I recently received an e-mail. How would you answer this question?
Now if I could get past Jeremiah, chapter 44, I’d really be a happy camper, (LOL). Stumbled on that passage this morning and wondered about the “Queen of Heaven” that the people of Judah were burning incense to. God sure was mad! Who was this “Queen” they were venerating (worshiping?)? I wonder if they were putting her ahead of God? The struggles continue….but the Lord is faithful!!
I had dealt with this argument and confusion before, so I thought I would wrote an explanation comparing the idolatrous worship of the pagan Queen of Heaven and veneration of Mary the legitimate Queen of Heaven.
Be ready to defend your faith, and our Holy Queen. Click here for an explanation of Jeremiah 44 and his condemnation of Jews worshiping the pagan goddess and queen of heaven and why it is right and good to venerate our Queen Mother in Heaven.
If you haven’t heard the argument yet, you will some day. Be ready!
For more on Mary, get my documentary filmed on location. It is entitled Mary, Mother of God. You can learn more about it and order it here.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Steve,
Hi. I am a Filipino Evangelical. I just would like to ask whether Roman Catholic teaching allows burning of incense to images. This is somehow related to the question asked by the person who emailed you. Thanks. :-)
Bert,
We offer incense to God. Just as it describes in the heavenly worship described in the book of Revelation:
“And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and with golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints;” ~Rev. 5:8
[3] And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer; and he was given much incense to mingle with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar before the throne;
[4] and the smoke of the incense rose with the prayers of the saints from the hand of the angel before God. ~Rev. *:3-4
Thanks Barbara, you are correct. We are forbidden to offer any sacrifice, incense or offering to anyone other than the Divine Trinity. Candles can be lit to offer prayers to God and the saints, but the candles are a form of prayer and request for intercession. BUT we worhip God alone.
Thanks Barbara and Steve. One more question. Do your answers imply that worshiping God may involve the burning of incense before images? Thanks. :)
Bert,
I think the question is if incense is ONLY used for worship. We’re stuck again with this Protestant idea of “either” or “or”. Can you prove this to be the case? And what if the priests in the OT burn incense before the Ark of the Covenant? I haven’t read it but it may be.
Hector the other Pinoy
What I meant is whether we use incense for worship and for other purpose like to ward off evil spirits…
Hector
Hi,
I think it’s clear why we honor Mary. Here’s a great online video that shows why Mary was foretold in Genesis 3:15
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5crbtwXYc1U
God bless,
Gab
Hello, I was a practicing Catholic for almost 20 yrs. & there were always prayers sent up to Mary & the saints. From what I have gathered studying the bible & learning, prayers are ONLY to be offered up to the Trinity. Also, it has been a belief for many years that a person can be “prayed into Heaven” after they have passed, where would biblical Catholic scholars have gotten these beliefs?
STEVE RAY HERE: SORRY YOU LEFT THE ONE, HOLY, CATHOLIC & APOSTOLIC CHURCH BEFORE YOU UNDERSTOOD HER TEACHINGS. ONE SHOULD LEARN THE FAITH AND UNDERSTAND IT BEFORE LEAVING OUT OF IGNORANCE. DO YOU EVER ASK ANYONE TO PRAY FOR YOU? THEN YOU ARE DOING THE SAME THING. THE WORD PRAY DOES NOT MEAN TO WORSHIP. THE WORD PRAY MEANS TO ASK. YOU ARE ASKING SOMEONE ELSE TO PRAY FOR YOU.
SOME MAY ASK, “WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY TO PRAY TO DEAD SAINTS?” I WOULD THEN ASK YOU, “WHERE DOES THE BIBLE SAY SAINTS ARE DEAD?” THEY ARE ALIVE AND BEFORE THE THRONE OF GOD. READ THE BOOK OF REVELATION WITH YOUR EYES OPEN AND YOU WILL SEE THESE THINGS.
NO ONE CAN BE PRAYED INTO HEAVEN. AGAIN, YOU SHOULD HAVE STUDIED AND UNDERSTOOD THE FAITH BEFORE LEAVING IT. I INVITE YOU TO DO SO NOW AND TO COME BACK HOME. I HAVE A LOT OF THINGS TO HELP YOU AT http://WWW.CATHOLICCONVERT.COM > HOME WEBSITE > RESOURCES.