Should Images of God Be Allowed in the Church?
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The second of the Ten Commandments directs us against images. It expressly forbids the use of images in the worship of God. But does this means images such as pictures to help us learn about God are also forbidden?
We must be careful to avoid placing our own wisdom and desires above God’s.
The plain teaching of Scripture forbids the use of visual images in regard to the worship of God:
“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.” (Exod. 20:4)
In fact, the Bible also is clear that faith comes by hearing, not by sight:
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Rom. 10:17)
…for we walk by faith, not by sight. (2 Cor. 5:7)
God has chosen to reveal himself by means of the spoken word.
It is not by the sight of pictures or other visual forms that a person comes to faith, but by God’s appointed means of hearing his word, the gospel message. But some will object and assert that pictures, even pictures of Jesus, helps a person learn. But is our faith so weak that we cannot trust God when he tells us that faith comes by hearing not by sight?
The Heidelberg Catechism, first published in 1563, is a highly regarded summary of the Christian faith and has the following to say about the second commandment:
“Q. But may not images, as books for the unlearned, be permitted in churches?
A. No, we should not try to be wiser than God. He wants the Christian community instructed by the living preaching of his Word—not by idols that cannot even talk.” (Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 98)
Believe God and trust him when he forbids images and reveals to us that faith comes by hearing, not by sight.
Even pictures of Jesus can only hinder our understanding of God’s truth. For instance, no true picture of Jesus exists, so the ones artists do make merely reflect the artist’s own image of our Savior rather than what God has sovereignly revealed by his word. An image also cannot truly reflect the deity of Christ , only his humanity, which again serves only to limit our knowledge of Christ Jesus.
Believe God and trust him when he forbids images and reveals to us that faith comes by hearing, not by sight. Be careful to avoid placing our own wisdom and desires above God’s. For in God’s wisdom he has appointed hearing his word as the means for coming to faith and for following him. He even teaches little children through hearing. Trust the Lord and believe that it is God’s word heard that calls us to himself, and believe him when he says, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols” (1 John 5:21).
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The Three Forms of Unity: Subordinate Doctrinal Standards (The Heidelberg Catechism, The Belgic Confession of Faith, and the Canons of Dort)
