question why do people make all these statues of graven images?

Question

GOD says thou shalt not make unto the any graven image or any likness of any thing in heaven or in the earth or in the waters

Answer 1

because people do not love GOD like they should, and in theses days the only thing people care about is money, they know that people will by just about anything so if they can make money off of forbidden graven images then they will find a way to make it and put it out for money.

Answer 2

Two very interesting things happened once God became man.

1) The moment Jesus was born, he became the flesh image of a heavenly thing ... something that is absolutey prohibited by the commandment you cite ... a commandment that would, if followed, actually keep us from worshipping Jesus Christ.

2) When Jesus gave us the new covenant in his blood, he fulfiled all that was written about him in the law, the pslams, and the prophets, and then, the old law, complete with the 10 commandments, and all the other ordinances and statutes EXPIRED.

Jesus shortly established his universal (Catholic) church, and he gave his church the sole authority to make laws to regulate Christian conduct.

The church promptly readopted the 10 Commandments in a slightly modified form, so they would properly reflect the new realities of God's new covenant, and Christ's divine humanity.

And since Jesus is no longer a largely unkown, and mysterious spirit God, images of Jesus would not be idols to a false god, but sacred memorials of the one, true God, who redeemed all mankind, and who promised to return and finish the job.

And since the Church was charged by Jesus with teaching the whole world, and the world was still largely illiterate, sacred art and statuary would also serve a very practical purpose in the life of the budding church ... as a graphical catechism of all Christian beliefs.

Much of the artwork we can see in ancient churches and in the Vatican is there not only to honor God, but to teach the faithful about Jesus, and all the people, places, and beliefs, which remain such an important part of the Judeo-Christian faith Tradition.

The Bible itself was of little use to the unschooled and largely illiterate populace, even after it was translated into Latin in the 4th century, which was the vernacular, and the official language of scientist and scholars of the time.

With the rise of Protestant beliefs and practices in the 15th century, along with the false doctrines of faith alone, and scripture alone, new and later faith traditions grew up, promoted by those who were largely ignorant of many (most) of the theologial truths which God's true church had authoratively defined over the centuries.

The new Bible only folks promptly latched on to the old law, just as they found it in scripture, but they could never satisfactorily explain from scripture WHY only part of the old laws were still to be be legitimately observed.

Why didn't Christians still stone adulterers to death? Why don't Christians have to conform to all the old Jewish traditional laws, but they still have to keep the commandments?

Exactly where is that rule detailed in scripture?

Not willing to accept the God-given authority of the Catholic Church, they'll never be able to correctly explain it.

Now you know!

Answer 3

ooh you'd better remove the your avitar - it's too considered a graven image. a graven image is an idol or fetish carved in wood or stone - in other words - a "thing" that is worship - not a piece of art. there is a big difference.

i believe the making a likeness of anything in the heavens, earth or waters is very possibly a way of commenting on cloning - THAT is making a likeness.

Answer 4

I think the concern here is worshiping.
Pictures, statues, etc. can be appreciated for their beauty.
They inspire us and remind us, but are not to be worshiped.
God has graven His word on our minds and hearts.
We should focus on worshiping Him in Spirit and truth.
Abide in Him, as branches to a vine.
Then His image will show through all we do.

FYI to some of those answers... God DID say this.
Exodus 20:4... the 2nd commandment.
Also mentioned in Deut 4
Break out and dust off those Bibles

Answer 5

So that picture on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel should be painted over? All the paintings and figures of angels should be destroyed?

And what about that avatar you're using?
.

Answer 6

I dislike having to disagree with you, darling, but God didn't say it. A book written by men said it. Art is a lovely way to glorify God's creations.

Answer 7

i think this question is out of context and inaccurate translation within the bible. Why do christians have images of jesus on the cross,images of crosses on churches,statues of mary,jesus,st. francis and other saints.

Answer 8

I agree, I've seen alot of statues of Mary and people always praying to them and worshiping them...not to mention those statues that have supposed healing powers and how much people will take those seriously.

Answer 9

Actually, that's just what some guy wrote millenia ago, probably after drinking bad river water. He'd be rather amused himself to know that people like you still quote him and take him seriously.

Answer 10

Because christians pick and choose which part of the bible they went to live by in order to serve their own needs