"About idols"
Originally uploaded by fylliska.
Jaan has a few Bible story books. The one that we read before bedtime is at toddler level, with the stories in both English and Russian. Recently the story of Hezekiah destroying idols the really made an impression on him. We had to read it several nights in a row, before Jaan would agree to move on. Now he calls that book "the Bible about idols," or he just asks to read about the idols. 
He's very quick to explain that idols are bad, though, and that we should only pray to God.
He also loves this Bible story book:
Jaan and his book
Originally uploaded by fylliska.
The pictures are from a Danish version. They're very bright, intricate, and different from anything else I've ever seen. Does anyone know if that's a traditional Danish style? Today we were reading about the Sermon on the Mount, and Jaan pointed out a place next to Jesus in the picture: "I could just sit right there and listen to Him."
5 comments:
"Out of the mouths of babes" again comes clear truth....and his response resonates all the way to heaven above. Praise God for Jaan's perceptive and tender heart! With love to each of you....
Phyllis - too cute! I love the books, and how fun to read them to Jaan. I'll send you a picture of the swaddler Iain uses sometime soon - we're jackhammering the carport today. :)
Oh. . . Oh!!! Tears!!!! Your mother and mother in love say it best!
It is so exciting to watch your children learn about God and his plan for us! What a beautiful child you have in Jaan! Both your children very blessed to have such pious and loving Christian parents! Your parents did a wonderful job with both of you! I think you and Will are exceptional people and Jaan's grandparents should be proud!
I love the illustrations in the Danish children's Bible. They may well be traditional...the colors remind me a bit of the Norwegian artist and the painting the scream. The Scream
I just wanted to share with you, in case you don't already know. That icons are not idols , Orthodox Christians do not worship them, they are merely pictures that tell a story, much like Jaan's children's Bible. Icons have been in use from the earliest days of Christianity, there have even been some Jewish temples, uncovered with mosaic artwork.
Icons tell the story of Christ's life and until relatively recently Bibles and books in general were very expensive for the common man to afford. Had they been able to afford them, in any case, the couldn't read them, as the majority of Christians were illiterate. That is why the Divine Liturgy is full of Scripture and the use of icons told the stories of the OT and NT.
http://www.saintbarbara.org/faith/history/iconcontroversy.cfm - The Iconoclasts
Orthodox Christians, like yourselves only worship God, not icons, not the mother of God etc.. Worship is reserved for only God and we can only be saved through a life in Christ, not through the Saints or the Mother of God. Sometimes this is very much misunderstood. Icons are tools to explain theology and God's plan and Christian history. The Saints are our friends whose prayers we ask, because the are alive in Heaven, just as I ask for your prayers. We are not saved through our prayers for intercession only through CHRIST.
I thought you might like these links, I think you will find them helpful.
www.protomartyr.org/image.html - No Graven Image
www.theforerunner.org/pages/icons.htm
www.protomartyr.org/prayer.html
Taken from here
http://www.protomartyr.org/links.html
Phyllis,
That's a great story. It reminded me of a story our pastor told us this past week about his 4 year old. Bo, the child, was watching Snow White and the 7 dwarfs and saw them kneeling next to her while she is asleep and he stands up, points at the tv and says, "No! That's idolatry."
It's great watching children learn, we love teaching our K/5s class.
Love you all!
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