It is very easy for us to comment on the idolatry in the material things of this world. Often times we condemn people for how they seem to worship their cars, homes, or any number of things that they possess in this world. They may claim to not worship these things but anything put ahead of God is idol worship. But these aren't the things I am lead to write about today. I want to speak of an idolatry that is foreign to alot of professing Christians, but it is idol worship none the less, quite frankly it is serious indeed.
Does a picture of the last supper hang in your home? Idol worship. Statue, painting, drawing, cross-stitching, book cover, or sculpture with a man-made image of Jesus? Idol worship. A movie with someone playing the part of the triune God? Idolatry! "You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth." Ex. 20:4
"A true image of God is not to be found in all the world; and hence...His glory is defiled, and His truth corrupted by the lie, whenever He is set before our eyes in a visible form....Therefore, to devise any image of God is itself impious; because by this corruption His majesty is adulterated, and He is figured to be other than He is." --John Calvin
In Deuteronomy 4, Moses expounds on the prohibition of making images of God. He reminds the people that they were not allowed to see God at Mt. Sinai only hear His words. We should be reminded that any images we make of God or His Son are really just borrowing from the images we already have of an evil, sinful, fallen world. We would be wise to heed His words and not put mental or material images of Him at the forefront of our worship.
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