ANG PAGLUHOD BA SA HARAP NG MGA IMAHEN AY MASAMA?

IS IT WRONG TO “KNEEL DOWN” BEFORE GRAVEN IMAGES SINCE IT IS A VIOLATION TO GOD’S COMMANDMENT? AND THAT BECAUSE THIS ACT IS INDICATION OF WORSHIP?
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ANTI-CATHOLIC PROTESTANTS SAID THAT KNEELING IS EQUIVALENT TO WORSHIP BECAUSE THEY SEE CATHOLICS KNELT DOWN BEFORE (IN FRONT OF) IMAGES, PRIEST & POPE. ACCORDING TO THEM, THIS SHOULD BE DONE ONLY FOR GOD.
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AS A MATTER OF FACT, THOUGH BOWING AND KNEELING CAN BE USED AS A POSTURE IN WORSHIP, YET NOT ALL BOWING AND KNEELING ARE FORMS OF WORSHIP. DEPENDS ON THE CONTEXT OF CULTURES, BOWING AND KNEELING CAN SOMETIMES BE SIMPLE FORMS OF “HONOR” & “RESPECT”, CALLED “VENERATION”.
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THE ANTI-CATHOLICS STILL INSIST & ARGUED OUR CATHOLIC PRACTICES ARE WRONG & IDOLATROUS. THEY USED SEVERAL VERSES TO PROVE THEIR ACCUSATIONS. BUT THE QUESTION IS, DOES THESE BIBLICAL PASSAGES QUALIFY THE CATHOLICS IN IDOLATRY?
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HERE ARE THE ANSWERS IN BIBLICAL VERSES WHICH ANTI-CATHOLIC COMMONLY USED TO ATTACK CATHOLIC PRACTICE OF KNEELING.
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► OBJECTION # 1
[ these verses are the proof that bowing / kneeling is equivalent of “worship”. here is the biblical passage as a proof:
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Exodus 20:4-5 (NIV) [4] “YOU SHALL NOT MAKE FOR YOURSELF AN IDOL in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” [5] “YOU SHALL NOT BOW DOWN TO THEM OR WORSHIP THEM; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,”
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Deuteronomy 5:9 (NIV) [9] “YOU SHALL NOT BOW DOWN TO THEM OR WORSHIP them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me,”
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LEVITICUS 26:1 (NIV) [1] “Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land TO BOW DOWN BEFORE IT. I am the LORD your God.”
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2 KINGS 17:35 (NIV) [35] “ When the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites, he commanded them: “DO NOT WORSHIP any other gods or BOW DOWN TO them, serve them or sacrifice to them.” ]
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● ANSWER # 1:
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WHAT IT SAYS IS THAT, DON’T WORSHIP OTHER GODS, WHICH WE CALLED IDOLS (FALSE GODS), THE QUESTION IS, CAN WE CALL SAINTS, MARY & JESUS AS AN IDOLS (FALSE GODS)? IN WHICH CATHOLICS BEING KNELT BEFORE THEIR GRAVEN IMAGES? IT IS A BIG NO NO NO !
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ANOTHER ONE IS THAT, THESE PASSAGES MENTIONED “TO BOW”, THE TRUTH IS, THE CATHOLICS DO NOT “BOW DOWN”,
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WHAT CATHOLIC TRADITIONALLY DO IS KNEELING DOWN, AND NOT BOWING DOWN. THESE TWO WORDS ARE DIFFERENT IN POSTURES.
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YOU CAN SEE THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE WHO BOWED DOWN IS THOSE OF MUSLIMS WHO DO MUCH OF THIS POSTURE INSIDE THEIR MOSQUES. HERE IS THE PICTURE IMAGE IN THIS LINK:
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https://www.facebook.com/387510308072263/photos/p.512713942218565/512713942218565/?type=1
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ON THE OTHER HAND, KNEELING IS WHAT YOU CAN SEE IN THE CATHOLICS INSIDE THE CHURCHES.
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THUS, “BOWING” THAT MENTIONED IN THESE PASSAGES HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CATHOLIC TRADITIONAL PRACTICE OF KNEELING.
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● ANSWER # 2:
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IF WE GO BACK TO THE BIBLICAL TIMES, THERE ARE ACTIVITIES OF BOWING & KNEELING INSIDE THE TEMPLE:
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Psalms 95:6 (New Jerusalem Bible) “Come, LET US BOW LOW and do reverence; KNEEL BEFORE Yahweh who made us!”
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THE PASSAGE HAVE MENTIONED SEPARATELY, “TO KNEEL” AND “TO WORSHIP”, THUS,IT IS NOT THE SAME AS ONE MEANING. THOUGH “TO BOW” / “TO KNEEL” IS PART OF WORSHIP IN THE CHURCHES BUT IT IS NOT AN EQUIVALENT OF WORSHIP.
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Psalms 138:1-2 (New Jerusalem Bible) [1] [Of David] I thank you, Yahweh, with all my heart, for you have listened to the cry I uttered. In the presence of angels I sing to you, [2] I BOW DOWN BEFORE YOUR HOLY TEMPLE. I praise your name for your faithful love and your constancy;your promises surpass even your fame.
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ANOTHER CLEAR VERSE, WE CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE ACTIVITIES IN THE TEMPLE. SO WHAT ARE THOSE THINGS WE CAN SEE INSIDE THE TEMPLE? ASIDE OF KNEELING & BOWING?
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Ezekiel 41:17-19 (New American Bible) [17] As high as the lintel of the door, even into the interior part of the temple as well as outside, on every wall on every side in both THE INNER AND OUTER ROOMS WERE CARVED [18] THE FIGURES OF CHERUBIM and palmtrees: a palmtree between every two cherubim. EACH CHERUB HAD TWO FACES: [19] A MAN’S FACE looking at a palmtree on one side, and a LION’S FACE looking at a palmtree on the other; thus THEY WERE FIGURED ON EVERY SIDE THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE TEMPLE.
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1 Kings 6:29 (New Jerusalem Bible) “ALL ROUND THE TEMPLE WALLS HE CARVED FIGURES of winged creatures, palm trees and rosettes, both inside and outside.”
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SEE? CARVES IMAGES & GRAVEN STATUES WHICH WE CAN SEE IN ALL SIDES OF THE TEMPLE, INSIDE AND OUT FILLED WITH THIS IMAGES. WHAT DOES PEOPLE DO WHILE IN PRAYING & WORSHIPING?
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1 Kings 8:54 (New Jerusalem Bible) “When Solomon had finished offering to Yahweh this whole prayer and entreaty, HE ROSE FROM WHERE HE WAS KNEELING with hands stretched out towards heaven BEFORE THE ALTAR OF YAHWEH,”
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1 Kings 8:54 (New American Bible) “When Solomon finished offering this entire prayer of petition to the LORD, he rose from BEFORE THE ALTAR OF THE LORD, WHERE HE HAD BEEN KNEELING with his hands outstretched toward heaven.”
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Joshua 7:6 (New Jerusalem Bible) “JOSHUA then tore his clothes and PROSTRATED HIMSELF BEFORE THE ARK OF YAHWEH till nightfall; the ELDERS OF ISRAEL DID THE SAME, and all poured dust on their heads.”
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SEE? WE CAN SEE THAT KING SOLOMON KNELT DOWN BEFORE THE TWO OBJECTS, THE ARK OF COVENANT & THE GRAVEN IMAGES OF ANGEL ON TOP OF THIS COVENANT.
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AND ALSO SAME WITH JOSHUA WHO FELL DOWN / BOW DOWN IN FRONT OF THIS ARK OF COVENANT
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DOES IT MEAN THEY (JOSHUA & DAVID) WORSHIP THESE TWO OBJECTS, THE BOX COVENANT & GRAVEN IMAGES ANGEL? ABSOLUTELY NO !
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JUST LIKE CATHOLICS WHO KNELT DOWN BEFORE GRAVEN IMAGES / STATUES BUT NOT INTENDED TO WORSHIP THESE THINGS.
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● ANSWER # 3:
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SINCE WE CAN SEE THAT THERE HAVE NUMEROUS GRAVEN IMAGES FILLED INSIDE THE TEMPLE. THE QUESTION IS, DO JESUS AND HIS APOSTLE WENT IN THE TEMPLE TO PRAY?
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YES, EVEN THE APOSTLE OF JESUS, WHICH IS ST. JOHN AND ST. PETER WENT IN THE TEMPLE AND PRAYED:
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Acts 3:1 (New Jerusalem Bible) “Once, when Peter and John were GOING UP TO THE TEMPLE FOR THE PRAYERS at the ninth hour,”
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Acts 22:17 (New American Bible) After I had returned to Jerusalem and while I WAS PRAYING IN THE TEMPLE, I fell into a trance
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EVEN, JESUS HIMSELF PRAYED IN THE TEMPLE, WHICH MADE BY SOLOMON,
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John 10:23 (New Jerusalem Bible) “and Jesus was in the Temple walking up and down in the Portico of Solomon.”
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Mark 11:11 (New Jerusalem Bible) “He entered Jerusalem and WENT INTO THE TEMPLE; and when he had surveyed it all, as it was late by now, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.”
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AND WE ALL KNOW THAT THERE HAVE LOT OF THINGS WE CAN SEE INSIDE THE TEMPLE OF GOD IF WE STUDIED BACK THE (PSALMS 95:6), (PSALMS 138:1-2), LOGICALLY, WE WOULD LEARN THAT EVEN JESUS & HIS APOSTLES PRAYED IN BOW OR KNELT DOWN INSIDE THE TEMPLE WHICH FILLED OF NUMEROUS GRAVEN IMAGES / STATUES ALL AROUND.
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● ANSWER # 4:
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CATHOLICS HAVE NO GODS OTHER THAN HIM, THE ONE THAT IN HEAVEN. THE FATHER, THE SON & OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, THESE THREE DISTINCT PERSONS UNITE AS ONE GOD. WE CAN READ IN THE CATHOLIC DOCTRINE WHICH WRITTEN IN THE BOOK ENTITLED, THE “CATECHISM IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH” WHICH PROVES THE CATHOLIC RECOGNIZED ONLY ONE GOD. THIS IS WHAT IT SAYS:
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(CCC # 199) “I believe in God……”
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(CCC # 2096) “Adoration is the First act of the virtue of Religion. To Adore God is to acknowledge him as God……”
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(CCC 2097) “To Adore God is to Acknowledge, in respect and absolute submission”……… “The worship of the one God sets man free from turning in on himself, from the slavery of sin and the idolatry of the world.”
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(CCC # 2114 ) “Human life finds its unity in the adoration of the ONE GOD……”
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SEE? VERY CLEAR QUOTES FROM THE CATHOLIC DOCTRINE WHICH SAYS CATHOLIC HAVE ONLY ONE GOD. THUS, ALL PASSAGES ABOVE USED BY ANTI-CATHOLIC TO PROVE CATHOLIC IDOLATRY TOWARD IMAGES HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH CATHOLIC PRACTICE.
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► OBJECTION # 2
[ the act of bowing down is an act of worship, as it says in this passage:
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Matthew 2:11 (NIV) “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and THEY BOWED DOWN AND WORSHIPED HIM. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”
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it is clear that people bowed down to Jesus to worship him, just like you Catholics when you kneeling before your statues & Pope is also to worship them like God. ]
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● ANSWER # 1:
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THIS PASSAGE ABOVE SHOWS THE PEOPLE BOWED DOWN THE BABY JESUS & WORSHIP. BUT WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT PASSAGE MENTIONED THIS TWO WORDS SEPARATELY. IT SHOULD NOT EQUATE AS ONE MEANING.
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ALTHOUGH WHAT THE THREE WISE MEN DID IS TO WORSHIP THE BABY JESUS, BUT THEY INCLUDE OF BOWING DOWN BECAUSE THIS ACT OF BOWING DOWN IS PART OF RESPECT & HONOR, CALLED VENERATION. THAT’S WHY THE THREE WISE MEN HONOR & RESPECT BABY JESUS BY BEING BOWED DOWN AS THEY WORSHIPING THE BABY JESUS.
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SO THE BOWING DOWN SHOULD NOT BE EQUATE TO WORSHIP, IF IT THAT SO, THEN IT WOULD BE APPEAR THAT THOSE PEOPLE IN BIBLICAL TIMES ARE ALSO IDOLATERS SINCE THEY DID THIS ACT “TO KNEEL” AND “TO BOW” ON ANOTHER PERSON IN FRONT OF THEM.
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Matthew 15:25 (Contemporary English Version) The woman came closer. Then SHE KNELT DOWN and begged, “Please help me, Lord!”
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Matthew 15:25 (New Jerusalem Bible) But the woman had come up and was BOWING LOW BEFORE HIM. ‘Lord,’ she said, ‘help me.’
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HERE, THE WOMAN HAVE KNELT DOWN BEFORE JESUS. DOES SHE WORSHIP CHRIST? NO ! THIS BECAUSE WHAT SHE DID IS BEGGING A MERCY FOR SOMETHING. THUS, KNELT DOWN ALSO MEANS ALSO “ASKING A MERCY FOR HELP”
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● ANSWER # 2:
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Mark 1:40 (New Jerusalem Bible) A man suffering from a virulent skin-disease came to him and pleaded on his knees saying, ‘If you are willing, you can cleanse me.’
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HERE IS ANOTHER ONE WHICH KNEELING DOWN IS ASKING A MERCY FOR SOMETHING, JUST LIKE A PERSON WITH LEPROSY DID WHO ASKING FOR MERCY TO CURE HIM BY JESUS. JUST AS THE CATHOLIC DID BEING KNELT DOWN BEFORE THE IMAGE OF SAINTS, MARY & JESUS ASKING A MERCY FOR MIRACLE.
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● ANSWER # 3:
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Genesis 42:6 (New Jerusalem Bible) “It was Joseph, as the man in authority over the country, who allocated the rations to the entire population. So JOSEPH’S BROTHERS WENT AND BOWED DOWN BEFORE HIM, their faces touching the ground.”
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HERE WE CAN SEE THAT JOSEPH BOWED BEFORE HIS BROTHERS. IF THE ACT OF “TO BOW DOWN” AND “TO KNEEL DOWN” IS OF WORSHIP. THEN IT WOULD BE APPEAR THAT JOSEPH WORSHIPS HIS BROTHERS. WHAT HIS BROTHERS DID IS ACTUALLY PAYING HONOR & RESPECT TO HIM.
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● ANSWER # 4:
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Luke 22:41 (New Jerusalem Bible) “Then he withdrew from them, about a stone’s throw away, and knelt down and prayed.”
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WHEN JESUS WAS KNELT DOWN & PRAYED AT THE MOUNT OLIVE, DOES HE WORSHIPING BECAUSE HE KNELT & PRAYED? NO ! WHEN WE SAY “PRAY” IT MEANS “ASKING FOR SOMETHING”, THUS, HE ASKING FOR SOMETHING TO FATHER IN HEAVEN.
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► OBJECTION # 3
[ the kneeling & bowing down before the person is clearly an act of worship, as it also describe in the bible that it is directly equivalent of worshiping, here is the passage:
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REVELATION 22:8-9 (NASB) “[8] I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I heard and saw, I FELL DOWN TO WORSHIP AT THE FEET OF THE ANGEL who showed me these things. [9] But he said to me, “DO NOT DO THAT. I AM A FELLOW SERVANT OF YOURS and of your brethren the prophets and of those who heed the words of this book. Worship God.”
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ACTS 10:25-26 (NASB) “[25] When Peter entered, Cornelius met him, and FELL AT HIS FEET AND WORSHIPED HIM. [26] But Peter raised him up, saying, ‘STAND UP; I TOO AM JUST A MAN.’ “ ]
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● ANSWER # 1:
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FOR THEM, IT IS FORBIDDEN TO KNEEL BEFORE THE POPE. IMAGES OF SAINTS & MARY, THAT’S WHY THEY USE (ACTS 10:25) AND (REVELATION 22:8-9) JUST TO PROVE THAT WHAT THE CATHOLICS DO IS WRONG & IDOLATROUS.
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BUT, HOW ABOUT THIS ONE, LET US USE (ACTS 16:29) AS EXAMPLE:
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Acts 16:29 (New American Bible) “He asked for a light and rushed in and, trembling with fear, HE FELL DOWN BEFORE PAUL AND SILAS.”
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DO THE JAIL GUARD WORSHIPED SAINT PAUL & SILAS? DO ST. PAUL SCOLD THE JAIL GUARD WHO FELL DOWN BEFORE THEM? BOTH ARE NO ! BECAUSE WHAT THE JAILER DID IS NOT INTENTIONALLY TO WORSHIP THEM, BUT HE JUST ASKING FOR SOMETHING HELP.
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LET US GET LITTLE BIT DEEPER. IN GREEK, THIS IS WHAT IT TRANSLATES:
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ACTS 16:29 (GREEK BIBLE) “αἰτήσας δεὰ φῶτα εἰσεπήδησεν, καὶὰ ἔντρὸμὸς γενόμενὸς πρὸσέπεσεν τῷ Παύλῳκαὶὰ [τῷ] Σ ὶλᾷ,”
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THE WORD USE FOR “FELL DOWN” OR “BOWED DOWN” COMES FROM THE GREEK VERB πρὸσέπεσεν (prosepesen) WHICH CAME FROM THE ROOT WORD πρὸσπίπτω (prospipto). THIS WORD IS POSTURE “TO BOW DOWN” OR “TO KNEEL DOWN” IS NOT INTENTIONALLY “TO WORSHIP”. AND THIS WORD CANNOT BE READ IN (ACTS 10:25), (REVELATION 22:8-9).
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THAT’S WHY ST. PAUL DID NOT SCOLD THE JAIL GUARD WHO KNELT DOWN IN FRONT OF THEM.
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ON THE OTHER HAND, THE (ACTS 10:25), AND (REVELATION 22:8-9) USED THE GREEK WORD (prosekunEsen) WHICH BOTH MEANS “TO BOW DOWN” OR “TO KNEEL DOWN” FOR WORSHIP INTENTION. AND THAT IS WHAT NOT CATHOLICS DID.
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THAT’S WHY ST. PETER SCOLD THE CORNELIUS WHO KNELT DOWN IN FRONT OF HIM. SAME WITH ANGEL REBUKED ST. JOHN WHO INTENDED TO WORSHIP ANGEL.
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SEE THAT DIFFERENCE? (ACTS 16:29-31) VS. (ACTS 10:25), (REVELATION 22:8-9)
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SO THE BOWING DOWN SHOULD NOT BE EQUATE TO WORSHIP, IF IT THAT SO, THEN IT WOULD BE APPEAR THAT ALMOST ALL THE PEOPLE NOWADAYS ARE ALSO IDOLATERS SINCE THEY DID THIS ACT “TO KNEEL” AND “TO BOW” ON ANOTHER PERSON IN FRONT OF THEM.
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– LIKE KNEELING DOWN OF A FIANCEE BEFORE HIS GIRL, WOULD APPEAR THE GUY WORSHIP HIS GIRL.
– LIKE THE MARTIAL ART (KARATE) STUDENTS BOWED DOWN TO THEIR MASTER TRAINER, WOULD BE APPEAR THEY WORSHIP THEIR MASTERS TRAINER.
– JUST LIKE MEMBERS OTHER RELIGIOUS GROUP LIKE BORN AGAIN BOWED DOWN BEFORE THEIR PASTORS IN THEIR SUNDAY WORSHIP WOULD APPEAR THEY WORSHIP THEIR PASTORS.
– ESPECIALLY, THOSE MINISTERS OF MANALO’S CHURCH ARE WORSHIPING MANALO DURING THEIR ORDINATION SINCE THEY FELL ON THEIR KNEES IN FRONT OF MANALO.
– AND IT WOULD BE APPEAR THAT THESE PEOPLE IN THE BIBLICAL TIMES ARE ALSO IDOLATERS SINCE THEY “KNEEL” AND “BOW” ON ANOTHER PERSON IN FRONT OF THEM. LIKE THESE BELOW PASSAGES:
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● # 1:
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Genesis 19:1 (New American Bible) “The two angels reached Sodom in the evening, as Lot was sitting at the gate of Sodom. WHEN LOT SAW THEM, HE got up to greet them; and BOWING DOWN WITH HIS FACE TO THE GROUND,”
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LOT BOWED DOWN BEFORE THE 2 ANGELS, DID HE WORSHIP THESE ANGELS LIKE A GOD? AND DID THE ANGELS REBUKE LOT? BOTH ARE NO !. BECAUSE THE TWO ANGELS HAD ENOUGH SENSE TO DISTINGUISH BETWEEN HONOR AND WORSHIP, AND THEY BECAUSE UNDERSTOOD THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HONOR AND WORSHIP.
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JUST LIKE THE CATHOLICS WHO KNELT DOWN ON THEIR KNEES BEFORE THE IMAGES BUT NOT FOR WORSHIPING THIS OBJECTS. BECAUSE THIS ACT IS SIMPLY MEANS HONORING & RESPECT CALLED VENERATION ON THE PERSON WHO DEPICTED ON THE IMAGES.
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Judith 14:7 (New Jerusalem Bible) “They lifted him up. HE THEN THREW HIMSELF AT JUDITH’S FEET AND, PROSTRATE BEFORE HER, exclaimed: May you be blessed in all the tents of Judah and in every nation; those who hear your name will be seized with dread!”
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WE LEARN IN THIS PASSAGE FALLING DOWN DIRECTLY EQUATES PROSTRATE, IT MEANS TO HONOR & RESPECT. SO WHEN THIS PEOPLE FELL DOWN TO JUDITH THIS DOES NOT MEANS THEY WORSHIP JUDITH, BUT THEY PAYING PROSTRATE, HONOR TO HER.
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Esther 3:2 (New American Bible) “ALL THE KING’S SERVANTS who were at the royal gate would KNEEL AND BOW DOWN TO HAMAN, for that is what the king had ordered in his regard. Mordecai, however, would not kneel and bow down.”
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HERE WE CAN SEE THE KING’S SERVANTS KNELT DOWN & BOWED DOWN TO HANAN, DO THEY WORSHIP HANAN? NO ! BECAUSE THEY HONOR & RESPECT HIM EVEN THOU HANAN IS LOWER THAN THEIR THE KING.
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JUST LIKE CATHOLICS PAYING HONOR & RESPECT THE IMAGES OF SAINTS & MARY BY KNEELING DOWN THOUGH SAINTS & MARY LOWER THAN GOD.
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1 Samuel 28:14 (New American Bible) “What does he look like?” asked Saul. And she replied, “It is an old man who is rising, clothed in a mantle.” Saul knew that it was Samuel, and so HE BOWED FACE TO THE GROUND IN HOMAGE.
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WE CAN SEE IN THIS VERSE THAT SAUL BOWED DOWN BEFORE SAMUEL. AND SAMUEL IS ALREADY DEAD WHEN SAUL BOWED DOWN BEFORE SAMUEL SOUL.
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JUST LIKE CATHOLICS GIVING HONOR & RESPECT THE SAINT & MARY THAT ALREADY DEAD BY KNEELING DOWN BEFORE THEIR RESPECTIVE IMAGES.
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Daniel 2:46-47 (New Jerusalem Bible) [46] At this, KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR FELL PROSTRATE BEFORE DANIEL; he gave orders for Daniel to be offered an oblation and a fragrant sacrifice.” [47] THE KING SAID TO DANIEL, ‘YOUR GOD IS INDEED THE GOD OF GODS, the Master of kings, and the Revealer of Mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.’
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KING NEBUCHADNEZZAR, THOUGH HE IS A KING WHICH ABOVE IN SOCIETY BUT HE SHOWS HIS HUMILITY BY BOWING DOWN BEFORE DANIEL. ALSO THE KING DID NOT TREAT DANIEL LIKE GOD BUT HE RECOGNIZED THE GOD OF DANIEL WHICH WE CAN READ IN VERSE [47].
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JUST LIKE THE CATHOLICS DO KNELT DOWN BEFORE IMAGES OF SAINTS & MARY FOR HUMILITY, AND NOT TO RECOGNIZE THEM AS GOD, BUT RECOGNIZED THE GOD OF SAINTS & MARY.
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► THEREFORE:
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WHAT REALLY GOD’S FORBID US IS THAT, NOT TO BOW DOWN BEFORE THE IMAGES OF IDOLS (FALSE GODS) LIKE BAAL, GOLDEN CALF, & SUCH OTHERS.
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MARY, SAINTS, AND JESUS ARE NOT IDOLS (FALSE GODS). BUT SERVANT OF GOD IN HEAVEN. ESPECIALLY TO JESUS AS THE SON OF GOD.
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IN THIS SENSE, LOGICALLY, KNEELING DOWN BEFORE IMAGES OF SAINTS, MARY & JESUS IS NOT WRONG AND ABSOLUTELY NOT IDOLATROUS, AND NOT EVEN A VIOLATION TO GOD’S COMMANDMENT.
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JUST LIKE JOSHUA AND ELDERS BOWED DOWN AND PRAYED BEFORE THE ARK OF THE LORD AND ITS GRAVEN CHERUBIM IMAGES OVER THE TOP, BUT IT IS NOT IDOLATROUS NOR VIOLATION TO GOD’S COMMANDMENT.
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► CONCLUSION:
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NOT ALL KNEELING DOWN IS OF “WORSHIP” NEITHER BEFORE (IN FRONT OF) THE INDIVIDUAL NOR THE IMAGES IS NOT OF WORSHIP. BUT THIS ACT OF GESTURES REPRESENTS OF GIVING HONOR & RESPECTS, THESE BOTH MEANS VENERATION.
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GOD ONLY KNOWS WHAT IS IN THE MIND & HEART OF PEOPLE WHO INTENDED TO WORSHIP THIS THINGS OR INTENDED TO GIVE HONOR & RESPECT (VENERATION). THUS, WE AS HUMAN BEING SHOULD NOT JUDGE OTHERS ACCORDING WHAT WE HAVE SEEN:
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John 7:24 (New Jerusalem Bible) Do not keep judging according to appearances; let your judgement be according to what is right.’
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AND SINCE THEY (ANTI-CATHOLICS) CONTINUE TO JUDGE THE US (CATHOLICS) ACCORDING WHAT THEY HAVE SEEN WITHOUT EVEN KNOWING THE WHOLE TRUTH IN DEEP, THEN THEY WOULD JUST VIOLATES ONE OF THE GOD’S 10 COMMANDMENTS:
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Exodus 20:16 (Good News Bible) “Do not accuse anyone falsely.