Do Not Destroy Objects Associated with His Name - Pt. 2

The eighth commandment in Mosaic Law is to not destroy objects associated with His Name.

In my previous post I discussed the scriptural origin of the eighth commandment of Mosaic Law. In this post I’ll discuss its applicability toward Christians.

New Testament references regarding the destruction of Holy Objects

There is no scripture in the New Testament that is exactly on-point regarding the destruction of objects associated with God's Name.

We should consider, however, Revelation 22:18-19

I warn everyone who hears the prophetic words in this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book, and if anyone takes away from the words in this prophetic book, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city described in this book.   

The passage addresses only anyone adding to or taking away from the words of the Book of Revelation. It is silent in regard to the destruction of all other Holy objects.

Discussion:

If we decide the applicability of this Mosaic Law based only upon scripture, we are faced with a conundrum. On the one hand, the Old Testament prohibits individuals from destroying objects associated with His Name. On the other hand, we understand that many of the Mosaic Laws are not binding on Christians.

Galatians 5:18

But if you are guided by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  

We know from the previous posts on this site that some of the Laws are binding on Christians. How do we know what to do about this one? Fortunately, the Bible instructs us to abide by Sacred Tradition that is not in conflict with scripture.

New Testament references regarding Tradition

2 Timothy 2:2

And what you heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will have the ability to teach others as well.

2 Thessalonians 2:15

Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours.

Romans 10:17

But not everyone has heeded the good news; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed what was heard from us?"  

Luke 10:16

Whoever listens to you listens to me. Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.

1 Corinthians 15:11

Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

1 Corinthians 11:2

I praise you because you remember me in everything and hold fast to the traditions, just as I handed them on to you.  

Matthew 23:2–3

The scribes and the Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all things whatsoever they tell you, but do not follow their example. For they preach but they do not practice.  

Acts 8:30–31

Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said, "Do you understand what you are reading?" He replied, "How can I, unless someone instructs me?" So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.

John 20:30

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of (his) disciples that are not written in this book.

If we believe that scripture is true, we know that we must pay attention to Tradition.

What the Church says about Tradition

According to the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, Dei Verbum, Solemnly Promulgated by His Holiness Pope Paul VI, “ there exists a close connection and communication between sacred Tradition and sacred Scripture. For both of them, flowing from the same divine wellspring, in a certain way merge into a unity and tend toward the same end. For sacred Scripture is the word of God inasmuch as it is consigned to writing under the inspiration of the divine Spirit. To the successors of the apostles, sacred Tradition hands on in its full purity God’s word, which was entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit.

"Thus, by the light of the Spirit of truth, these successors can in their preaching preserve this word of God faithfully, explain it, and make it more widely known. Consequently it is not from sacred Scripture alone that the Church draws her certainty about everything which has been revealed. Therefore both sacred Tradition and sacred Scripture are to be accepted and venerated with the same devotion and reverence."

Jewish tradition regarding the destruction of old holy objects

According to the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the proper disposal of a worn sefer torah is A Torah scroll "which has become worn" is considered to have deteriorated beyond the point of repair. It is placed in an earthen vessel and buried in a cemetery, preferably next to the grave of a Torah scholar.

Catholic tradition concerning the destruction of sacramentals

Catechism of the Catholic Church

There is nothing in the Catechism regarding the disposal of sacred images and objects. Also, there is nothing on the subject in the old Baltimore Catechism.

Code of Canon Law

Can.  1171 Sacred objects, which are designated for divine worship by dedication or blessing, are to be treated reverently and are not to be employed for profane or inappropriate use even if they are owned by private persons.

Can. 1269 If sacred objects are privately owned, private persons can acquire them through prescription, but it is not permitted to employ them for profane uses unless they have lost their dedication or blessing; if they belong to a public ecclesiastical juridic person, however, only another public ecclesiastical juridic person can acquire them.

Catholic Encyclopedia

Simony is usually defined "a deliberate intention of buying or selling for a temporal price such things as are spiritual of annexed unto spirituals". While this definition only speaks of purchase and sale, any exchange of spiritual for temporal things is simoniacal. …While according to the natural and Divine laws the term simony is applicable only to the exchange of supernatural treasures for temporal advantages, its meaning has been further extended through ecclesiastical legislation. In order to preclude all danger of simony the Church has forbidden certain dealings which did not fall under Divine prohibition. It is thus unlawful to exchange ecclesiastical benefices by private authority, to accept any payment whatever for holy oils, to sell blessed rosaries or crucifixes. Such objects lose, if sold, all the indulgences previously attached to them (S. Cong. Of Indulg., 12 July, 1847).

Sacred Congregations

According to an article, "Disposing of Blessed Objects" by Fr. William P. Saunders, once a religious object is blessed and dedicated for divine worship or veneration, it must be treated with reverence and not be used in either an improper or profane way (cf. Code of Canon Law, #1171).

However, blessed religious objects break or wear from use. The basic rule for the disposition of these items is to burn or to bury them. During the 1800s, both the Sacred Congregation for the Rites and the Holy Office (now known respectively as the Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship and the Sacred Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith) issued various determinations concerning this issue. Here are a few examples: A chalice which becomes "unserviceable" is not to be sold, but must be used for some other sacred purpose or melted. Vestments, altar cloths, and linens must be destroyed. Polluted or excess holy water must be poured into the ground. Palms are to be burned, and the ashes then used for distribution on Ash Wednesday or returned to the ground. A broken rosary or religious statue normally would be buried. In all, the underlying idea is that what has been dedicated to God should be returned to God. Never should one just "throw out" what has been dedicated to God.

What do non-Catholic Christians do with old Bibles?

It seems to be a matter of common sense that destroying objects associated with God’s Name is sacrilegious. However, there is no uniformity among non-Catholic Christians in regard to the disposal of old worn Bibles.

TheLutheran.org says, “Dispose of it as you would any other book.”

RBC Ministries says, “It is somewhat a matter of Christian liberty how we dispose of an old Bible.”

Dear Abby says, “I consulted the Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., and was told: Protestants can dispose of an old Bible by giving it to someone or throwing it away if they are comfortable doing so -- the paper and ink are not ‘holy.’”

This site takes a similar view and says “discarding an old Christian Bible is a matter of personal conviction.”

This site says, “Recycle it. If the book is damaged and no longer readable, such as water damage, consider if it has no other value, then it may be discarded as other books and papers. It can be recycled so that it is not found in a landfill or burn pile. Wrap the Bible in plain paper and put it in your recycle bin for collection with other papers or magazines.”

This site says, “Do not burn or throw away a Bible publicly. Others might misinterpret your action as disrespectful or even incendiary.”

A problem with Sola Scriptura is illustrated by this site that says, “There is no "biblical" way to dispose of an old/damaged/ruined Bible, as the Bible itself does not address this question.” …The problem with taking this position is that it would be impossible for a method to How could the Bible address the disposal of a Bible when the individual writings were written hundreds of years before they were compiled by the Catholic Church into a single Bible?

The Bible-alone is not the only source of truth. This statement comes from the Bible itself. According to scriptures, we are to look to Tradition when answers aren't found in the Bible.

Discussion:

It should be emphasized that there is a difference between Sacred Tradition, with a capital “T,” and tradition that can also be termed as custom.

The belief in the Trinity, in which most Christians believe, is a Sacred Tradition (with a capital T). It is not defined in scripture, yet the Trinity is true and eternal. The Tradition was defined by the Catholic Church and fortunately that Tradition is maintained by most Protestant denominations.

The same is true of the Tradition of the Catholic Church that determined the New Testament’s Canon of Scripture (the Bible). Once again, it is fortunate that most Protestant denominations abide by this Tradition.

Abiding by the eighth Mosaic Law is also a Sacred Tradition. We should not destroy objects associated with His Name.

The manner in which we observe this Law, however, is a matter of tradition, with a small “t.” It is subject to change based upon the times and the customs. Tradition (with a small "t") also applies to less significant matters such as where we place tabernacles in the church or whether we receive the Eucharist in the hand or mouth. The traditions (with a small "t") usually pertain to how we comply with matters of scripture and Sacred Tradition. How we dispose of sacred items in a respectful way is a matter of tradition (with a small “t”).


However, under no circumstances should a blessed Bible ever be thrown in the garbage. That would be a certain violation of the eighth Mosaic Law. It seems surprising that Christians would do such a thing that runs counter to common sense. Throwing sacred items in the trash is sacrilegious.

Future Research:

I probably could write a book on just this one commandment on Mosaic Law (although I don't know how many people would want to read it – However, I think that it's pretty interesting stuff). At a future date, I hope to add additional posts on this.

I have cited a secondary source, Fr. Saunders, in regard to the documents promulgated by Sacred Congregations. I can't find the original documents online. At some point in the future, I will try to get a hold of copies and quote directly from them. (I'm hoping that there is a version in English.) I will also follow up on the writings of Early Church Fathers on this subject.

In at least some parts of the world, there is an old tradition of starting large bonfires on the Eve of the Feast of St. John the Baptist. On that day, old sacramentals are disposed of in the bonfires. At some point I'd like to research original source documents.

Another possible subject for future research would be to determine the development of both Jewish and Catholic traditions concerning the disposal of holy objects. We have Internet sources concerning current practices, but it would be interesting to see whether they have changed through the centuries and if so, have they changed in tandem.

I imagine non-Catholic Christians might ask why (or whether) Catholic Traditions are binding upon them. In my next post I hope to address those questions and discuss the issue of Authority.

…but in regard to the eighth Mosaic Law…

Conclusion

Binding on Christians