GUEST
ARTICLE
(This is part of a catechism that deals with pictures of Christ. It
does give us helpful information to consider in this question.)
The Second Command
and Pictures of Christ
Q.
What is forbidden in the second commandment?
A.
The second commandment forbiddeth, the worshipping of God
by images, or any other way not appointed in his word.
Q.
1. What are the leading sins forbidden in this commandment?
A.
Idolatry and will-worship.
Q.
2. What is the idolatry here condemned?
A.
[The worshipping of God by images]: Thou shalt not make
unto thee any graven image, etc.
Q.
3. What is an image?
A.
It is a statue, picture, or likeness of any creature whatsoever.
Q.
4. Is it lawful to have images or pictures of mere creatures?
A.
Yes, providing they be only for ornament; or the
design be merely historical, to transmit the memory
of persons and their actions to posterity.
Q.
5. Can any image or representation be made
of God?
A.
No; it is absolutely impossible; he being an infinite,
incomprehensible Spirit (Isa. 40:18). "To whom will
ye liken God? or, what likeness will ye compare unto him?" If
we cannot delineate our own souls, much less the infinite
God (Acts 17:29). "We ought not to think that the
Godhead is like unto gold or silver, or stone, graven by
art and man's device."
Q.
6. What judgment should we form of those who have devised
images of God, or of the persons of the adorable Trinity?
A.
We should adjudge their practice to be both unlawful and abominable.
Q.
7. Why unlawful?
A.
Because directly contrary to the express letter of
the law in this commandment, and many other Scriptures;
such as, Jer. 10:14-15; Hos. 13:2; and particularly Deut.
4:15-19, 23. "Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves,
(for ye saw no MANNER OF SIMILITUDE on the day that the
Lord spake unto you in Horeb, out of the midst of the fire)
lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image,
the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female," etc.
Q.
8. How is it abominable?
A.
As it is a debasing the Creator of heaven and earth to
the rank of his own creatures; and a practical denying
of all his infinite perfections (Psa. 50:21).
Q.
9. May we not have a picture of Christ, who has
a true body?
A.
By no means; because, though he has a true body and a reasonable
soul (John 1:14), yet his human nature subsists in his
divine person, which no picture can represent (Psa. 45:2).
Q.
10. Why ought all pictures of Christ to be abominated by
Christians?
A.
Because they are downright lies, representing no
more than the picture of a mere man: whereas, the true
Christ is God-man; "Immanuel, God with
us" (1 Tim. 3:16; Matt. 1:23).
Q.
11. Is it lawful to form any inward representation of
God, or of Christ, upon our fancy, bearing a resemblance
to any creature whatsoever?
A.
By no means; because this is the very inlet unto
gross outward idolatry: for, when once the Heathens "became
vain in their imaginations, they presently changed the
glory of the incorruptible God, into images made like to
corruptible man, and to birds, and four-footed beasts,
and creeping things" (Rom. 1:21-23).
Q.
23. Is it lawful, as some plead, to have images or pictures
in churches, though not for worship, yet for instruction,
and raising the affections?
A.
No; because God has expressly prohibited not only the worshipping,
but the making of any image whatsoever on a religious account;
and the setting them up in churches, cannot but have a
native tendency to beget a sacred veneration for them,
and therefore ought to be abstained from, as having, at
least, an appearance of evil (1 Thess. 5:22).
Q.
24. May they not be placed in churches for beauty and ornament?
A.
No: the proper ornament of churches is the sound preaching
of the gospel, and the pure dispensation of the sacraments,
and other ordinances of divine institution.
Q.
25. Were not images of the cherubim placed in the tabernacle
and temple, by the command of God himself?
A.
Yes: but out of all hazard of any abuse, being placed in
the holy of holies, where none of the people ever came;
they were instituted by God himself, which images are not;
and they belonged to the typical and ceremonial worship,
which is now quite abolished.
Fisher's
Catechism: Selections from Q&A No. 51
fpcr.org/blue_banner_articles/Images2.htm
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