Should We Use Pictures When We Worship God?

Hi, marguicha I appreciate your comment. If there really is a God, we should be able to approach Him without images.. I am sure you will find what you search: "Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7,8 (New Living Translation)

I hope so. Thanks friend!

Hi, Elic Would you explain what icon you are referring to..?? No, we are not under the law that God gave to Moses, as we would be obliged to do all the rest of the law too, good observation by the way. Even if we were under that law, it was not wrong to use pictures for teaching or decoration - the temple and the tabernacle were decorated with pictures but they were never used for worship. Have you found any indication that Jesus and his diciples used pictures in their worship? Or maybe the first Christians, while the Apostles still lived?? Some of the principles in the law are still relevant, and are included in Jesus´ commandment of loving God and our neighbour. He added new things too, like that we should love our enemies and pray for them. It is really sad that some religions have neglected teaching their members to read, as it is one of the most essential things for those who want to follow God´s word. They have even burned bibles and executed those who translated them to the common languages. Even if you don´t agree with me, you are welcome with your view on things, as this is a discussion and everyone has the right to say their opinion. Wish you a great day...

Thanks for explaining what you meant. It seems to be a reproduction from 1672 - 1673 from a painting in Moraca Monastery in Montenegro. I wonder if you have found anything in the Bible, that would prove that Luke would have been a painter and painted a picture of any kind..?? Or any historic documents that this is not just an artist trying to illustrate what he believed..??

http://www.aquinasandmore.com/catholic-gifts/Luke-Painting-the-First-Icon/sku/13218/imageSize/Lg

I have to add..sorry..hit the post instead of the preview... Idols....If you have a significant other in your life...husband, wife, fiancée...and you carry a picture of someone who is NOT your significant other, yet show people the picture and say, This Is My Significant Other....how do you think your partner would feel knowing that you do that?

Hi, FRANCISCOANDLEE, interesting illustration. We don´t have any pictures of the persons in the Bible, that is is sure. Pictures were used in the Tabernacle and the Temple as a decoration and perhaps for teaching purpose, but they were never used in worship. So if we read the Bible, we can get a balanced view on using pictures.

Hi buenavida...thank you for recognizing and acknowledging my response. The #2 Commandment says.. You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them or serve them. For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, but showing mercy to the thousands who love Me and keep My Commandments. I've never fully understood what it means by "the earth beneath" nor the "in the water under the earth". I never get a clear explanation. But it says specifically "you shall not make a carved image or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above". I got this from a Jewish website..but it says the same in my bible. The sentence has a semicolon at the end before the "you shall not bow down"...which the writer, as instructed by God identified the need for the semicolon...which by definition the semicolon is used to separate words of opposed meaning but interdependent. For me personally....I'd rather not have anything at all...thereby playing it safe...I'd rather play it safe than make God angry at me. When the time comes and God said it would be ok to have them..then I'd say cool...but I played it safe. But if I have them and He tells me I shouldn't have...it's not like I can say to God... "God, what's that over there?" And point.....then take off running....He'll catch me!!! To use pictures as illustrations...I really can't see that being wrong, for me it enhances the impact of the learning process...God, after-all, created us and He must know that pictures help...but I'm only guessing. I talk a lot, don't I????? Sorry!!

Hi, kinggeorge11th Yes, God is a spirit for sure! - Interesting question. It looks like the Archangel Michael is the same person as Jesus Crist. But the most interesting thing is - what does the Bible say about him?? I suggest you go to the www.watchtower.org site and make a search with "archangel michael" - I did so and found a lot of information there and you can compare it with your own Bible and then decide if you want to accept the explanation.. Wish you great time with your research..

What comparison is there that says Jesus and the Archangel Michael is the same?

Many of those who went out of Egypt, had seen worship of calfs and other animals so they wanted an image for worshiping God. That was wrong of course, and a good lesson for us in our time, as God has not changed. Thanks for your response!!

Hi, sjvg and welcome to myLot The Bible shows clearly - we cannot use any pictures in our worship of God. And we want to keep our mind clean by following God´s word. Have a nice day

You are right, we don´t need any images to worship God. It is sad that many don´t understand that. We can only show them what the Bible says and they have to decide what to do. A good thing is that many actually have stopped using images in their worship.

Hi, keep_onwatch You are right there, how could we make a picture of a spirit? There is no indication that God´s faithful servants ever have used pictures in their worship. If God had wanted us to make a picture of Him, He would have showed himself in some form of other. Nice to see you, my friend...

Hi, friendship4lyfe Neither do I - Jesus is a spirit too, and we cannot make a picture of him even if we tried. Some artists have used their imagination to make pictures, and they could be used for teaching, but not worship. Jesus didn´t want any worship, by the way. He wanted us to worship his Fater. "the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:23,24 (New Living Translation)

Yes, you are right. One accurate translation uses "exclusive devotion" when talking about what God wants from us. And He has the right to have it, as He has created us and given us everyting we have!! Thanks for your response!!

Hi, mrscallands Well, actually we could not make a picture of God - we have never seen Him. He is a spirit and we can see what He has done when we look at His creation but never the Creator. And yes, some people see the pictures as things that have some power. Thanks for your comment..

Hi, toyota4k There are many religions that have mixed the paganism with some Christian teachings. Really sad, as they have also kept the Holy Scriptures hidden from ordinary people and during a long time it was only available in Latin, that most didn´t understand. In some places people were and still are not taught to read, and that has kept them from reading the Bible to check if the priests are teaching the truth or not. But the times have changed and now a big international teaching program is going on in more and more countries. Here is an article about people in Solomon Islands that are learning to read: http://www.watchtower.org/e/20020815/article_01.htm