Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

No Graven Images...ten commandments pt 3
https://billrandles.wordpress.com/2020/03/09/no-graven-images-ten-commandments-pt-3/ ^ | 03-09-20 | Bill Randles

Posted on 03/09/2020 4:44:20 PM PDT by pastorbillrandles

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. 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; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.( Exodus 20:4-6)

The Second Commandment is not a prohibition against having other gods. The Commandment assumes that you have the right God, but it prohibits the independent use of the Imagination in the worship of that God. We are forbidden to imagine for ourselves, the person of God.

God is self revealing, we are to worship Him according to his own revelation, (The Word) and not according to how we imagine Him to be. Furthermore we are never to employ images in the Worship of God.

Thus whenever I hear a person saying something along the line of “I like to think of God as ….”, I cringe. It is irrelevant what we want God to be like, all that matters is what God has revealed himself to be. ” …God is…and he is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him…” (Hebrews 11:6)

In Deuteronomy God contrasts the Image with the Word in His dealings with Israel,

And the Lord spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. (Deuteronomy 4)

They saw no Image, but they heard Words. God reveals his perfections and attributes, His holy name and nature, by Words. Images cannot possibly do Him Justice. The basis of Worship is our response to the Revelation of God. The only Image of the Invisible God, is Christ Himself, but as Peter told us, “We have never seen Him but we Love Him, and rejoice with Joy unspeakable…” ( I Peter 1:6-9)

It would be impossible to accurately portray an Image of God, because no man has seen God at any time, God dwells in Light to which no one can approach, and is Spirit. Christ is the self revelation of God, so also are the utterances and writing of the Prophets of God. God has taken the initiative to reveal himself.

Why do men seem to always want Images, even of the One true God?

Images, such as Icons,staues of God, Jesus, Angels , etc, are not usually taken to be God himself, they are usually considered to be helpful as points of contact, something concrete and physical to help us in our worship. People mistakenly think they need to see something, touch something and surround themselves with Images to constantly invoke the memory of Holy things.

These things are all man made, and are productions of the Imagination,(thus Images). In a sense the creation of them puts us in control of the Holy, allegedly we can create sacred spaces, or Holy objects which can enhance our worship experience.

Inevitably, wherever these Images flourish, worship descends from being spiritual into superstition, and even into idolatry and error.

The Eastern Orthodox Christians believe that Ikons are portals into the Spiritual realm, and Roman Catholics literally bow down and prostrate themselves, before the Monstrance and tabernacle on the Altar! they have made a graven Image of the cake, and bow down in “Eucharistic adoration” before a wafer!

How do Roman Catholics and Greek Orthodox Christians deal with the second commandment, which they routinely violate? This is extremely instructive on the capacity of all of us to self deceive.

Roman Catholics have re-arranged the Ten Commandments, combining the first and the second , as being one commandment, a prohibition against “other gods”. They thus justify the use of sacred statues, and the adoration of the Eucharist, since they are not worshipping “other gods” , but the Father and the Son.

Then they split the tenth commandment into two,; prohibitions against coveting your neighbor’s wife, and the prohibition against coveting any property.

The Second commandment assumes you hav the right God, but prohibits “will worship”, worshipping God as you imagine him to be, Worshipping God in any form your imagination desires, the production of sacred ‘Images”, carnal aids to worship, and the attribution of Spirituality or spiritual properties to such things.

“God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth…” ( John 4:24)

Attribution of spiritual properties to carnal Images, even if it is Images of the only true God, or Jesus, soon leads to Demonic and occult manifestations. There are numerous “Eucharistic Miracles” now being recounted, in which The wafer speaks, or even bleeds when eaten. There are entire masses of Eucharistic devotion, in which the worshippers kneel before the tabernacle and the Monstrance in Catholic churches.

These worshippers would swear up and down that they are worshipping God the Father and His Son , Jesus Christ our LORD. They are not breaking the first commandment, but they are violating the second. These are “Will Worshippers”, they worship God according to their own will, or the will of centuries of tradition.

I have seen the same tendency in Charismatic churches, and in Evangelical churches as well. Wherever people stray away from the WORD of God, they become fixed on “Images”, symbols and feelings. The Evangelical church has a movement called “Ancient Faith” , or “the Emergent church” which has come to rely on candles, Midieval banners, labyrinths, and contemplative prayer, as innovative ways to revive their dying congregations.

These “emergent Christians” will tell you that they are worshipping the Father and the Son of God. They are nt violating the first commandment, rather the second.

Images mixed in with worship soon corrupt the worshippers, because the use of Images is not Spiritual, it is a substitute Spirituality. Experience based Spirituality may feel “genuine” and possible “fresh” but feelings are not a sure guide to worship, Te heart is deceitful, desperately wicked, who can know it?

Will worship is called “Iniquity” , and God promises to visit the iniquity down through the generations to the fourth generation!

In fact God himself tells us it is a matter of Love for Him versus hate!

Those who resort to images, rosaries, sacred objects, statues or any product of the human imagination , in their worship, Hate Him! (I am sure this would come as a shock to many many devout worshippers, who are sure that they love him). It is not how we feel about a matter that counts, it is what God says about any subject, that is what counts.

True worship is a loving and fearing response to the God who revealed himself in scripture and in Jesus Christ. It is based on faith, not feeling, Revelation, not visual aids, and is the pursuit of God himself, and not a particular religious feeling.

God does institute some symbols, such as the bread and the wine and the water of baptism, into Christian Worship. Worship does have a physical element to it, that doesn’t violate the second commandment. We are allowed to eat the bread, and to incorporate into ourselves the symbol of the bread of Life, nourishing ourselves n Christ, and to drink the sweet Wine, which symbolizes the covenant of our forgiveness and blessing in Christ.

But these symbols were ordained by Christ, they did not come about as a result of the Imagination of some church council somewhere.

We are not dualists, pitting the Spiritual against the physical, such as the gnostics. Sanctuaries can and should be beautiful places, Christians are allowed to produce Art, and to glorify God in beautiful music. God said that all of creation was Good!

But in the second commandment God lays claim to the way he is to be worshipped and even percieved, not as we merely imagine Him to be, but as He has revealed himself.


TOPICS: Charismatic Christian; Evangelical Christian; Theology; Worship
KEYWORDS: commandments; god; idols; sins
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last

1 posted on 03/09/2020 4:44:20 PM PDT by pastorbillrandles
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: pastorbillrandles
yabbut, surely rosary beads and a crucifix is okay. And I could never leave the house without a St. Christophers amulet medallion. Wood carvings of Mary and the baby Jesus are surely the exceptions. But other than that I'm right with you.
oh yeah, I forgot about that bread toasted that had the Virgin Mary on it that I scored on Ebay.

/sarc

2 posted on 03/09/2020 4:56:12 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Hi! I'm Joe Biden and I forgot this message.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BipolarBob

I wore a St Christopher medal at one time in my life. I don’t do that now, of course.


3 posted on 03/09/2020 5:16:30 PM PDT by Mark17 (Father of US Air Force Officer in pilot training. Air Force aircraft, go faster than Army tanks.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: pastorbillrandles

Painted ones OK? ;-D


4 posted on 03/09/2020 5:34:50 PM PDT by GingisK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Mark17

I don’t even wear a wedding ring. I told my wife It’s my job to remember I’m married. If I need a reminder . . well the marriage is in trouble anyway.


5 posted on 03/09/2020 5:37:22 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Hi! I'm Joe Biden and I forgot this message.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: GingisK

I was wondering about the ones that are graven on velvet.

Worked for Elvis...

And the catholic church must have bought a special exemption for this commandment, cuz they’ve been pumping out Jesus branded merchandise for over a thousand years.


6 posted on 03/09/2020 5:39:21 PM PDT by bigbob (Trust Trump. Trust the Plan.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: pastorbillrandles

I think you missed the part about “This is my body”


7 posted on 03/09/2020 5:41:12 PM PDT by FatherofFive (Islam is EVIL and needs to be eradicated)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: bigbob

I think the two of us would have really good time at the pub.


8 posted on 03/09/2020 5:41:37 PM PDT by GingisK
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: pastorbillrandles

Thank you for posting this Pastor Randles. If I understand God correctly, He gave us two ways to know Him. First through His works, the world He created along with man. Second, through His word that He spoke through man.

We only need to walk outside or look at our bodies to see the glory of God’s work. We only need to read His word to know Him, His attributes, and a whole host of other things.

This is being put simply above, knowing that the subject is far deeper.

Just look at God’s world through chemistry - each element being something whole unto its self then combined with other elements brings a larger picture, then look at the Hebrew language with each letter being an element whole unto its self then combined with other letters brings about a larger picture.

Our God is truly and amazing God. The only One True God.

God Bless you and your ministry!


9 posted on 03/09/2020 5:56:28 PM PDT by Wiz-Nerd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FatherofFive; pastorbillrandles

“I think you missed the part about “This is my body””

Christ said to remember Him at Passover as He was the final sacrificial lamb. I don’t see Him recommending anyone to cannibalize His body by eating His body or blood. That would go against the commandments God gave the world and the Israelite’s at Mt. Sinai.

The Last Supper

7 Then came the day of Unleavened Bread on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. 8 Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and make preparations for us to eat the Passover.”

9 “Where do you want us to prepare for it?” they asked.

10 He replied, “As you enter the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him to the house that he enters, 11 and say to the owner of the house, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 12 He will show you a large room upstairs, all furnished. Make preparations there.”

13 They left and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.

14 When the hour came, Jesus and his apostles reclined at the table. 15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”

17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”

20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. a 21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” 23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

24 A dispute also arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest. 25 Jesus said to them, “The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and those who exercise authority over them call themselves Benefactors. 26 But you are not to be like that. Instead, the greatest among you should be like the youngest, and the one who rules like the one who serves. 27 For who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves. 28 You are those who have stood by me in my trials. 29 And I confer on you a kingdom, just as my Father conferred one on me, 30 so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”

35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you without purse, bag or sandals, did you lack anything?”

“Nothing,” they answered.

36 He said to them, “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one. 37 It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors’ b ; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.”

38 The disciples said, “See, Lord, here are two swords.”

“That’s enough!” he replied.

Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives

39 Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. 40 On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.” 41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42“Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” 43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. 44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. c

45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. 46“Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”

Jesus Arrested

47 While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, 48 but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”

49 When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

51 But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

52 Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? 53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”

Peter Disowns Jesus

54 Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. 55 And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” 62 And he went outside and wept bitterly.

The Guards Mock Jesus

63 The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. 64 They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” 65 And they said many other insulting things to him.

Jesus Before Pilate and Herod

66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67“If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.”

Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”

70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”

He replied, “You say that I am.”

71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”


10 posted on 03/09/2020 6:10:13 PM PDT by Wiz-Nerd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: pastorbillrandles

Many Christian churches have a cross displayed so that the congration faces it while worshiping.

Why is it ok to have a graven imige in the form of a cross in the froont of a chapel?


11 posted on 03/09/2020 6:22:51 PM PDT by fproy2222 (Keep Families Great)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: fproy2222

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”
27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

MATTHEW 26.

UH, ITS CALLED TRANSUBSTANTIATION ...A SPIRITUAL RE- ENACTMENT ...ALSO CALLED A MYSTERY, A MIRACLE...THAT JESUS IS LTERALLY PRESENT AGAIN WITH US.

For those that think its “ like” or a “symbol” of Jesus words, either you don’t believe matthew or you are reinterpretating the bible....and really missing out on that Jesus is living within us.

FLAME AWAY....


12 posted on 03/09/2020 6:48:10 PM PDT by Recovering Ex-hippie ( BEST ELECTION EVER....MAGA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: pastorbillrandles

give it a break....just because someone has created a beautiful picture or icon to inspire devotion or remind someone to pray or think of God....what is the deal that there is whole tearing all that apart for your Opinion of what The Word of the Lord means?

Images are merely the representation of man’s expression of his feelings and spiritual union with God in a human way...sorry Pastor , that’s all we got....we’re human and some of us have to rely on some human peasant ways to express ourselves, unlike the ecclesiastics.

How about a little Noblesse Oblige?


13 posted on 03/09/2020 6:56:52 PM PDT by Recovering Ex-hippie ( BEST ELECTION EVER....MAGA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Recovering Ex-hippie

I said nothing about the Lord’s Supper, I only spoke of the images of crosses used in places oh worship.


14 posted on 03/09/2020 7:15:23 PM PDT by fproy2222 (Keep Families Great)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: Recovering Ex-hippie; pastorbillrandles
sorry Pastor , that’s all we got....we’re human and some of us have to rely on some human peasant ways to express ourselves, unlike the ecclesiastics.

Did pastorbillrandles kick over your sand castle or God? He just presented the Word of God and the statuary, icons and the lucky charms got a thumbs down from God. Don't shoot us, we're just the messengers.

15 posted on 03/09/2020 7:20:25 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Hi! I'm Joe Biden and I forgot this message.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: fproy2222
Why is it ok to have a graven imige in the form of a cross in the froont of a chapel?

Who said it was okay?

16 posted on 03/09/2020 7:22:34 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Hi! I'm Joe Biden and I forgot this message.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: pastorbillrandles

“I’ll take Pachamama for $100, Alex!”


17 posted on 03/09/2020 7:26:02 PM PDT by Uncle Miltie (Messaging to Snowflakes: They stole it from Bernie AGAIN!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BipolarBob

“Who said it was okay?”

Everyone with a cross in their chapel.

Do you believe a cross is a graven image when it is displayed in a house of worship?


18 posted on 03/09/2020 7:27:50 PM PDT by fproy2222 (Keep Families Great)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: fproy2222
Why is it ok to have a graven image in the form of a cross in the front of a chapel?

No one is worshiping the cross.

Now, if the graven image of Jesus is hanging from it, then that would violate the the first part of this commandment.

19 posted on 03/09/2020 7:31:45 PM PDT by nonsporting (MAGA -- Make America Godly Again)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: BipolarBob; Recovering Ex-hippie; pastorbillrandles

“sorry Pastor , that’s all we got....we’re human and some of us have to rely on some human peasant ways to express ourselves, unlike the ecclesiastics.

Did pastorbillrandles kick over your sand castle or God? He just presented the Word of God and the statuary, icons and the lucky charms got a thumbs down from God. Don’t shoot us, we’re just the messengers.”

Pastor Randles presented the Word of God. Not his word, but God’s word.

God is trying to protect the people from the false and useless gods they were building for themselves to give them false comfort and assurance.

Just like you are stating now Recovering Ex-hippie. You are relying on “some human peasant ways to express ourselves, unlike the ecclesiastics.”

You have already been expressed by God when He made you. Go out and glorify God and you will find a fulfillment in Him without the need for self expression.


20 posted on 03/09/2020 7:55:08 PM PDT by Wiz-Nerd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-38 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson