I too will give a response to the rest of your post but this addresses a portion if it.
https://inklesspen.blog/2025/07/21/call-no-man-father-dont-you-read-the-bible-bruh/
Good thread and discussion. We've reached the point where honestly I would be outside of the scripture and that's not where I am led.
To a Protestant images of Jesus are Iconography and don't take it personally. The very church I have recently joined has images of Jesus in a few places.
Orthodox and Catholic churches have even more iconography and it definitely is against the scripture to do so.
Liturgical is fancy for I'll read this for you.
Christ definitely is against much talking publicly for show.
Matthew 6:5 KJV “¶And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.”
Truly we need to look at the fruit of the messenger.
Matthew 7:15-20 KJV “¶Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17. Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
Look at the places where the church is a powerful
We are not just winging it. We study the gospel and we have made it open source.
Jesus has performed miracles for me this year and he's working through me every day. The Church is the body of Christ and we are party of it. Not in ecumenism but in experience, faith and study. We are also purposely separated to prevent false powerful churches from hiding the Word of God.
Matthew 23:9 KJV “And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.”
That eliminates all the "priests" who want to be called Father and specifically:
Mat 23:9 Byzantine “και πατερα μη καλεσητε υμων επι της γης εις γαρ εστιν ο πατηρ υμων ο εν τοις ουρανοις”
Shared using AndBible: Bible Study. (https://andbible.github.io)
Discussion
I know that I'm saved by the blood of Jesus Christ and I don't need to have permission from anyone on earth for this. God has promised this. God doesn't lie.
If you don't believe that I'm saved because I'm not working your program then you are missing the point that no one can earn their salvation. Jesus has already done the work. I've accepted the blood of Christ. He's my savior. I act according to his will. I fear the LORD not men.
He wants everyone to accept his gift.
His yoke is light. All those who complicate his message are trying to steer men and women a away and you really need to have a come Jesus meeting on that.
Keep playing around. The priests are already preparing their own reward for piousness. The priests in Jesus' time were made redundant when the temple veil exposed the holiest area to the outside. Jesus is not only the sacrificial Lamb but he is the highest priest. He is the only way.
The literacy brought about by the reformation has increased the quality of Christian lives. That's the fruit. The Christian countries now are backsliding and the old franchise nonsense is rearing its ugly head. Many false prophets are seeking religion instead of the message of Jesus which is salvation by accepting and praying through him.
It's so simple that smart people can't get it.
Separation is necessary. We are not building the Tower of Babylon as Christians. This is apostasy. Throw all of the icons in the trash. Throw all of the paraphernalia away. Get rid of the chaff. It will be separated anyway.
Iconography is a tough hurdle for most protestants, it was for me too. Anecdotally, it is interesting to note that both the Muslims and the Rabbinic Jews were staunch iconoclasts beacause they deny both the divinity of Jesus Christ and His incarnation of God into the world. There is a ton of archaeological evidence pointing to Iconography in both 2nd temple Judaism and early Christendom. The catacombs of Rome (1st–3rd centuries) are covered in images of Christ, the Theotokos, saints, and biblical scenes.
Eusebius of Caesarea (4th c.) records that there were portraits of Christ and the apostles preserved in Christian communities.
This suggests that iconography was not an innovation of the 8th century but an ancient, apostolic practice. Which concludes my earlier post that councils were not to drum up new Theology but to preserve and defend it.
St. John of Damascus (8th century) — a key defender of icons during the Iconoclast Controversy:
“When the Invisible One became visible in the flesh, you may draw His image. When He, who is bodiless and without form, incomprehensible in His nature, took on the form of a servant and appeared in the likeness of men, then you may make an image of Him.”
When Christ was preaching in the synagogues there would of been icons all over the temple.
In the Old Testament, God forbids worship of idols (Exodus 20:4–5), but not sacred images used in worship of Him. In fact, He commands them:
Exodus 25:18–22 → God commands golden cherubim to be placed on the Ark of the Covenant.
Numbers 21:8–9 → God commands Moses to make the bronze serpent, which healed those who looked upon it.
1 Kings 6:23–29 → Solomon’s Temple was filled with carved cherubim, palm trees, and flowers — designed by divine instruction.
There is a clear difference in veneration and worship which is outlined in St John of Damascus treatise on Holy Images if you are interested.