Exo 20:4-6 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Deu 5:8-10 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments.
The first commandment dealt with our focus in worship, the second deals with the manner of worship. God does not and never has desired us to worship Him through the medium of images. Man has often swerved from this commandment. Israel often violated both this and the first commandment when they made images of Baal and other gods. In the wilderness Aaron and the people violated the second commandment without having another god per se (Ex. 32:5). Aaron called the feast that he appointed a feast to Jehovah. Jeroboam the son of Nebat likewise transgressed in this way.
Whenever we rely on a talisman, charm, statue, picture, or any other thing which is man-made to draw us into God’s presence or bring His favor and blessing upon us we are breaking the second commandment. This commandment is not a total prohibition against making statues and other works of art, because God Himself commanded certain of these things in His own tabernacle. It is however a prohibition against using these as objects to promote devotion or to be channels of worship. In the Middle Ages the stained glass windows and other art work of the great cathedrals could have been useful in as far as they often told Bible stories, and could have served as reminders of truth. However they often instead distracted the people who came from the worship of God and the hearing of His Word. The same could be said of some of the Powerpoint and multimedia presentations in churches today. They distract from worship. There is nothing wrong with having the words of the songs we sing projected to the front, and there is no reason why these words have to have plain background. However, if it gets to the point that people become more interested in these things than in God’s presence, than the second commandment is being broken. Videos playing on a screen have a tendency to catch the human eye, and distract from the presence of God. The main thing in a church service is the presence of God and the hearing of His Word, multimedia that gives illustration and aids in remembering the Word is good, if it distracts it becomes as great a curse as it could be a blessing.
May God grant us wisdom in all things.
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