That’s class!

Yep 🙃

Do you honestly think that’s something Orthodox/Catholics believe? Or are you asking a genuine question?

It’s not a graven image, it’s literally a representation (in stone or whatever material) of the human body Christ himself had. Graven image is something where one tries to represent God or Gods under some other (false) image such as a golden calf etc and worship it (the image) But we know God became a man and died on a cross, so we know we’re not falsely representing God himself when we make crucifixes, they are a perfect reminder of the perfect sacrifice by the perfect man. We are showing once again his judgment seat, his throne, and his victory. We are showing the other religions what separates us from them. You mentioned that “give Muslims and Jews reasons to condemn Christians as idolaters, and to reject Christianity as false.” On the contrary we’re giving them exact reason (showing forth) why Christianity is true; God became man, died on a cross and rose again. The cross IS Christianity. If they break a cross, they condemn themselves. Finally, if we got rid of crosses, icons, Churches, by your logic, you’re very person aught to be “smashed” because you yourself are the new temple of the God who created heaven and earth, and you worship him in spirit and truth there, that in fact is an even greater idolatry, and scandal than any statue, which aught to condemn Christianity as both false, and utterly absurd. Thankfully we’re in the business of “absurdity”. Glory be to God.

Whether Romans 14 applies depends on what you meant in your original post. When you said 'graven image,' were you implying idolatry? If so, Romans 14 wouldn't really fit; Paul there is talking about food and special days, what he calls matters of opinion. Idolatry isn't a matter of opinion or disagreement; it goes to the heart of right worship, it's not a peripheral issue where Christians can agree to disagree.

Iconoclasts have been and have gone. They “lost”. A church with icons, and statues is more beautiful than those without. God is beauty itself, beautiful things especially those that signify our Lord and his church, are “windows” to himself ie initiators of contemplation and prayer. No one is worshipping the image itself, they are drawn upwards to worship and contemplating, Himself, by images and statues. The Roman Empire left crucifixes strewn about the place as a sign to not mess with Pax Romana. We deliberately leave crucifixes “strewn” about the place, to “Let the whole house of Israel (the world) know for certain that God has made both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

It’s not a bad question. But the more difficult questions is, what impediments are in my own person, psychology, history and upbringing, in my current life situation, that cause me to waste time? The question “how much time are you wasting”, isn’t a question that’s going to charge much about the situation, it may, but unlikely.. most people waste a whole lot of time, they know it well, and that there’s something they’d prefer to do (craft hobby whatever), than waste time. But they don’t, why? There is as it were an invisible yet very concrete wall, between them and their potential, it takes an enormous amount of patience and gentleness (of the spirit, not wishy washy) continual suffering and striving and probably most importantly hope that the wall will fall, that time will open up for you, that the weight of not doing what you’re potentially called to, will fall away… but maybe if all that’s happening, even if on the surface you’re “wasting time”, you’re not, go easy on yourself, and hope in the present. We don’t have an iron will, some are more fortuitous to have had the blessings and grace, to do that thing in the present which, after the fact they can look back and say, today’s time was well spent. Others must suffer the pain of struggling, and desiring that kind of state. They don’t realise the suffering is a blessed state itself. And no, I’m not taking about those people who don’t even have an awareness that they are wasting time, and I’m not making an excuse for people who are “time wasters” (which are related to the former), I’m talking about those people who don’t know there’s an invisible wall and it’s not because they are lazy (which only reinforces the wall with guilt). Anyways.

What app is that? Is that cashu?

Getting very nerdy about this! Brilliant site

Remembered it! https://music.apple.com/ie/album/keep-time/1164967401?i=1164967871

Glory by to God