Do Catholics Worship Statues?

[@CarolinaAlcantaraHirsch]

I was born and raised Catholic but it wasn't until I moved with a Protestant friend that I found out how much I love being a Catholic. She started questioning my faith s and tried to change me to her church by attacking me. She didn't notice that she actually helped me understand more and more my Catholicism and the reason for everything we believe. I love the Church that Jesus established. Following any other would mean for me not honoring what Jesus decided.

[@bobdobbs943]

We catholics dont worship statues. We just burn incense befor them and bow down befor them

[@sharionclinkscale8973]

I believe any type of worship other than truly worship of the Most High God, is idol worship because as scripture says “you shall have no other Gods before me” (Exodus 20:30 kjv) “you shall not bare before the any graven image or likeness there of” (Exodus 20:4 kjv) these are Commandments if you break them you are anyone is in complete violation to the Laws instituted by the Al Mighty Himself.

[@sharionclinkscale8973]

We as believers are to gain a relationship with the Most High God, this was made possible by the shed blood of the Messiah, the Mashiach, whom the world calls “Jesus”.

[@jaimeteran4067]

@@sharionclinkscale8973 you should ask a Catholic Christian if the saints and the Virgin Mary are gods and they will tell you they are not gods. We only worship one God Almighty our lord Jesus Christ.

[@kainosktisis777]

⁠@@jaimeteran4067 Ok, but you’re assuming first that Catholics worship the saints; they don’t, but they do revere them as holy because they are united to Christ - holy in Him - conformed to His image - predestined as sons of God - sharing in His glory. That is Scriptural.

[@michaelremillard4215]

Thank you brother for making clarity in all things Catholic ❤️❤️❤️

[@jellojenna6]

I'm glad you brought up the passages about the golden cherubim on the mercy seat! To me, on my way into the Catholic Church, that was a very convincing argument.

[@dieselcowboy777]

The golden cherubim is something in heaven and the jews didn't pray to it for intercession.... Your statues are all from the pagan babylonian religion and they stuck saints names to them

[@loyloyarnesto2398]

@@dieselcowboy777 wait wait wait,so you say that the catholics statues is pagan？Are you didnt understand again ha？

[@dieselcowboy777]

@The Romish Papist praying to mary is a lie of the devil.... Christians worship truth.....lies are idolatry

[@dieselcowboy777]

@The Romish Papist yea because it isn't written in scripture to do such a thing

[@dieselcowboy777]

@The Romish Papist all new testament teachings have old testament types and shadows... There is no old testament type and shadow of praying to a woman named mary and there is no new testament teaching that either... It's just some garbage that Catholicism made up to deceive people

[@alyce-kayruckelshaus1224]

So good! As a Protestant, this really helps me to understand! Thank you!

[@KeithNester]

Thank you for watching! God bless you

[@alyce-kayruckelshaus1224]

@@KeithNester I totally agree that much of the confusion is because we use different vocabulary. There's also a problem of people drawing conclusions without ASKING someone who actually knows. (As you point out.) I'm learning so much from your videos because you are able to speak my language as a Protestant and help me understand what's usually said in Catholic lingo. (Kind of like the Evangelical problem of speaking Christianese when talking to unchurched people.) You're in a somewhat unique position because you understand both languages. It's wonderfully helpful. God bless you for taking the time to do this.

[@vandatomasik3780]

We ask friends for intercession

[@Alexander-fr1kk]

Having worshiped in the protestant realm for a few years it still boggles me that they use this is one of their main talking points against the Catholic faith. It is quite obvious but it is one of their basic talking points.

[@brotherdj777]

@@alyce-kayruckelshaus1224 so now Catholics are your brothers and sisters in Christ right? Do you think the evangelicals and catholics should merge.

[@tubinho79]

Very well said Keith. Matthew 7:1-2 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you" One thing I noticed among many Protestants, is that they are very quick to judge, too self righteous, like they know everything, almost acting as if they were God. My advice for my dear Catholics brothers would be, let them talk...and for my dear Protestant brothers would be, be careful, Satan was cast from heaven because of pride that originated from his desire to be God. Only God knows everything.

[@ClergetMusic]

They are their own gods by way of private judgment: they interpret the Bible the way the want to and no other man can tell them how (yet they themselves are men interpreting Scripture and so long as it isn’t SOMEONE ELSE telling them how they’re ok with it; CONTRADICTION)

[@amydacudao4626]

As if they are God .you are right. let them talk.its better to talk less than talk too much like this man..god bless

[@amydacudao4626]

I'm a Catholic and nobody can't change it.im grateful to be one.the more you talk the more you sin...forgive him for he doesn't know what he is saying...peace be with you

[@l.carorivas8424]

My best friends from the University are Protestants and you have helped me understand them. Before we went to Mass together and others I went with them to their temple, we respected the faith, they are good people, but sometimes they asked me a lot of questions and they didn't even let me answer the first one when they were already on # 20, 2 against 1. At that moment I asked the Holy Spirit to calm me down and not respond in a bad way since it is to fall into temptation, especially when they offended Mary, Our Mother saying that Jesus could have come to the world through a clay cup or Even from a donkey, that she was not special, they wouldn't let me explain anything, that's why I kept quiet. I ask the Holy Spirit to open the Understanding .

[@queenofhearts7726]

Eireann Emerald Amen! The worst I’ve heard is that the Catholic Church is satanic and the Pope is the anti-Christ. 😳🙄 Seriously! The Catholic Church gave them the Bible they so desperately try to use against us! If not for the Catholic Church, they would be worshiping idols like pagans, yet they call the CC pagan. Ugh! Bearing false witness at its worst!

[@KeithNester]

God bless you. Hang in there. Let the Holy Spirit guide you :)

[@raymond-rodrihealth.1233]

Mary is so special that even the Holy Spirit says the bible, even the Holy Spirit through elizabeth said " blessed are you among women". tell them that. but oviously they have been blinded by the enemy as an angel of ligh and would not see it .

[@keith2218]

Semper Reformanda 1517 Guys like Keith Nester sadden me. I believe, at some point, he believed the gospel and was saved. And because of God’s grace, he is still saved because of OSAS. Deep down he knows the truth and the true Word of God that he walked away from. I’ve listened to some of his videos. I do believe he loves God and the Lord Jesus Christ. He is, unfortunately, deceived as evidenced by his evangelization for Romanism and Popery. He needs prayer. I am a former Catholic saved by the grace of God 25 years ago. Many of my dear family members are still stuck in that wicked system. Many will not hear the truth of the gospel from me because of their hard core adherence to Popery. All we as believers can do is pray and preach the gospel and preach against this wicked system. Now is the hour of salvation.

[@scottsmith9030]

Thank You !

[@JohnAlbertRigali]

I’m still surprised that this is a thing. Even before I started inquiring into Christianity, I understood that Catholics (and Orthodox) use icons for what they are and don’t worship them. Come on, Protestants! Keith, you said much more than necessary, but you’re so good at this that it was a pleasure to hear anyway. 👍🏻✝️

[@brotherdj777]

When you bow before idols and pray to them it is called idolatry. Repent john rigali

[@donatio1]

Brother DJ are you daft? When Chinese people bow to eachother they worship eachother? When you Protestants bow before the cross are you worshipping the cross? When Protestants have statues of the nativity during Christmas holidays are worshiping the statues?? Double standards Lol. Repent DJ.

[@dieselcowboy777]

The statues all come from the babylonian religion....and they put saints names to them.... So the statues aren't saints....they are pagan idols ...and they believe the lies that they represent saints.... Christians worship truth ....not lies and these statues are lies which catholics worship as truth.....worshipping lies that these statues represent is still idolatry

[@donatio1]

dieselcowboy777 please show me specifically where the church dogma teaches that Catholics WORSHIP statues? And also kindly make me understand why God himself commanded the making of statues in Exodus 25:18-20 18 And make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 19 Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. 20 The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover.

[@brotherdj777]

@@donatio1 I challenge you to pray the rosary until you get a headache. You will not receive any answered prayer. I can testify that I receive answered prayer, by his grace and mercy. Can you?

[@harrypotterification]

That was powerful brother!

[@Doug8521]

Am a cradle Catholic and I never heard such stupidity until last year. Never in my life we were taught to worship status, so it was weird to me for hear that. Many times I thought the person asking that had a severe mental challenge or ignorance.

[@julieelizabeth4856]

Viewing Protestant worship, it can also look like they are worshiping the music. Why is it okay to use our ears but not our eyes for aids to worship? BTW, we can thank St. Francis of Assisi (a Catholic saint) for the Nativity Scene!

[@michaelibach9063]

Semper Reformanda 1517 funny, some pseudo pagan religion with a Christian wrapper is exactly how I feel about the thousands of Protestant denominations with their man made doctrines.

[@For3nity]

@@DeusEstPrimus All the faithful Catholics know their God is the Holy Trinity, and He is in heaven and in their hearts, not in the material object. So it is you who are committing idolatry if you believe the material object has power. But it's understandable because I used to think like you when I didn't know God yet (had no faith in God yet). God sees our heart, not our deeds or actions or bowings or kissings. God bless.

[@daninspiration4064]

St. Francis of Assisi I love the way he lived, if only I could have half of what he was...and how he loved Jesus I'd die a joyful man.

[@daninspiration4064]

@@eireannemerald1382 "Preach the Gospel always, when Necessary Use Words." -ST Francis of Assisi

[@chuckjohnson6349]

@@eireannemerald1382 you're blind facts are facts

[@queenofhearts7726]

Awesome explanation, Keith! I hear this objection all the time and get find I get the same reaction. I often explain it like this: Catholics DO NOT pray to or worship statues. Statues are for visualization purposes much like that photo of a beloved family member you have in your home... so are pictures. Nor do Catholics "worship" Mary or the saints... worship (latria - meaning the highest form) is for God in the Trinity of The Father, Son and Holy Spirit ONLY. We honor (hyperdulia - highly honor) Mary as the mother of Jesus, as Jesus did, and our Spiritual Mother that Jesus gave to us. Mary is the perfect human example for us to follow... she said yes to what God asked of her when it could be a problem for her in her human life. We must also say yes to God’s will as Jesus did, too. The saints we honor (dulia - simple honor). They and their lives are much better examples to follow than any sports figure, actor or music artist. God created all these human examples to us... they are his creations for us to admire much like an artist will make a painting for us to admire. Does admiring one of God’s creations take away anything from Him? No... it praises Him for making such wonderful creations and this makes Him happy much like admiring a painting would make the artist happy. We worship God and thank Him for all he has created. If anyone wants details about the Catholic Faith, I recommend they download the Laudate app. It’s free and contains a searchable Catechism and all the documents, including two versions of the Catholic Bible, referenced in the footnotes. It has prayers, daily Mass readings with reflexions and interactive rosary with bible verses that go with the mysteries, etc. It’s a “one stop shop” for everything Catholic explained. “There are not one hundred people in the United States who hate The Catholic Church, but there are millions who hate what they wrongly perceive the Catholic Church to be." Fulton J. Sheen

[@keith2218]

Queen of Hearts Mary is Not the perfect human to follow. Jesus is. Only he was sinless. And not because he was a part of some pagan, illogical Trinity. Jesus Christ chose to obey God in every circumstance and every condition, even the death of the Cross. Jesus could’ve chosen to sin and yield to temptation but did not. That’s why God highly exalted him and gave him a name above every other name. That is why Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Mary can’t help you. She wasn’t sinless and wasn’t a perpetual Virgin. Right now SHE IS DEAD! The Mary you bow and scrape before is a Satanic demon known as the Queen of Heaven.

[@queenofhearts7726]

Keith Let me guess... you are Jehovah’s Witness? Or maybe SDA? Jesus was both fully God and fully man.. two natures in one person. Because He was God, He was incapable of sin, but because He also had a human nature, He could be tempted. Mary was sinless because God gave her that gift of purity to make her a worthy vessel to carry His Son into this world. God did not “highly exalted” Jesus... Jesus was God Incarnate and now reigns in Heaven beside the Father. God’s ways seem to be “illogical” to our puny little human brains because there is no way for us to know all He does. Eve ate of the “Tree of Knowledge” because she was tempted by Satan into thinking that if she did, she would know everything God did. We all know how that turned out... not so well for her and Adam. Mary is the “Queen of Heaven” because Jesus is the King of Heaven. In the Jewish culture and practice as far back as King David and beyond, the Queen was the mother of the King, not his wife. The people brought their requests to the Queen Mother and she took those requests to the King. This is what Mary does with us. I say “with us” because we also bring our requests to Jesus. Mary is not dead, but she is in Heaven with Jesus, her son. We see Mary very much alive in the Book of Revelation. She was assumed body and soul into heaven. How can we believe this? The because the Old Testament tells us the Elijah and Enoch never died and Elijah was carried to heaven in a chariot of fire. Jesus loved His mother dearly... she was always with Him. How could we think Jesus would not want to do this for His own mother? Also, there is no physical evidence of her left on earth. We have the bones of Peter and the other apostles, why not Mary’s? Because she was taken body and soul to heaven. How do you know Mary was not a perpetual Virgin? Did you examine her? I think not. You have only what you have been told. Sadly, you’ve been told untrue information. I will pray for you. God bless.

[@queenofhearts7726]

Jesusis Lord well done, my friend! God bless!

[@cynthiax56]

@@keith2218 Without MARY you would not have JESUS and LIKE 1:24-48 tells us she is "Full of grace" (purity) and it tells us the LORD is WITH her. Belittling the mother of the KING is not a very wise thing to do

[@keith2218]

@@cynthiax56 the Mary of Popery is a demon straight from the pit of hell. She is not the Lord’s mother.

[@shawnmarwein8710]

Keith you're truly a man of God 🙏 God bless you

[@donm-tv8cm]

Great treatment on this topic, Keith. As I've previously mentioned, I'm a Protestant working on becoming Catholic, eagerly awaiting the start of the next RCIA cycle. Of all the “issues” leveled at the Catholic Church, this one has probably been the biggest struggle for me in my journey. Your explanation goes a long way - thank you! But I foresee being uncomfortable with the idea for some time yet. That's what RCIA is for, right? Question: as a Catholic, is this practice a “requirement”? I can easily see how the core concept of 1 Corinthians 8:1-12 could be applied here (especially with my being of “weak conscience” in this area). And I also think of Ephesians 5:3-5, where it talks about how there must not be among us “even a hint” (or appearance) of things that are idolatrous (v. 5). I'm not asking this to criticize at all. I just want to know: is this something I'm going to be asked to do before I can be in full communion, or can I abstain until I become more comfortable with it as long as I'm not judging others that do it?

[@echomike8591]

Lifelong catholic here, never in my mind crossed that statues or images I'm bowing and even kissing is God. I only love what they represent like the picture of my daughter on my celphone. Only fools would think im worshiping my celphone when i kiss my daugther's picture on it. It is a requirement? NO, live your Catholic life as what God revealed to you.

[@rubenmartinez4346]

Good vid! I go straight to the scriptures and use the same you used and that usually chills them out.

[@ryanleclaire3948]

Another homerun Keith. God bless.

[@brotherdj777]

If you are a catholic watching this video I challenge you to get to know the bible. I pray that Jesus will open your eyes and ears. Come out of dead religion and have a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is Jesus's precious blood that cleanses us from sin. Mary cannot save you nor hear you. Jesus is the only way to heaven.(John 14:6) We must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. (John 3:3). Your "good" works will not get you to heaven, it is by the grace of Jesus so that no man can boast. I tell you out of love. Stop the foolishness, turn to Jesus.

[@MarioPoluan]

Thx for a great video.. I'm catholic from Indonesia 🇲🇨

[@junelledembroski9183]

Nope we don’t. ✅

[@Catholic1391]

Well said, thank for sharing the faith 🙏🏽

[@aci.]

Your videos are on point. Your video titles are catchy and easy to find, in case a Protestant or another denomination would like to learn more about the Catholic faith. More importantly, you are able to express your arguments in an organized and logical manner. As I commented in another video of yours, your videos deserve more views. Just keep uploading quality content like this, I know your videos will get noticed more and hopefully bring more Protestants to the arms of the Catholic Church. God bless!

[@KeithNester]

Thank you so much for the kind words

[@rfp313]

Protestants are quick to criticize the use of statues and icons, but fail to realize when they use the same type of things themselves for the same exact reasons. What do I mean? Evangelicals and Protestants don't think twice about watching movies about Jesus. Nobody would logically say, "Look at them. They worship that film" or "They worship Jim Caveziel." They use those films because the movies help them imagine what happened 2000 years ago. Everyone understands it's a representation. So what was a society that didn't have photography do? Icons and paintings are the ancient world's equivalent to modern day movies, ESPECIALLY given the fact that the vast majority of the world, to this day, is illiterate. So imagery is the only way they can engage or see the story of the gospel. So the question arises: Why do they kneel before a statue? I believe it's simply a natural mode to get into when speaking to the holy. When I kneel before a statue of any kind I recognize it is a representation and nothing more and that includes pictures/statues of Mary, Jesus, any saint, etc. In truth, if we're being totally blunt: every crucifix is historically inaccurate given that the reality of what happened to Jesus is that he was likely totally naked on the cross. But the purpose of a crucifix isn't to be historically accurate. It's to do as you said in your video, it's about veneration of those represented.

[@raymond-rodrihealth.1233]

In the old testament God ordered that an image statue be made of a snake that all who presented themselves in front of it be healed from the snake bites.

[@vladlucius6928]

But later they started worshipping it

[@loyloyarnesto2398]

@@vladlucius6928 yeah its because of satan controll them so no problen about that.

[@ClergetMusic]

@@vladlucius6928 which further emphasizes that it’s the use of the image not the image itself which can be bad.

[@thomashess6211]

God never ordered you or me to make a snake, or a statue of a man or woman. Then why do you do it?

[@ClergetMusic]

@@thomashess6211 God also never told you to go and write a book containing all of His teachings. Why was this done? God also never commanded that said book be used as the sole foundation for faith. Why is it used as such?

[@treeannie8831]

Another great video with easy to understand explanations! Thanks, Keith!

[@moniquegonzalez6831]

I love that you have different "series"! Great idea!

[@seliga_mn6995]

thank you so much for all the videos you made , i learn a lot even when i been catholic all my live but you give us like the right tools to defend our faith, God bless u

[@sittingduck4602]

Mel Gibson's 'The Passion of the Christ' was a medium (motion picture, to be exact) through which many of my Protestant brothers strengthened their faith. As a Catholic, I hope they will come to realize that sacred Catholic statues and images are no different in this regard.

[@DiegoAlvarez-vd1vo]

Excellent, my brother 😎

[@leonardstefanyshyn40]

Thankyou sir. Before there was a bible there was icon writing. Stories and details in pictures. I have done icon writing with a Byzantine priest. Opens the eyes to a beautiful part of the early church. The arc of the covenant was a perfect example of how we humans need material things so we can understand. It’s when we use all the senses that we can go really deep.

[@geraldineekhator5428]

I just love your enthusiasm for the Catholic Church. I’m sorry I haven’t been on your channel much but then I have been busy with getting my life together because I have a son graduating from high school and I’m disabled. So I am getting my house together and it takes a while. I have had about five different people helping me get it all together and I’m so thankful for them! So I’m falling behind on listening to your videos. Sorry about that! I have been praying quite a bit as usual but I just haven’t been able to fit in all the videos because I’ve been busy getting lined up for my sons graduation and going back to school for myself to finish my degrees. I hope you’re not offended. You keep up the great work! I am really proud of you!

[@seansmith9129]

Here's how it was explained to me. For example, if you go to the Lincoln Memorial, if you are looking up at Lincoln's statue, you are not "worshiping" Lincoln. The statue helps you to reflect on the life of Lincoln. Or Churchill. Or whoever. Similarly, statues & holy pictures are an aid to help us to pray and reflect on, for example, the life of a saint, or whatever the image or statue represents. You can pray to the saint for intersession, but that is not praying to the statue. Or worshiping the Saint. This is so self evident, I think Protestants know we don't worship statues. Just a hunch.

[@teresaoneill6440]

The Catholic Church uses the human senses to the fullest. Catholics want to touch, feel, smell, taste, hear, and see all to help our experience during prayer. Touch the Holy Water, hold the rosary, smell the incense, taste the bread and wine, hear the word in music, and see these people in pictures and statues. Use ALL senses in teaching!

[@shell..47]

I was overwhelmed by how all of the senses are involved the first time I went to mass.

[@alingmaria5110]

I was born Catholic, and my parents and grandparents are all very devotees Catholic. By the way, I am from the Philippines. I never ever worship statues or images. We only used that as representation. God knows my heart that I dont worship statue.

[@siddywiddyb]

You have a God given gift for doing these videos Keith! Well explained. thank you!

[@johncox2284]

An excellent explanation of the difference between worship and veneration. I especially liked his.illustration of the people in the Protestant church bowed down in front of the preacher.

[@orthocatsr.8723]

As a born prot , I remember the first time I prayed to Mary being indigent and in the middle of a small road at a church late night out of desperation . I was so overwhelmed with MORBID woe and rage it's a miracle I'm not in prison or paralyzed. My gentrified protestant history seemed to not serve me well so I didn't care if it was idolatry or etc anymore, I gave it a shot. I never held faith more than like a month under protestantsim. God please don't let the devil shake this anymore and for others 🙏

[@michellelowe7127]

I heard a monastic Orthodox priest compare praying to Saints and statues to looking out a window to watch the ocean. The window itself is not the ocean but the grace that brings us to see the ocean. I hope this makes sense.

[@abemaria3490]

Continue what your doing brother. God is with you

[@jenniferrogoff8459]

As a Catholic when I kneel in front of a statue like Mary or a crucifix I'm worshipping God praying to God through Our Lady who is with God. Fully aware that the statue is not God or Mary but praying to the one the statue represents. Giving honor to the one it represents and only worshipping God who gave us the gift of Mary and the Saints. So the reverent gesture is giving respect to the beautiful gift God gave us in Our Lady or in this Saint or that Saint. Basically we love what He loves!

[@rickfilmmaker3934]

When we ask others to pray for someone who is ill, the more prayers the better. Asking a Saint or Holy Mary to pray for us is even better. God Bless You Keith.

[@danielpoot7275]

Probably the best explanation I have ever heard about this matter. Thank you Sir, you have been a big help for every catholics who struggle with their faith.

[@raymond-rodrihealth.1233]

thank you keith perfectly explaine. we can do anything at or near a statue, but if we dont believe that that statue is the living God we are not worshiping it. and we have not and never Give the place of our Lord to a mere statue,,,Veneration is always permitted. thank you Keith love the explanation given

[@nujazzelectro]

This is probably the best explanation I've come across about this topic. Thanks

[@KeithNester]

Wow, thanks!

[@daninspiration4064]

Keith you are so on fire man keep it up. I try and try very had to pray the Rosary 4 even up to 10 a day but without communion I've been weaken and easier tempted please pray for me brothers and sisters that we can soon go back to daily mass and receive daily communion.

[@amydacudao4626]

Sir I'm always for all of you everyday.we have masses in the Phil's.but 30 % only can go inside.we have confessions going on then that's why we are glad having these in our churches .we need to pray more that covid victims will attain to its highest level of recoveries and deaths be lessen down to zero.god bless u all

[@bohem5568]

Your explanation pretty much explains why many people believe what they do. And it usually involves an assumption based on the lack of knowledge rather than an accumulation of knowledge.

[@lionheart5078]

Great video. I remeber growing up in the south as a catholic and the other kids telling me I worship the saints and statues, I was like where are they getting these ideas lol. In all seriousness now Kieth please convince Catholic churches to get nice high quality statues instead of some of these hideous ones that were made in China. The Pieta in Italy is beautiful, but some churchs have these cheap creepy looking statues or paintings.

[@whawhing]

In John 3:14-16 we are encourage to display the Image of Crucifix same as Moses displayed the Image of Serpent in the Wilderness. Seeing the Image of Crucifix can move the Conscience that lead them to repentance and forgiveness, restoring their Faith and Grace.

[@monicahoskins663]

Revelations 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk. All Praise To The Most High!!

[@jorgevillamor4350]

Can you make a video talking about the exorcism of nikola aubrey??? People would love to hear that miracle from 500 years ago... ill be looking forward for that video...

[@seimhinornidhonnghaile3342]

Amen 🙏 i wish i was better at explaining these things and defending what i belived in 😊 thanks for sharing!

[@whawhing]

In Galatians 3:1 here we can see Paul used the Image of Crucifix to awaken their Faith.

[@siulong1394]

I would suggest, in relation to this topic to have a careful look at these two words: 1) Latria 2) Dulia These can't be render in English but, in Latin, they express clearly the difference between worshiping God, an act that belongs only to him and that is be performed only for him, and veneration of saints.

[@peterpatterson3435]

Thanks Keith Yes we Whorship God alone but we as Catholics Honour Mary and St Joseph and the Saints for their Intersede for Us 🙏🏻🕊📿✝️

[@aclk1520]

Wow! Didn’t think about Protestants bowing down.. the more I know..

[@saranamroud8747]

This man is right.❤. We don’t serve them and worship them as gods, we just represent them.✝️✝️✝️. God did not forbid the use of statue but the worship of them. We just called to worship and praise god, amen❤

[@allanweilert7185]

Thanks, Keith!

[@jamesm5462]

Many of us had worshipped our wives when we knelt down proposing. Darn... I need to amend my mistake and get a new wife. I swear this time I will not kneel before her!!

[@davidcole333]

There are people in all religions that take things over a line to an extreme. Protestants, Catholics, Muslims, Environmentalists, etc... Keith is 100% right, you must turn to the official teachings of a religion and not just look at the extreme outliers of said religion. This is why I value the Catechism so much. I can measure my beliefs against that point of reference, if it's not in alignment with scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit, then it's time to go.

[@daibilljee]

Thank you very much Keith!

[@c.stephendiz4009]

sometimes we could use the explanations of sacramentals in the Catholic faith, and asking for intercison from someone in the Church Triumphant. This is also a good topic to cover as we Catholics have 3 Churches. God bless

[@tonycevallos7513]

I have one question. Let's say the Catholic Church removed all it's idols and it's prayers to Mary and all the veneration. Will what is left ,the worship,lifting up and praising of the Lord Jesus not be enough? Will our prayers and petitions be too much for Jesus to handle. Will the Lord be lacking??? I hope I get an answer. Thank you.

[@PIEW19]

Are you jealous on the Lord's behalf? 😊

[@acpepito]

Thank you for your ministry.

[@johnrobinson5444]

Notice that it only talks about the angels on the cherubim nothing else or no where else.Saul used a medium to talk to Samuel does that make talking to mediums ok?

[@jacektomasz2335]

The ancient Church struggled with this dilemma in very first ages of Christanity. The was a huge problem with worshipping icons. And they solve the problem. My English isn't sufficient to write about it ( I am Polish) but the clue was - since God became a man in a person of Jesus. we are allowed to make pictures of him. Find yourself more about it. This conflict was called iconoclast or something like that

[@jacektomasz2335]

Iconoclasm

[@glendanikolakakos7431]

Well explained Keith, Thank you, I learned so much from you , God bless 👍👍👍

[@vsh81]

Greetings from a fellow ex-Protestant Keith! Good way to explain your topic, but I would like to share some more point that I think you might also be already aware Keith If you look at the biblical narrative, not long after the Ten Commandments was passed to Israel, the serpent incident happened where the Israel AGAIN complained to Moses and God sent the serpents and bit the Israelites and many of them died (Numbers 21), and when the Israelites repented, how did it get resolved? Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned in complaining against the LORD and you. Pray to the LORD to take the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people, and the LORD said to Moses: Make a seraph and mount it on a pole, and everyone who has been bitten will look at it and recover.* Accordingly Moses made a bronze serpent* and mounted it on a pole, and whenever the serpent bit someone, the person looked at the bronze serpent and recovered. (Numbers 21:7-9, NAB) Now if you were to take the anti-Catholic view that we violated the commandments to not make graven images, what does this mean that God orders Moses to make an image, clearly against the Ten Commandments prohibition of not making graven images OF ANY LIKENESS under heaven (its a serpent!)? SO ACCODING to the anti-Catholic logic and understanding, it MUST either be : 1) God was testing Moses to see if he would respond somewhere along the line "But God, did you not command us to NOT MAKE graven images?", which did not happen. so ... Moses failed? but it still happened and the Israelites were cured anyways by LOOKING at said "graven images". What do you make of that? OR 2) God is NOT bound by His commandments. Now think about this for just one minute. Do you want to serve a God that is not bound by His own commandments and laws? hmmm..... Tough choices. But according to the Catholic understanding, it was neither of the two above. it was a TOOL for God's forgiveness. But objectively speaking, we do know as well what happened to this bronze serpent in the end. The King Hezekiah smashed the bronze serpent Moses had made, "because up to that time the Israelites were burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.)" (cf. 2 Kings 18:4) The bronze serpent, that GOD had ordered Moses made, over time, BECAME an abomination because the Israelites shifted to WORSHIPPING it (burning incense), the TOOL (read: MEANS) had become the END. The bronze serpent had become an IDOL. What God has created (through human hands), had at the end become corrupted (also through human hands). Still did not change the FACT that God was the one who ordered it to be made in the first place. Do we blame God for this? NO. This only shows that ANY THING created, used correctly, can either DRAW us closer to God, or keep us FURTHER away from Him. Does not mean that we should REJECT these tools from now on, to "prevent" of such incident (of making them become ENDS) ever happening again, which is pretty much what protestants are actually doing in essence. Peace of Christ be with you always and in your good work!

[@sharionclinkscale8973]

Those are good facts, this is also why in the Most High God’s Commandments He Commended us “not to bare before us any graven image or likeness there of” and also to “have no other Gods before Him” (Exodus 20:4 kjv) no other Gods (Exodus 20:3-5 kjv) this is the difference now because at that time the Commandments where not presented to the people yet.

[@chyrilla.lt.9461]

I'm a Roman Catholic. Well, this is something that I can clarify to those who always say that we praise Saints as God when we never do that! 😀😂 The protestants says it all and another religious denomination because they always glimpse statues of Saints, especially inside the church.

[@irisaranjo8752]

Very well explained.Thank you.

[@abelgarcia6992]

True worship of God requires or demands a Priesthood, an Altar, and a Sacrifice that’s why as Catholics when we are baptized we become priests to serve, prophets to announce and kings to lead. We are a Royal Priesthood and a Holy Nation to offer a Holy Sacrifice to God daily. Amen!

[@trevorsrq6179]

Colossians 3:2 “Set your mind on things above, not below”-Statues are props to shift our focus towards Heaven. It’s just Christian artwork. Statues brings tangibility to the faith, just like paintings of Jesus.

[@maritzaedithdelacruzpaloma6278]

Great video !!! 🏆

[@dylmck28]

Wow that was good.

[@josephssewagudde8156]

It is mainly the Catholics who were not preached to well, largely not a fault of their own, who chastise the Catholic church claiming to " know " everything about the church because their parents were devout Catholics who took children to catholic schools. Priests should spare sometime in on Sunday during mass and teach catholic doctrines.

[@lidiabarahona2154]

Thank you Keith

[@justinharnett]

I have just stumbled upon you and your videos, I think you are doing a great job and it is very helpful for me as I am searching this out (I started studying church history a few weeks ago, which led me to....RC & EO). My question from this video is from Exodus where the Israelites have been set free from Egypt, and now Moses is up on the mountain. The people get Aaron to make a statue. When this happens, they say, this is your god who brought you out of Egypt. So, it such an interesting or weird thing for me that they did this. But then I was wondering if it is because we as humans need to see something in front of us, and so they did that in this case and then said that it was God...or treated these things as if they were God... Anyways, I guess that is part of my question is do Catholics think they are going through these people/icons/statues/saints to God?

[@julieelizabeth4856]

I'm a little late replying here but what the Israelites did was make a graven image that they literally worshiped while their leader was up on the mountain. They fell back into bad habits they had adopted when they were slaves in Egypt. Statues and icons are prayer aids, nothing more. Like photo albums are memory aids. We are visual people and visual aids help us to focus. We don't go through them, they aren't necessary. But many miracles have been attributed to the intercession of saints and having a visual of that saint helps us to feel more of a connection with that holy person who is alive in heaven and can intercede for us. For those who say we can go directly to Jesus, that's true, but saints in Heaven have a job to do. It's shown in Rev. 4:10, 5:8 and 6:9-11. We ask the saints to perfect our prayers and make them stronger. Like asking a friend to pray for us, but requests to saints can be very beneficial because since they are already in Heaven they are very righteous and "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16).

[@sharionclinkscale1514]

The video is very informative, it seems to me that in your video you were trying to defend the church and not focus on the bad parts as if we have to thank the Catholic Church for allowing us to gain excess to the scriptures.

[@rfp313]

Keith, given the example you used from the 10 commandments you have to look at what God commanded just a few chapters later. What did he tell Moses to do? He crafted a staff with snakes surrounding it so that all who looked upon it could be healed. (Oops, you did eventually get to it.)

[@simplyawesome8964]

I was born catholic and I'll die catholic

[@enerpb6134]

I’m Catholic too. What would you respond to a protestan when they ask where in the Bible say catholic?

[@andresferrer9890]

ener pb simple ask them where in the Bible does it say protestant.

[@jayschwartz6131]

@@enerpb6134 I ask them where in the Bible it say Trinity

[@infestedjonesjonsy5405]

Protestants should see The Feast of the Black Nazarene Lols

[@yanalim995]

also Immaculate Conception Procession in Manila Cathedral...it just a tradition not worshipping.. Thanks Keith, for this informative video..😊

[@tasiaflynn3549]

God bless the truth of his words

[@joshnewjersy5899]

Very well said.

[@stevegreatnesscomedy1464]

You are right

[@chuckjohnson6349]

THE BEAST OF REVELATIONS

[@ildauraheleno7771]

Very good, 👍 great explanation

[@henryi.k9617]

I love your mental analogy, and trying to convince people, the Bible is still the standard irrespective of feeling or emotion, everything about the temple was given to Moses according to the prototype in heaven and instructions on how to worship was also revealed to Moses by God. There is only one mediator between God and man, the man Jesus. When He the Spirit of truth is come, he will guide us into all truth, as many that are lead by the spirit of God are the sons of God, he that must worship must do that in spirit and in truth. Let the Holy Spirit through the scripture bear witness to each individual on what is wrong or right. For to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

[@catnguyen21]

So, I quitted Catholic church.

[@DANtheMANofSIPA]

Jesus said that the least in Heaven is greater than the greatest on Earth. As such, if we ask for those on Earth's prayers, imagine how much better those in Heaven's prayers are

[@Shaara1]

Nobody ever honestly ask this question. If someone does, it's because they either mean to insult or lecture Catholics on Christianity and the Bible but they have to provoke both conversation somehow.

[@marymorningstar4508]

don't people have pictures of their loved ones in their homes? They have those pictures to remind them of the people they love, they do not love the picture, it's the people in the picture. The picture only makes their loved ones come into focus. Well it's the same thing.

[@annA-fl8um]

Blind leading Blind

[@cynthiax56]

➨CARVED IMAGES IN THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD, INTERCESSION OF MARY AND THE SAINTS, HONOURING MARY, AND BOWING AS A SIGN OF HONOUR AND RESPECT (All copied from the protestant version of the bible by me) Sacred Images are Biblical & mocking & destroying them is a serious sin, an act of blasphemy: ➨ SACRED IMAGES: Sacred images are not idols and it is an act of blasphemy to attack them: ● EXODUS 25:18-22 God commands Moses to make STATUES of Angels. ● NUMBERS 21:8-9 God commands another image to be made, a serpent. ● EZEKIEL 41:18-25 KJV (EZEKIEL's VISION OF THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD ADORNED WITH CARVED IMAGES:)... 18 And it was made with CHERUBIMS (ANGELS) and PALM TREES, so that a palm tree was between a CHERUB and EVERY CHERUB HAD TWO FACES; 19 So that the FACE OF A MAN was toward the PALM TREE on the one side, and the FACE OF A LION toward the PALM TREE on the other side: it was made through all the house round about. 20 From the ground unto above the door were CHERUBIMS (ANGELS) and PALM TREES made, and on the wall of the temple. 21 The posts of the temple were squared, and the face of the sanctuary; the appearance of the one as the appearance of the other. 22 The altar of wood was three cubits high, and the length thereof two cubits; and the corners thereof, and the length thereof, and the walls thereof, were of wood: and he said unto me, This is the table that is before the Lord. 23 And the temple and the sanctuary had two doors. 24 And the doors had two LEAVES apiece, two turning leaves; two leaves for the one door, and two leaves for the other door. 25 And there were made on them, on the doors of the temple, CHERUBIMS and PALM TREES, like as were made upon the walls; and there were thick planks upon the face of the porch without. ➨ BOWING as a sign of honour / respect: ●1 KINGS 2:19 Solomon bows to his Mother. (he HONOURS Her) ● JOSHUA 7:6: 6 Joshua & the elders of Israel tore their clothing and lay prostrate (face down on the ground) before the Ark of the Lord. (an OBJECT) ➨ HONOURING MARY: ● LUKE 1:48 All generations will call Mary blessed. ➨ INTERCESSION OF MARY & THE SAINTS IN THE BIBLE: ... Including proof that saints are not among the dead The Protestant claim that we are forbidden to speak to / pray to Mary and the saints is NOWHERE in the Bible. In fact, the following scriptures were copied (by me) directly from the Protestant version of the Bible: ... ➨INTERCESSION of a holy person on our behalf: ● JOB 42:8 8 Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams, and GO TO MY SERVANT JOB, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and MY SERVANT Job SHALL PRAY FOR YOU, FOR I WILL ACCEPT HIS PRAYER NOT TO DEAL WITH YOU ACCORDING TO YOUR FOLLY; for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has. ➨INTERCESSION of MARY: JOHN 1 At the wedding feast at Cana, it was Mary who asked Jesus to help the wedding party. ➨INTERCESSION OF THE SAINTS: REV 5:8 The prayers of the Saints are offered to Jesus the lamb. ➨The KING Honours his mother's request: ● 1 KINGS 2:20: Then she said, “I have one small request to make of you; do not refuse me.” And the king said to her, “Make your request, my mother, for I will not refuse you.” (Jesus is the Greatest King and he also honours his mother's requests) SAINTS ALSO WORKED MIRACLES: ➨ JOHN 14:12 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. ➨ PAUL RAISES A MAN FROM THE DEAD: ACTS 20:7-12 9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. 10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing him said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him.20: ➨SAINTS ARE NOT AMONG THE DEAD: AND THEIR INTERCESSION IS BIBLICAL: They share in the ressurrection of Jesus: (Protestants attack Biblical saints while they follow dead reformers) ● MATTHEW 27: 52 -53: When Jesus was raised from the dead Many were raised up with him. 53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. ● LUKE 23 v 39-43...Jesus told the good thief "today you will be with me in paradise" ● REV 19 v 14...when Jesus returns he will be accompanied by his heavenly armies of saints. ● 2 COR 5 v 8...Paul tells us that to be absent with the body is to be with the Lord. ● JOHN 11 v 25-26...Jesus said I am the ressurrection and the life, he who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives, believing in me will never die. ● LUKE 1619-30 The story of the rich man and Lazarus show The Rich man, Lazarus and Abraham, all concious and interacting with each other even though they have physically died. ● LUKE 9:30-31 And, behold, there talked with him two men, which were Moses and Elias: 31 Who appeared in glory, and spake of his decease which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. (Moses & Elijah were alive, and were yalking with Jesus) ● REV 6:10 The souls of the martyrs are before the throne of God, crying out for justice. (they are conscious and actively petitioning God) ● HEB 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ● MATT 17:1-13 ...At the Transformation of Jesus, he is seen speaking to Moses and Elijah, further showing that Holy ones of God are not among the dead. ➨HONOURING MARY: LUKE 1:48: All generations will call Mary Blessed. We Catholics are the ones who call her the BLESSED Virgin Mary and treat her accordingly. ➨NOWHERE does the bible permit protestants (or anyone else) to Scrutinize & monitor the prayers of other people, nor to judge their sincerity or their salvation. Protestantism does not come from jesus. It began with Martin Luther in 1517 & exists Only to oppose the Catholic church which Jesus founded 15 centuries B4 the protestant revolt. They only know & accept the PARTS of the Bible that suit them and they do not have an accurate bible either.

[@KeithNester]

Mic drop! If only the trolls would read this...

[@cynthiax56]

@@KeithNester Even when they see it, they will still argue with it. I know B cuz I have been doing this for 20 years now. Protestantism exists for only one purpose....to attack and oppose the catholic church and the claim that they make, that they believe in and follow the bible is false. They will argue with it every time

[@cynthiax56]

@@KeithNester tThere will be very few of them that listen

[@rickcasual]

Youre talking about statues that were commanded to be made by God, the CCC as he explains in the video says that we should not worship works of men. You think all the mary and saint statues were commanded by God or the church? The idea of praying to anyone but Jesus is what protestants dont understand. Mary cannot forgive your sins and is not your lord and savior. Also you can honor mary without 100,000 statues and paintings just as protestants honor Jesus with no images. Why is that so hard to understand? Jesus to catholics is a dime of dozen in the saints where as to protestants, Jesus is all that matters.

[@edithhewson7208]

Keith you should read one of those deuterocaninical books or apocrypha that would be the Letter to Jeremiah it's last chapter of Baruch pay close attention near verse 20 then tell me should even have statues in church. Please answer me🐝💪📖🚫🐜👁️ christ church.

[@francisxavier9736]

Good one. 👏🏽👏🏽. Keith also remember when God instructed Moses to carve a bronze serpent and told the Israelites to look at it and be healed. That to me is even way freaky. 😹

[@ClergetMusic]

It’s the Protestant misunderstanding between a Sacrament and a sacramental.

[@sharionclinkscale8973]

All religious rituals are against Torah which are the Law’s of the Most High

[@adolfopiura498]

Catholicism is wrong because they disobey Bible teachings-Jesus is the only mediator between God the Father and the human kind. Jesus is everything,He paid the prize for our salvation,we need nothing more than accepting His gift. End of the story.

[@tonyazizi7709]

God bless you thank

[@orthocatsr.8723]

God help us to re-merge... Now I tell prots that we were ALL catholic in OUR beginning

[@johnrobinson5444]

I think any one with good sense would know if they think about it that there is a big difference between a picture of a loved one or an animal displayed for show (which we know how it really looks) opposed to a picture of Jesus or mary or anyone else in the bible. Your reaching there is a very big difference.

[@MrVsky11975]

Catholics do not worship statues. At least from my belief, I have pictures and statues of Jesus and Mary as a remembrance of them just like we have pictures of family and deceits love ones. It is not a form of idolatry but having an image to help us in our minds but also a physical image to see with our eyes.

[@killianmiller6107]

Statues are icons, not idols.

[@aaroncamargo3336]

Man! This is sooo none sense... Honestly , it all sounds to me like : “see! It is written : You shall not steal” but then you go do that and say, oh! I did not steal, i borrowed it 🙃. Do any of you guys bow before your kid’s picture? A dollar? Etc... or even pray to any of this just mentioned? No! You absolutely not... But do you do before a statute of Mary, angels or saints? Come on guys. Esther’s uncle refused to venerate, bow, pray, worship, respect... you name it; He refused to do any of that before Aman, for he knew he would only do it before the one true God... Do you need to see in order to strengthen your faith? A faith based on visible things? Now, I know there are Catholics who doesn’t practice any that. But Gosh, just ask yourself this question, Did any of the early church fathers ever bow before a statute? Btw, I am a protestant who has learnt a lot from Catholic people and a friend of many of them... But this just don’t make any sense to me. Idolatry, thats what it is man! I’m sorry.

[@thomashess6211]

catholics cant do without images and statues. If god hates it, they love it.

[@lois2997]

I love my statues but I don’t worship them. They sit in my curio cabinet.