Unmasking-Idols-Everyday/dp/1594713421
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Granted, I may be projecting my own journey on him, but when I started looking up what the Church actually taught, my attitude began to change. Then, when I started to read the Church Fathers in their Catholic or Orthodox context, well the walls began to fall.
And then I was introduced to the Communion of Saints...in a very personal way...
