[DouglasKC]

Exo 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:
Exo 20:5 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 generation of them that hate me;

God might say, "What part of ANY didn't you understand?"

God didn't say it was okay to make an image of something on earth, heaven or the water as long as you think you're worshipping me, he said "ANY".

In 20:5, he says "don't bow down before them" OR "worship them". I don't know about you, but I've seen plenty of Christians bowing down before a crucifix or a cross, or a picture of Jesus. The worshipping of the "image" of God or Christ is just as bad as worshipping to an idol because you are limiting the infinite to a picture or a symbol while you are trying to commune.

[RobbyS]

The worshipping of the "image" of God or Christ is just as bad as worshipping to an idol because you are limiting the infinite to a picture or a symbol while you are trying to commune. Then why did God order the building of an ark and, later, the building of a temple?

[al_c]

God might say, "What part of ANY didn't you understand?"

He might also say, "What part of worship didn't you understand?" You see, the two verses make up one sentence (there's even more, though, discussing the sins of the father) and you can't use one without the other. It basically is saying that we should not make images to worship. When I bow at the altar, it is toward God the Father, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit ... not to the crucifix behind the altar or to the altar itself. There IS a difference.

[SoothingDave]

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:

God might say, "What part of ANY didn't you understand?"

Indeed He might. Now do you have absolutely nothing in your possession with an image of anything in earth, the sea or heaven. Remember the little girl with the raincoat on the Morton Salt box? What about the Land O Lakes Indian girl? You're going to hell I guess.

SD