On the “Catholic Answers” website, we read this, “Catholics use statues, paintings, and other artistic devices to recall the person or thing depicted. Just as it helps to remember one’s mother by looking at her photograph, so it helps to recall the example of the saints by looking at pictures of them. Catholics also use statues as teaching tools. In the early Church they were especially useful for the instruction of the illiterate. Many Protestants have pictures of Jesus and other Bible pictures in Sunday school for teaching children. Catholics also use statues to commemorate certain people and events, much as Protestant churches have three-dimensional nativity scenes at Christmas.”

How should we respond to this? From reading this, does it seem logical that we would, or could, or should use images and statues in our worship services? From the above paragraph, we read that these statues are used to “recall the person or thing depicted.” We need to be so cautious of any stimulus that is used to draw our hearts and minds to the Lord. While they may not exist for the purpose of worshipping them, these images and statues can still draw us to do just that. Some will pray while looking at a statue. Some will look at a depiction of Jesus or Mary and pray towards it. This need for something to help us fix our minds on the Lord is really an indication of our own lack of spirituality.

Let’s read Psalm 8:3-4, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?” King David, as he lies on his back at nighttime is drawn to think about the greatness of the Lord and the smallness of men. As he peers upon God’s wonderful creation, he is brought to meditate upon the One who created all things. We also read in Psalm 19:1, “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.” The Apostle Paul made a similar observation in Romans 1:20, “For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead…” God reveals Himself to us through His creation. We ‘see’ Him in His handiwork.

To some, a statue may help remind you of the Lord, but a statue cannot reveal anything about who He is. A statue cannot indicate the fact that He is the eternal Son of God. It cannot teach you that Christ is filled with grace and truth. It cannot show you your utter sinfulness and need of a redeemer. No, to learn about those, and many other, things…you need to look INTO the Word of God, instead of looking AT a statue or image. The Lord Jesus said in John 5:39, “Search the scriptures…they are they which testify of me.” To really be drawn into the presence of the Lord, we need to know more about Him. We learn of Him when we search, read, and meditate upon His Word. We draw closer to Him and love Him more as we learn more of Him. No statue required! (235.4)