And that is why I've come to you for illumination. From a Biblical perspective, what should a human being, whom God has blessed with extreme artistic talents, a Michelangelo or Da Vinci, say, do with those talents? Should they use them to promote the glory of God, or not? If yes, should they use them to edify and communicate the Scriptural message or not? If so, how, without painting or sculpting (as you call it), "a lie"?
I'm just curious what your take on that is...
Easy to answer. If the painting, or whatever is in direct violation of scripture, then it cannot be of God, much less "promote the glory of God". God does not lie. If someone has a talent for painting such things, then it is not "God given", although it is likely to a "god" given. Just not the true God who says:
You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God...
Seems pretty clear cut.
I don’t have time to give a thoughtful answer your question. All I have time to say is that since Colossians tells us to do all things heartily as unto The Lord (very rough paraphrase) and since He gave men their talents and gifts, those talents and gifts can and should be put to work in His kingdom. But, at the same time, they must be employed in accordance with His commands regarding worship.
This from Chapter 22 of the Second London Baptist Confession of 1689:
Paragraph 1. The light of nature shows that there is a God, who has lordship and sovereignty over all; is just, good and does good to all; and is therefore to be feared, loved, praised, called upon, trusted in, and served, with all the heart and all the soul, and with all the might.1 But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by himself,2 and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imagination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures.3
1 Jer. 10:7; Mark 12:33
2 Deut. 12:32
3 Exod. 20:4-6
Pay extra attention to the last sentence in the confession and consider carefully Deuteronomy 12:32.
I readily admit I don’t have all my theological ducks in a row. I know I see through a glass darkly. To paraphrase Calvin, the human heart is an idol factory, so the sanctification process in my life is an ongoing project. My attitude on this and other such debateable questions is that I would rather err on the side of caution than presume liberty.
If you really want to delve into this topic I suggest you go to sermonaudio.com and search terms like “graven images” or “second commandment” or “biblical worship.” There are tons of free resources there.