Jesus Picture, Idolatry?

Jesus Picture, Idolatry?
  1. what BRI says:Artistic representations of Jesus
    Author: Ángel Manuel Rodríguez
    I am seeing artistic representations of Jesus in many Adventist churches. Does that violate the second commandment?
    https://adventistbiblicalresearch.org/materials/church/artistic-representations-jesus?fbclid=IwAR220W5NQPLKY6FczNczTKZoM-JdpCvb_rJRyUmjEPbEOpnqE_HBwFYhCjw
  2. what EGW says:
    Selected Messages Book 3
    Chapter 45—Balanced Counsel on Picture-making and Idolatry
    https://m.egwwritings.org/ro/book/100.1970?fbclid=IwAR3RO8m0njWoom18G2fQk9B0_BjIrcFETELZ4lQoJ3lHYzt60gBn9xonqAY#1970
  3. It depends, if you worship it, or there is danger of it being worshipped.
    1. like the brazen serpent, ok to look, but a sin to worship.
      1. "And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man, when he beheld the serpent of brass, he lived." Numbers 21:9
      2. "He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan." 2 Kings 18:4
    2. there were images of angels in the sanctuary
      1. Exodus 37:7
        "He made two cherubim of hammered of gold at the ends of the mercy seat"
      2. 1 Kings 6:29
        "And he carved all the walls of the house round about with carved figures of cherubims and palm trees and open flowers, within and without."
  4. That is not Jesus!  How do you know it is Jesus?
    1. How do you know it is NOT Jesus? You can only say it is not Jesus if you have actually seen Jesus.  If you have not seen Jesus then you have no proof that it is not him.  Absence of proof is not proof.
    2. How did the Peter, James, and John know that it was Moses and Elijah (Matthew 17:1–8, Mark 9:2–8, Luke 9:28–36)?
    3. How did the people know that it was the saints who were resurrected along with Jesus in Matthew 27:52-53?
  5. EGW saw Jesus in dreams/visions but did not correct / rebuke the artistic paintings/drawings/depiction of Jesus.
  6. EGW was negative about the photographs and bicycles because of the expense, time, and attention given to it.
    1. "As I visit the homes of our people and our schools, I see that all the available space on tables, what-nots, and mantelpieces is filled up with photographs. On the right hand and on the left are seen the pictures of human faces. God desires this order of things to be changed. Were Christ on earth, He would say, "Take these things hence." I have been instructed that these pictures are as so many idols, taking up the time and thought which should be sacredly devoted to God.  {MYP 316.1} 
           These photographs cost money. Is it consistent for us, knowing the work that is to be done at this time, to spend God's money in producing pictures of our own faces and the faces of our friends? Should not every dollar that we can spare be used in the upbuilding of the cause of God? These pictures take money that should be sacredly devoted to God's service; and they divert the mind from the truths of God's word.  {MYP 316.2}

                  A Species of Idolatry
      This making and exchanging photographs is a species of idolatry. Satan is doing all he can to eclipse heaven from our view. Let us not help him by making picture-idols. We need to reach a higher standard than these human faces suggest. The Lord says, "Thou shalt have no other gods before Me." Those who claim to believe in Christ need to realize that they are to reflect His image. It is His likeness that is to be kept before the mind. The words that are spoken are to be freighted with heavenly inspiration. . . .  {MYP 316.3}
  7.  EGW has guidelines how much pictures to use in literature:
    1. "Purpose of Pictures.--The Lord desires His people to move understandingly and intelligently. They are not to create large expenses; yet everything is to be done in perfect order. Our books should be bound with good, durable covers. The sewing should be firm and strong. This should always be. But care should be exercised in the matter of illustrating. Much money should not be invested in this line. When there are lessons in the pictures which lead to a study of the book itself, it is well; but when the pictures draw the attention from the truth contained in the book to themselves, the effort to help the book by illustrations is a failure.--Letter 75, 1900."  {CW 167.1} 
  8. EGW said some people will understand more if pictures accompany lessons:
    1. "But if proper reading matter can be placed in their hands, so that they can read the truth and see the pictures accompanying the reading matter, it will stay in the mind and have convincing power." {CW 146.4}
  9. "A few condemned pictures, urging that they are prohibited by the second commandment, and that everything of this kind should be destroyed.  {2SM 319.1} 
         These one-idea men can see nothing except to press the one thing that presents itself to their minds. Years ago we had to meet this same spirit and work. Men arose claiming to have been sent with a message condemning pictures, and urging that every likeness of anything should be destroyed. They went to such lengths as even to condemn clocks which had figures, or "pictures," upon them.  {2SM 319.2} 
         Now we read in the Bible of a good conscience; and there are not only good but bad consciences. There is a conscientiousness that will carry everything to extremes, and make Christian duties as burdensome as the Jews made the observance of the Sabbath. The rebuke which Jesus gave to the scribes and Pharisees applies to this class as well: "Ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God" (Luke 11:42). One fanatic, with his strong spirit and radical ideas, who will oppress the conscience of those who want to be right, will do great harm. The church needs to be purified from all such influences.  {2SM 319.3}

                   Pictures Used by God
  10.      The second commandment prohibits image worship; but God Himself employed pictures and symbols to represent to His prophets lessons which He would have them give to the people, and which could thus be better understood than if given in any other way. He appealed to the understanding through the sense of sight. Prophetic history was presented to Daniel and John in symbols, and these
                                                                               320
    were to be represented plainly upon tables, that he who reads might understand.  {2SM 319.4} 
         It is true that altogether too much money is expended upon pictures; not a little means which should flow into the treasury of God is paid to the artist. But the evil that will result to the church from the course of these extremists is far greater than that which they are trying to correct. It is sometimes a difficult matter to tell just where the line is, where picturemaking becomes a sin. But those who love God and desire with all their hearts to keep His commandments, will be directed by Him. God would not have them depend on any man to be conscience for them. He who accepts all the ideas and impressions of unbalanced minds will become confused and bewildered. It is Satan's object to divert the attention from the third angel's message to side issues, that minds and hearts that should be growing in grace and in the knowledge of the truth, may be dwarfed and enfeebled, so that God may not be glorified by them. --Historical Sketches of the Foreign Missions of the Seventh-day Adventists, pp. 211, 212.  {2SM 320.1} 

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