Nazarene Extemporaneous Speech
BLACK NAZARENE: Devotion or Idolatry?
This day is given by our God Almighty. I would like to thank everyone for honouring me with their presence here in this event; I owe you all my appreciation and gratitude. Before I start, please excuse me for what will I speak, I just want to state what I think about on happenings on the society.
One of the most up-to-date news on televisions, radio, newspaper and social networking sites is all about the Feast of the Black Nazarene. Almost 9 million people from different parts of the country went to Quiapo church last January 9, where the replica of the Black Nazarene is to be found. Originally with fair complexion, it is believed to have turned dark after the statue survived a burning galleon ship on its arrival from Mexico. Catholic Filipinos believe that once you kissed nor even touched the any part of the Nazarene’s body and utter some prayers, your diseases and ailments will be gone like a bubble.
Now, let me remind you what the bible says. According to Leviticus 26:1 "'Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God.”
What the Catholic people now doing? They almost die just to touch the Nazarene because they deem, doing so will grant their wishes and as many of them say, the presence on the said feast is a part of the Filipino culture. We have nothing against graven images which purport to be a mere representation of the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. I would agree with Roman Catholic priests and apologists that if such image would only serve as a reminder of God, specifically, Christ, then it’s okay, just as pictures of our loved ones may remind us of them. However, once people start worshipping and attributing healing powers or whatever supernatural powers to these things, as what happens during the feast of the Black Nazarene, the true essence of what so called faith is being deserted because of that
This day is given by our God Almighty. I would like to thank everyone for honouring me with their presence here in this event; I owe you all my appreciation and gratitude. Before I start, please excuse me for what will I speak, I just want to state what I think about on happenings on the society.
One of the most up-to-date news on televisions, radio, newspaper and social networking sites is all about the Feast of the Black Nazarene. Almost 9 million people from different parts of the country went to Quiapo church last January 9, where the replica of the Black Nazarene is to be found. Originally with fair complexion, it is believed to have turned dark after the statue survived a burning galleon ship on its arrival from Mexico. Catholic Filipinos believe that once you kissed nor even touched the any part of the Nazarene’s body and utter some prayers, your diseases and ailments will be gone like a bubble.
Now, let me remind you what the bible says. According to Leviticus 26:1 "'Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the LORD your God.”
What the Catholic people now doing? They almost die just to touch the Nazarene because they deem, doing so will grant their wishes and as many of them say, the presence on the said feast is a part of the Filipino culture. We have nothing against graven images which purport to be a mere representation of the image of our Lord Jesus Christ. I would agree with Roman Catholic priests and apologists that if such image would only serve as a reminder of God, specifically, Christ, then it’s okay, just as pictures of our loved ones may remind us of them. However, once people start worshipping and attributing healing powers or whatever supernatural powers to these things, as what happens during the feast of the Black Nazarene, the true essence of what so called faith is being deserted because of that