In Christianity, the Use of the Crucifux is Idolatry

"My opponent uses Scripture to back up definition number two, however I will refute this by arguing that a representation or symbol of an object of worship is not an Idol, as long as that object of worship is not a blasphemous god. In other words, a representation or symbol of God himself as long as it is not given worship to, but used as a representation of God is not an Idol. Under this argument we can therefore conclude that the use of the Crucifix is not idolatry. My opponent's examples don't really support this. Objects that represent God and are given great reverence are idols. My opponent gives some examples to images commanded by God which could be used in worship, and that's fine. These images commanded aren't of God him self. It's not a sin to create the ark of the covenant or to put graven images in a church. However it is a sin to and idolatry to put a graven image into a temple that is an image of God/Jesus Christ. I think this is made clear when God punishes the Jews for creating an image of a calf meant to represent God. God is drawing a line and saying this type of graven image is okay (the type use in worship and not representing god), This type isn't okay (the type representing God). Of the examples my opponent gave of okay graven images is correct. However you won't find any example of God commanding his people to create an image of himself. Let's remember God punished the Jews for using a golden calf to represent and remind them of God. God has never reversed the ruling that this is idolatry. Let's look at an example that my opponent gave to show the ruling has been reversed by God. "In Matthew 2:11[9] the Magi approached where Jesus was born, and upon giving Jesus their gifts they bowed down to him and worshipped him. When God made the New Covenant he revealed himself as Jesus Christ. For this reason, it is appropriate in accordance with the Scriptural teaching on Idolatry that we can make representation of God in Jesus Christ which accordingly conforms with the use of the Crucifux." Here the Magi bow down directly to Jesus and not a graven image of Jesus. How this verse would justify creating an image of Jesus is a mystery to me. We should actually note that God doesn't change his rulings. Once something is a sin, it remains a sin. No ifs, ands or buts. 1 Peter 1:25 NIV but the word of the Lord endures forever." And this is the word that was preached to you. Isaiah 40:8 NIV The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever." There is about 20 verses scattered throughout the bible that repeat the same thing. God ruled that any image representative of him is an idol. He supported this by punishing the Jews for creating a golden calf meant to represent him. My opponent is correct not all graven images are idolatry. The ones that God commands and other ones used as decorations in temples are fine, so long as they don't represent God. A crucifix is probably not considered an idol an the use of one in the temple and worship is probably okay, but the 2nd you place an image of Jesus on that crucifix and turn it into a crucifux, you've created yourself an idol. Not that this matters because it's a sin anyway, but that's not an image of Jesus on that cross anyway. The image on the crucifux typically looks like an extremely handsome Italian guy. Jesus however wasn't an extremely handsome Italian guy. He was an extremely handsome Jewish guy. http://stuffwhitepeopledo.blogspot.com... Depictions of Jesus also typically look eerily like The God Jupiter. It probably has to do with Rome's forced conversion to Christianity. When Rome converted the pagan temples would have an image of Jupiter but the Romans would just write the name Jesus under it. The same thing happened with Isis and the Virgin Mary. A lot of these images, just stuck. Now Christians rarely realize they're depicting Pagan Gods and putting them in their churches and around their neck. http://gadling.com... http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net... Christians are unknowingly depicting and planting the image of pagan gods in their head when using the crucifux. So even if you don't buy my argument that an image of God being depicted and put in temples is idolatry, than it should still disgust you that they are unwittingly using images of Pagan Gods in their holy places. Jesus didn't even die on a cross, so using one to depict events in the bible is probably misleading. The word Crux is often translated to cross, but isn't necessarily so, and all the evidence seems to more closely support Jesus being suspended from something like a stump. http://www.telegraph.co.uk... Christians are unknowingly honoring the God Osiris and his death on a cross. Whether it's knowingly done or not it's still idolatry. You won't find a commandment that gives a free pass based on ignorance (not meant in derogatory way). Conclusion- I don't appreciate the accusation of nitpicking. In these debates you're very limited to what verses you can pull from the bible. It seems like every debate, that centers around the bible typically gets one side accusing the other of pulling verses out of context. These debates serve to help us figure out the context, and we need to focus on figuring that out. Other than that I've shown that depictions of God (and my opponent refers to Jesus as God), especially for use in worship is idolatry. When you take into account these images are actually of pagan Gods such as Jupiter or Osiris who is typically depicted on a cross, and you'll see that the crucifux is an idol.