If an object points us to the one true God, that is not idol worship. By your standard the ark of the covenant was also an idol because they worshiped and prayed at the ark of the covenant, too. Just as we believe and pray and worship at the cross because it represents Jesus and his sacrifice for our sins. We do not worship THE literal object that is the cross. So...again...not idol worship.
Why do protestant have such bad theology? Is it the whole sola scriptura thing?