Question

Can Christians display Buddha statues?

Answer 1

In our house, we have a statute of a sitting Buddha with a beautifully carved face looking very "calm & smiling". It was bought for our new house in end Y2002 as a decorative piece of art. It matches my side cabinet in the hall.

However recently my daughter (18 yrs) said she felt uneasy with the piece and she refers to the teaching on 1 Cor 8: That this statute is a representation of idolatry to others and has negative effect in our spiritual life at home (i.e. it is as the scripture says we become a stumbling block to others).

Hence, I refer to the Bible and read on in 1 Cor 10 V23-32 and wonders if we like the statute as a piece of art, it is against the teaching of the Words of God. Personally I do not think so but my by what my daughter said, it has become a stumbling block to her. Meanwhile I have taken the item out of sight, but pray we could have a better understanding of this and that she is comfortable with it so I could put it back as a piece of art.

Answer 2

One reason 1 Corinthians becomes paramount in this discussion is simply the fact that members in the Corinthian church were facing the same issues as you. The Christians there understood they had a license of liberty in Christ, but they took that license and they abused it in several ways. Part of the reason Paul is writing is to answer questions the Corinthians had concerning things like eating meat sacrificed to idols. Another reason he wrote is to correct specific errors he saw them falling into through over-confidence.