Leonidus

One of the commandments is to NOT to make any molded image of GOD. So I assume we cannot make any molded image of Jesus either.

But there are so many images of Jesus around the world in Churches and electronic images on the internet. Therefore has the person who created those images of Jesus committed sin by making those images?

If we worship that image created by that craftsman, would we be committing sin?

violet

Boanerges

My opinion is this: the context of this command was to a people who bowed down to and worshipped idols of wood and stone. Some churches have much the same pratices today. If it is a picture or work of art it should be fine- if it is a religious icon then it is not.

JeremiahD84

It all depends on if you give any power to the item.
Do you treat a picture of Jesus on the wall as if it were Jesus Himself? If you do, then throw the picture away.

You don't want any object taking the place of the Real God!

Banarenth

Exodus 20 ... just for the record, is pretty specific.

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: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generations of them that hate me.

And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.


So..sorry, I don't believe in abridging the Bible. For me, even to only quote this much is already taking it out of context, but it answers your specific question because you were asking about the second commandment. It doesn't say you can't make an image of God and worship it, it says you can't make an image of ANYTHING, ANYWHERE and worship it. Period.

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Boanerges

I can respect the context of your undersytanding.
I simply believe this is the core of the statement-
Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them nor serve them:
These were images used in idolatry. By all means abstain if you feel that conviction.

Banarenth

I think that was what I was saying...otherwise ALL art would be a sin.

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Boanerges

Agreed brother!

GodsChild08

There are many people whose Bible has taken the place of the real God. What do you recomend to them?

Jax

Really that commandment would extend to worshipping any man made object above God.
This is an area where we all need to check our hearts,
'am I putting something before God or in His rightful place'?
if we are it can be seen, as worshipping that thing above the Lord.