Victor said:
Then why post? Why not show neutrality if that is the case?
For those interested.
Well, lets look at exactly what the Bible says:
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them. (Exod. 20:4-5, KJV).
For those who interpret this verse in a strict hyper-literal sense then things like:
- Simple wooden crosses
- A quarter in your pocket with an eagle on it (ancient symbol of the pagan god Jupiter!)
- A picture of someone who has passed on.
There are literally hundreds of examples but why arent these seen in such a way?
A very common answer I have come across is that Exodus was to forbid the creation of any sculpture intended for religious purposes. Sounds like a good objection right? Problem is that God himself commands the creation of sculptures for a religious purpose. For example, when God told Moses how to build the Ark of the Covenant, He said,
Make two cherubim out of hammered gold at the ends of the cover. Make one cherub on one end and the second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at the two ends. The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward, overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking toward the cover. (Exod. 25:18-20).
There are more examples but I hope this will be sufficient to show that Exodus was not to be taken in a strict hyper-literal sense.
Maybe it would help to point out that a catholics veneration of a statue of Jesus is exactly analogous to a patriotic American veneration of the American flag. We honor (show respect to) the flag, not because of what it is (a piece of cloth), but because of what it represents (America).
Hope this helps.
~Victor
i agree with you on the point that what exodus was saying was that making an image for religious worship was wrong. and this is backed up by what you say about instructions for the ark. however, as far as the ark goes, it was hidden from public view behind a curtain, and at no time was worship given to the images on it.
anyway, that was the OT, but what about the NT? Well, early Christians didn't have or use images. In fact, they were accused of being atheists for worshipping without images in their place of worship. The encyclopaedia Britannica said that their enemies accused them, saying that they set up no image or form of any god, and they never denied this charge.
So, if the early Christians never used, honoured or venerated images, where did they come from? Well, eventually, image worship crept in. in fact, as early as the fourth century. The catholic encyclopaedia said that the Christian roman citizens in the east offered gifts, incense, even prayers to the statues of the emperor. It also said that it would be natural for those people who bowed down to these images of Caesar, to go onto give the same signs to the cross, the images of Christ, and the alter.
They strayed from pure worship and were no longer without spot from the world. They were then Christians by name only, and by being able to bow down to images of rulers, then of course they could bow down and do the same thing to images of Christ.
For example, Robert Bellarmine, who was a dignitary of the RC church said: 'images of Christ and the saints are to be adored not only in a figurative manner, but quite positively, so that the prayer are directly addresses to them, and not merely as the representatives of the original.'
So images are definitely used in idol worship.
So, is it ok, for a Christian to have an image as a visual aid? Well:
2 Corinthians 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
You see, wouldn't it we wise to be cautious, better safe than sorry, when it comes to owning religious images, bearing in mind how God views images and idols? In many places the images one has may be viewed as images in worship. It would be wise to bear in mind what Deuteronomy 7:25, 26 says You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the LORD your God. 26 Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing.
And to finish, 1 John 5:21 'Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.'
