Exodus 20:4 - 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:
Deuteronomy 29:17 - And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them
Psalms 135:15-18 -The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands. They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not; They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths. They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
Acts 17:29 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.
There is no physical description of Christ given to us from Scripture. We don’t know if He was tall or short, thin or heavy, medium complexion or darker, and so on. God did not intend to give us a description. Having a picture or image helps us to satisfy our own wanting minds. We keep a sort of superstitious tie to the picture for it would indeed be blasphemous to mar or disfigure the picture in any way. The fact is we are to have no likeness of anything in heaven --- and Christ certainly is in heaven. One may debate this point and say the picture represents Christ on earth. Well if it is supposed to be Christ, did He really look like the picture? If He did not, the picture is a lie. You are saying it is a picture of Christ when it is not. Even if the picture were an exact likeness of Jesus, it would still be a violation of the second commandment. Either way, it is much safer to praise and worship Him without images. Would you keep a picture of the Father? How about the Holy Spirit? We are to walk by faith, not by sight (2Cor 5:7).
2007-12-08 07:01:42 · 25 answers · asked by Allen C 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
try my world
no rules
no one telling you how to live and think
"godless"
it's very peaceful
2007-12-08 07:04:54 · answer #1 · answered by voice_of_reason 6 · 1⤊ 5⤋
The Old Testament passages that you are referencing are speaking about images of "creatures" to worship. Idolatry is giving divine honors to a creature, Ex 20:5 "you shall not bow down to them or serve them". That is quite different than using an image to remind you of God, or God's work. This is no same thing as when we pull out a picture of a loved one, alive or dead, and remember them. It's not about the image, it's about the person.
I can't think of where it is, but if you remember, God told Moses (maybe Aaron) to make an image of a serpent and stick it on a pole. If anyone who was bitten by a snake looked upon it, then they would be healed. God didn't violate his prohibition on idolatry by doing that.
Maybe we don't have an exact image of Christ. Although, you have to admit, that icons came out very early in the church history, and used some common features that are likely based on reality. But what difference does it make? Again, it is the representation that matters. You've apparently seen pictures that you identify as being of Christ, does that make you an idolater? (Answer is NO).
2007-12-08 07:22:46 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, it is okay to have pictures of Jesus.
If you think this one through, forbidding iconic representations of Jesus is a denial of the Incarnation. Suppose you went back in time and snapped a photo of Jesus. When you develop the film, what would you see? God? God's Human Nature? A blurry spot? The only orthodox Christian answer is that you would have a photograph of God. Would it then be against the commandment to keep that picture? And remember, God specifically insisted that Moses should make no image because he saw no image of God upon the mountain. If Jesus is God incarnate, then the restriction certainly no longer applies.
For more information, read "On the Holy Images" by John of Damscus.
2007-12-08 07:08:12 · answer #3 · answered by NONAME 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
Do you pray to that picture? Do you bow down and worship the picture? Do you give offerings to the picture? If you do, then the picture becomes an idol. If you don't, then the picture is not an idol.
For me, a picture of Christ is a reminder of who I am trying to be like. It reminds me of His teachings, and who He was. Sometimes, it may remind me of a lesson - such as a picture of Christ knocking on a closed door. The door has no outside doorknob, reminding me that Christ is knocking, but I have to let Him in.
I worship Christ, not His picture. I have several pictures, all are different as they are by different artists and they all have a different take. There are assumptions you can make based on the styles of His day. But yes, we really don't know exactly what He looked like.
2007-12-08 07:14:17 · answer #4 · answered by kdollmusic 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋
"The fact is we are to have no likeness of anything in heaven"
then you had better get off your computer ASAP for everything on this computer is AN IMAGE. nice avatar by the way.... let's not forget your mirrors too and glass is reflective also....
why would God have bestowed our generations of painters, sculptors, etc with a talent and ability to create that which can inspire people to come to God, come back to God and offer Him their lives?!
2007-12-08 09:09:29 · answer #5 · answered by Marysia 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
NO!!! you shouldnt even look at a cartoon, or a movie with someone playing him. You probably think jesus is god, but i think he's another messenger of GOD. Its wrong to have pictures and other stuff with drawings of how any of our prophets might have looked like.
2007-12-08 07:07:00 · answer #6 · answered by layn da smckdwn 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
If early Christians did not know what Jesus looked like how did they make pictures of Him? Why do they all appear very similar? If the Church does not pre-date the New Testament who did Saint Paul write all of those letters to? Why are you Christian if you are unsure that people actually saw God incarnate ? Were we told that He shall be called Immanuel (God is with us)?
2007-12-08 07:07:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
we are actually not allowed to allure to a photograph of Muhammad pbuh for averting worship to him because of the fact we Muslims ought to worship to Allah in uncomplicated terms We in uncomplicated terms supply honor and admire to Muhammad pbuh because of the fact the final messenger of Allah he's not the son of Allah for averting merely like Jesus is worshiping by ability of Christians We Muslims do no longer stay away from or criticize the photograph of Jesus because of the fact we are tolerant to different faith In Islam Jesus and Muhammad are known comparable to messenger of Allah in uncomplicated terms
2016-10-01 04:21:42 · answer #8 · answered by quellette 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yeah the christians are not allowed to have pictures of christ but they wear chains with him on it around their necks, makes a lot of sense.
2007-12-08 07:05:22 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
As salaamu 'Alaikym, my freind.
Insha'Allah, not if you are a devout Jew or Muslim as such a picture would lead to idol worship which, in both religions is haram/forbidden.
However, if you are a Christian, especially a Catholic Christian, idol worship is not only allowed, it is promoted as well as the worshipping of an implement of torture and punishment.
Ma'a salaam
2007-12-08 07:07:14 · answer #10 · answered by Big Bill 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
There are No pictures of Jesus. there are only pictures of people pretending to be him for the painting. They didn't make portraits when and where he lived
2007-12-08 07:06:31 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋