We now elucidate the fallacious nature of claims made in the Albuquerque, NM area discussion of Fine Art America as the commentator expressed a sentiment that actually represents a common misconception.
Generally, some people argue against icons of various sorts by appealing to the commandments against making images—there is no such commandment. Yet, the sentiment is actually an uncommon misconception as it is taking it as far as claiming the condemnation of any and every art form.
Let us begin with Exodus 20:4 and note that verse 5a reads, “you shall not bow down to them nor serve [worship] them…”
That the verse refers to “them” means that it is, of course, referring to the images mentioned in the previous verse. Thus, only quoting verse 4, as the commentator did, is taking the commandment out of context by tearing it in half. The commandment represents a complete thought and the thought is do not make an image in order to worship the image and not merely, do not make images.
Now, what of Deuteronomy 27:15? The author of the comment only quoted a portion of verse 15, the entirety reads, “‘Cursed is the one who makes a carved or molded image, an abomination to the LORD, the work of the hands of the craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall answer and say, ‘Amen!’”
Note that considering the greater context of the Ten Commandments we know that this is in reference to making images in order to serve/worship them and so they will seek to set them up in secret for the purposes of idolatry.
Thus, the readily discernable immediate and greater context make is clear what is meant by the condemnation of making images; that making images is not being condemned but making images in order to serve/worship them is condemned.
Further evidence of the accuracy of this conclusion is the fact that God actually command them making of images such as:
The making of images of cherubim (Exodus 25:18-20, 37:7-9, 26:1, 31, 36:8, 35, 1st Kings 7:18-20, 22).
Images of fruits (Exodus 28:33-35, 39:24-26).
Images of flowers (Exodus 37:19-20).
Images of oxen, lions, lilies, palm trees and bulls (1st Kings 6:23-29, 7:18-20, 22, 25-26, 29, 36, 2nd Chronicles 3:14, 16, 4:5, 13, 5:7-8).
Lastly, consider an interesting case in which “the LORD said to Moses, ‘Make a fiery serpent…’” (Numbers 21:8)—“fiery” meaning that it was to be an image of a poisonous serpent. Yet, when years later the Israelites began serving/worshiping this image Hezekiah, the king at the time, “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” (2nd Kings 18:1, 4).
The making of the image was actually commanded by God but much later when it was misused as an idol it was destroyed and it was named Nehushtan which means “a thing of brass”—in other words, you are worshipping a mere piece of brass that has been shaped into an image.
Thus, we see that with a little discernment, with a little curiosity, with a little skepticism, with actually going though the trouble of opening the Bible and seeing what it has to say for itself; fallacies such as those promulgated by the author of the comment in question are dispelled.
For a detailed consideration of the issue of images, please see:
“On the Treatment of Images” part I and part II
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