Question
As Sri Lankan Catholics, most of the times we have adapted to worship to idols when we are praying. It feel us more closer to His son, Jesus Christ and easy to imagine he is in front of us. Why is there no spiritual reality behind this kind of venerate?
Answer
Thanks for this excellent question. The inspired apostle Paul plainly affirms there is no reality behind idols.
“Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one. For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live” (1 Corinthians 8:4-6).
God is invisible. “Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, to God who alone is wise, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” (1Timothy 1:17). He has no visible form, and there is no visible image to which He may be likened. On this basis the Law of Moses forbad idolatry.
“Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, lest you act corruptly and make for yourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male or female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth.” (Deuteronomy 4:15-18).
The New Testament also forbids idolatry. “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen” (1 John 5:21).
We are to pray to the Father through the Son. “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name” (Matthew 6:9). “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:17).
The dead know nothing about current events on this earth and no longer have any part in what happens here. Regardless of how good they were, they have no power to help.
“For the living know that they will die; But the dead know nothing, And they have no more reward, For the memory of them is forgotten. Also their love, their hatred, and their envy have now perished; Nevermore will they have a share In anything done under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 9:5-6).
The key to this passage is the phrase “under the sun,” meaning life here and now upon this earth. The dead have no part in it. Praying to dead saints, including Mary the mother of Jesus, is both useless and without divine approval. Praying to statues of them is forbidden.
We must have the faith to see with the eye of the mind the invisible God.
“By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:24-27).
