I spent last summer in Israel . . . and learned something that has
dramatically affected the way I see some things.


I used to believe that the Hebrews created the golden calf to worship
another god . . . Baal . . . I guess a bull was the representation for
Baal. I discoverd that a calf was what the Hebrews used to symbolize
Yahweh. Some would carry a calf figurine on them that was
representative of the one true god. The calf they built was not to Baal
or some other god, but to the Lord.

Do we today use any symbols to represent Christ or what he has done for
us? Do Christians today bow before any symbol? Lets just say that this
nugget of truth has affected my home decor:)

Perhaps another nugget of truth might help that decore.

An idol is an idol no matter what it graven to represent.

See the 10 commandants...

It points prayer away from the source.
It takes away from the truth.
It leads the unwary to place their fath in the seen and not the unseen
which blinds the eye of the spirit to the truth.

By "it", I take it you're referring to the idol, not the 10
commandments?

You got it.

If it is carved or made or touched by the tools of man for a spiritual
reason it is an idol.

Thanks for the clarification.

Symbols are representations, but people don't need to worship them.
There is just one God who we need to love over everything else.
I'm happy that we don't have a graphic representation of God.

When a symbol is first made the maker may have intended it for nothing
more than a symbol.

However once a symbol enters the areana of religion it becomes a focus.
People begin to pray to it and through it.

How many pray to the statues they see of the icons of the churches? How
many pray not to the Christ that has acsended but to the graven image of
him upon the cross?

It they are praying to his image their prayer is pointed the wrong way.

He is on the seat of heaven.