Considering that many Catholics and Aglipayans
believe that they do not worship the images of the so called saints,
which are found in their chapels and homes, however what they perform
before this images are indubitably acts of worship, in predominantly
Catholic countries such as the Philippines, the devotees stage
processions, light candles, and offer flowers in honor of this images
and even hold or sponsor fiestas in every barangay, muncipalities, province and cities, in honor of their favorite patron saints.
They carry them on their shoulders, kiss them, and bow down and pray
before them, in observance of the teaching as taught in the Catholic
cathecism:
"Ought we worship holy images?
"We should have, particularly in our churches, images of our Lord, as
also of Blessed Virgin and the saints, and we should pay them due honor
and veneration. ...
"Is the worship of the saint confined to their persons?
"No, it extends also to their relics and images." (Catechism of Christian Doctrines, p. 87).
Note that Catholic authorities require Catholics not just to render
"due honor" and veneration" to images but also to "worship" them. James
Gibbons, a Catholic Cardinal, confirm this further, thus:
"... the act which is called worship of an image is really the worship
of Christ Himself, through and in the presence of the image and by
occasion of it, ..." (The Faith of Our Fathers, pp. 164-165).
But the Holy Scriptures, on the other hand, has these pronouncements regarding image-worship:
"What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it, The molded
image, a teacher of lies, That the maker of its mold should trust in it.
To make mute idols? Woe to him who says to wood, 'Awake!' To silent
stone, 'Arise! It shall teach!' Behold, it is overlaid with gold and
silver, Yet in it there is no breath at all." (Heb. 2:18-19, New King James Version).
"And changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image like
corruptible man-and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
Therefore, God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lust of their
hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the
truth of God for the lie, and worshipped and serve the creature rather
than the Creator, who is blessed forever, Amen." (Rom. 1:23-25, Ibid).
It is for this reason that we are against the teaching and practice of
worhipping images. By quoting verse of the Bible to show that such
practice is a violation of God's commandment, we also expound the right
manner of worshipping God as taught by our lord Jesus Christ.
"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshippers will
worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of
worshippers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshippers must
worship in spirit and in truth." (John 4:23-24, New International Version).
Worshipping God in spirit is by worshipping His name, and
worshipping God in truth is by obeying-not going against-His will.
(Matt. 6:9-10).