You say:
"An image treated as though the image possesses Reverence, and to be Bowed Down to, is an IDOL."
Yet you also say:
"I don't pretend to speak for thousands of Catholics or anyone who bows down before statues... OF WHAT they ARE 'THINKING'."
That's precisely the difficulty.
If whether an image is an idol depends on how it is being treated, then whether idolatry is taking place depends on what the person believes about the image. Yet you also say you don't know what Catholics are thinking when they bow before a statue. In that case, how have you concluded that idolatry is occurring? Catholics do not believe statues possess divine power. Catholics do not believe Mary is a goddess. Catholics do not offer Mary the worship due to God alone. Catholics do not treat statues as divine beings. So merely pointing out that a statue exists, or that someone bows before it, does not by itself establish idolatry.
You also keep saying:
"God said not to do it."
But that is the very point under discussion. We both agree God condemns idolatry. We both agree God later commanded sacred images to be made. Therefore the mere existence of a sacred image cannot be what Exodus 20 condemns.
Earlier you said:
"A heavenly Image God gave to specific men, of its look, its material, its placement, its purpose... Is not an IDOL."
That seems to mean the difference is whether God specifically commanded the image. If that's your position, then I'm still asking the same question:
Where does Scripture teach that only religious images explicitly commanded by God are lawful?
The Second Commandment never says:
"You may make only those images I specifically command."
That's a distinction you're bringing to the text, and I'm asking where Scripture teaches it.
Ex 20:
[
4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:
[
5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
Lev 26:
[
1] Ye shall make you no idols nor graven image, neither rear you up a standing image, neither shall ye set up any image of stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am the LORD your God.
2 Sam 15:
[
23] For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idoltary. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
You can …
Bow down to statues of an animal, angel, human…
Treat it with High Regard…where it is placed, how it is cared for…
Venerate it …with deep respect, awe, reverence
Talk TO it…Ask of it…
Lay trinkets about it, bow and kiss it…
And if you do not recognize you have an IDOL…made, set, cared for, for the purpose to be … bowed To, prayed To, Venerated…
You stubbornly fool yourself…and the consequences be yours.
You repeatedly asking me to give you scripture Against such Behavior… I have .
And you have the wherewithall to further read, learn, study…
WHY such behavior was expressly taught to NOT Do.
AND
WHAT shall ultimately become of your statue IDOLS.
Maybe Review…
Ex 32 …
Behavior of Priest ARRON…
Yielding to the People and Their Behavior….
In Conflict with Gods Word…
Reaction of Head MOSES…
Ex 33
Gods Word to MOSES…
Guidance of an Angel of God…
No idols..
Pray TO God.
Not a mystery.
