John Calvin
John Calvin’s fear of imagery was as a result of the church’s corruption from entertaining of paganism. In the commemoration of the life of the martyrs and Christian faithful, the church incorporated paganism worship. The church began to be corrupted by its comprise with paganism. As a result, many non-believers were baptized without being taken through the teaching of Christ. The new Christians, not aware of the actual commemoration of the life of the early Christians, gave the Christian martyrs the status of demigods. During the prevailing ignorance of the middle age, the church legalized through her decree, the introduction of the Roman form of imagery worship. The church started the invocation veneration of the imagery of earlier Christ apostles and martyrs. However, there is no evidence that the acts of St Stephen, the first Christian Martyr, nor St James, were invoked by the apostolic church. If such invocation could have been practiced, it could have been revealed in the epistles of St Paul. The Christians preserved relics of the apostles as a form of remembrance for the endurance they underwent for the sake of Christ. However, this was the origin of the worship of relics. The primitive Christine could not keep the relics without honoring and adoring them.
The council of Trent, through many sessions and decrees, has defended the use of imagery in the church. The commission has outlined various reasons why they consider the use of relics as legitimate. Firstly, the council insists that the use of imagery and invocation is a long-time tradition passed to them by the early Christians and should be practiced accordingly. It contends that the bishop and church leaders should teach people the invocation and give honor to the relics. Secondly, they argue that it is relatively right for the saints to be invoked so that they can aid in Christians prayers to reach God. Invoking the saints through honoring their imagery and relics helps Christians to receive benefits from God. The council states that they do not advocate for any divinity or virtue to be attached to the relics and imagery. The council of Trent condemns any person that attempts to mislead the church into worshipping the images of holy Mary and other saints. Also, the council urges the members of the church not to put trust in the images and relics.
Thirdly, the council defends the honor of the images and relics as only honoring the prototype of what those images represent. Hence, their show of respect by kissing the image or uncovering their faces is a sign of respect and worship to Jesus Christ. Lastly, the council states that a significant profit is derived from all sacred images because God performed miracles through the saints and their salutary examples. The honoring of the imagery and relics will give Christians the lives and manners in imitation of the saints. Also, Christians will adore and love God. The church also fights to remove any superstition. It abhors the invocation of the saints and the veneration of the relics and use of images. It also decrees that not any image can be used in the church except those approved by the bishop or the council. Therefore, the council of Trent holds that the assumption that the relics and images used in the church are contrary to Christ’s teaching is a falsehood.