Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt
(Annex) Shanakiel, Cork, Ireland
Pastor: Colin Maxwell. Email: colin.maxwell@fpcmission.org
LETTER SENT TO: EXAMINER
SUBJECT: IDOLATRY
DATE SENT: 7-1-02
Dear Sir,
As Mr. Hurwitz points out in his letter "Devotion is never idolatry" of
Saturday 5th January, extraordinary deeds of power were done through
the hands of Paul and when clothes and handkerchiefs that had touched
Paul's skin were applied to the sick they were healed. However, nowhere
do we read that these items of cloth were subsequently worshipped or
that Paul himself or any other Apostle encouraged such worship. Indeed
in Acts ch. 14 verses 8 we read of a crippled man being healed through
faith when Paul preached at Lystra and the people there when they saw
the miracle said the "gods are come down in the likeness of men" and
they sought to sacrifice to Paul and Barnabas (verses 11 to 13). Such
was the distress of Paul at such a thing that he rent his clothes
(verse 14) and exhorted them to turn from such vanities to worship the
living and true God (verse 15).
Earlier in Old testament scripture we see in 2 Kings 18:4 King Hezekiah
causes the brass or brazen serpent which Moses had made whereby those
who were bitten by serpents in the wilderness were healed if they
looked upon it in faith to be destroyed as the people began to worship
it and burn incense unto it causing them to sin.
Also in Luke chapter 11 we see the apostles receiving instruction from
the Lord when in verse 1 they said "Lord teach us to pray". At this
very important moment the Lord teaches them how to pray and He begins
by simply saying "Our Father". Nowhere in any portion of scripture does
the Lord encourage the worship of anything or anyone other than God,
nor does He suggest the use of any aids or devices to assist in those
prayers or in bringing people closer to God.
Yours sincerely,
Donal O'Donovan
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