I haven’t answered because I owe you no response. I don’t care to go back and forth debating your ideas or trying to convince you. Make an argument from the Scripture and we might have something to discuss. I merely stated the truth from the Scriptures as I understand them and I posted the writings of others based on their understanding from the Scripture.
The only way for Christians to answer such questions are from the Word. Truth doesn’t spring from the minds of fallen men. (”The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”) It doesn’t matter what I think and it doesn’t matter what you think. All that matters is what God has said through the inspired writings of His prophets and apostles.
I will, however, say this: His Word is not a graven image.
“Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
—John 17:17
“And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”
—2 Timothy 3:16
It’s fine if you don’t agree with my position, which is nothing more than the classic Protestant position of those who came out of the Reformation holding to the regulative principal of worship. I know full well most today will not agree with my understanding of the 2nd Commandment. I also know most have never even considered the question so they react based on emotion, not the truth of the Word. However, some with ears to hear have read the links I posted and already emailed to thank me, so I know I haven’t wasted my time.
Which is my point, exactly. You merely take issue with the way others choose to depict His Word. Is an Bible in the English language more correct than one in Japanese, or one in Navajo? If a Bible verse that is quoted in any language other than that in which it was originally spoken or written, the logical extension of the links you posted is that it is a perversion of the Truth. That His Word be depicted in Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, or any other language does not, in my opinion, lessen its veracity or import; but God provided us more than one means to communicate, and I contend that the visual vocabulary that allows us to learn from scripture through the written word (when our eyes turn pictorial symbols, i.e. letters on a page, into thoughts and ideas)is simply another form of communicating His Word via visual input.
Is the worship of images (or letters for that matter) wrong? I agree with that contention wholeheartedly, as do all other adherents of my faith. Do I have a mandate to go forth and preach the Gospel? Yes...and if I was blessed with the gift of languages, it would be my mandate to spread that through preaching in the languages God had given me the facility to do so. If my gift was song, it would be incumbent on me to use that to glorify God. If one is a gifted artist...how should that gift be used? Should the artist, who has received his skills from God put them under a bushel basket? I think the Scripture is pretty clear that he should not. Should he employ them to undermine or ridicule faith? I think Scripture is pretty clear that he should not. So illuminate me...if God has given a person the talent to be a great painter, sculptor, etc. and that person burns with the desire to use his talents to give glory to God, and spread the Word, what should he do with that talent?