Are Christians allowed to have graven images?

Question

Christians promote the 10 commandments, but has the commandment against graven images or any likeness of anything in the heavens above, or on the earth, or beneath the earth been done away with?

If it has been done away with, where does it say that? If it hasn't been done away with, what does that mean about crucifix's or anything with Jesus on it? Or what about statues of Mary? Or any paintings or statues of angels? What about the paintings in the cistine chapel? Or the pictures that they put in Bibles? How about nativity scenes or ressurection pictures?

Anjel: The Hebrew word for graven is pesel and although it is commonly translated idol, it can mean anything made by hands as well.

Answer 1

Exodus 20:4-5 (HCSB, Holman Christian Standard Bible)
4 Do not make an idol for yourself, whether in the shape of anything in the heavens above or on the earth below or in the waters under the earth. 5 You must not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the fathers' sin, to the third and fourth [generations] of those who hate Me,

It is wrong to have graven images.

Answer 2

Graven Images were forbidden because they were worshiped as gods. If worship is given to anything other than to the Almighty, then it is considered wrong and a sin against God. And there are many things today that have taken the worship from God and one of those Idols is "TV." And it has been said that when the Antichrist comes on the scene he will cause all to bow and worship him as god and how will he know of who bows or not? Television..It acts also as a transmitter as well as a receiver. Have you ever heard of BIG Brother is watching you? Note this, that you can be watched and viewed through the Television. Now I don't know how true this is but if you have heard of this also, let me know..Blessings..

Answer 3

The prohibition against graven images was a prohibition against making images that were to be objects of worship. It was a prohibition against making the artifacts associated with idolatry.

If someone used a crufifix as an object of worship and prayed to that object or offered sacrifices to it then they would be breaking God's commandment. Having an object that one knows is only and object and an artistic rendering that serves as a reminder of the Lord is not the same thing as having a graven image that one bows down to as if it were a god.

Answer 4

Golly gee Mr Wilson, They break the sabbath too, and... oh my goodness (gasps in horror) they also put their false religion in the place of God!

Since when do Christians follow the ten commandments?

Sorry for the sarcastic tone but the only thing more annoying to me than a rabid atheist is a lukewarm Christian who plays at being "godly"

If you think I'm being a bit harsh, look at what God says about lukewarm Christians They make Him PUKE.

Repent! The Kingdom of God is at hand!

Answer 5

I think that depends on whether it IS a "graven image."

Certainly, a picture in the Bible isn't a graven image. I think you need to study the meaning of that quite a bit more. ;-)

Answer 6

a painting or a statue is not an idol.

an idol is worshipped.

God told the jews to build statues of angels.

Answer 7

Symbolic figures are a far cry from idols. We do not worship any of these things; we use them to identify ourselves and give a outward marker of what we believe.

Do I worship my grandparents or my parents just because I have their picture up in my office?

Answer 8

I don't know what the word "graven" means.

Answer 9

Yes, you are right. We Christians shouldn't do those things and many of us don't.

Answer 10

Good grief...