Real Curious about Paintings

washedagain

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Easy G (G²);59234635 said:
Terms can be an issue, I think. For when one sees a painting one made of the Heavenlies or of the Messiah that done unto God's glory or prayed over for ministry--and someone appreciates it--it's essentially the same thing as adoring it. Memorial plaques (without pictures), pics of past rabbis/leaders in the hallway at the entrance and other things are all honored in one way or another..and that in/of itself is veneration.

Whenever pictures are placed up of what the Torah looks like, as has occurred here frequently over the years, one is involved in choosing to adore something....and yet the argument has been how the pictures help in thinking about what the scriptures make clear. To venerate something is about appreciation/reverence of it--and as long as there is the practice of kissing Torah scrolls occurring within Messianic Jewish synagouges or treating objects with reverence, I wonder if what occurs is condeming one thing (as others may see it worthy of condemnation) while doing the same thing in differing language/expression.

No one worships an image, but to appreciate it/hold it in reverence or consecration is another. And on the issue of venneration, people often forget that veneration was about honor--and bowing down was something even the people of God did when honoring others ( Genesis 18:1-3, Genesis 23:6-13 Genesis 33:2-4 Genesis 48:11-13 , Exodus 18:6-8 , Ruth 2:9-11 , 1 Samuel 20:40-42 1 Samuel 24:7-9 1 Samuel 25:22-24 , 2 Samuel 9:5-7 2 Samuel 18:27-29 2 Samuel 24:19-21 1 Kings 1:15-17 1 Kings 1:30-32 , etc). For those bowing down in remembrance of others who went before us, just as people bow their heads at a funeral or when seeing a picture of a departed love one out of respect. That's the basis behind icons when it comes to depictions of the saints.

If something glorious is bowed to in order to worship it apart from the Lord, that's another issue. John in Revelation had that temptation with the angel teaching him and was warned against it ( Revelation 19:1-15 )


Some say that there's a difference between a Torah scroll being kissed and an icon in an Orthodox Church since they see a Torah Scroll as a symbol of revelation while they view an icon as an image of something on heaven or earth that is to be venerated. In their view, to venerate a Torah scroll is to venerate the self-disclosure of God through ancient prophetic writing while to venerate an icon is to venerate an image..but it seems silly since veneration is occurring REGARDLESS with both sets---and the image is a artisitc portrayal of what ancient prophetic writing described.


As said elsewhere, with the ICon issue, I really wonder at times what is so difficult to understand with the concept. Within OT Israel, the objects used in tabernacle (and later Temple ) worship were prayed over/sanctified before the Lord and all of it spoke to the Work of the Lord. If studying how the objects within the tabernacle looked (which one can go here or here for more on that), it's really powerful. There was a reverence to things rather than acting as if it was common. Things like the Showbread or the Golden Candlestick, within the Holy Place which provided light, and many other instruments had a Divine Purpose ( Exodus 27, Exodus 30:27-29, Exodus 31:8-10 , Exodus 35:15-17 , Numbers 4 , etc ).
Leviticus 8:10-12
Moses said to the assembly, “This is what the LORD has commanded to be done.” Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons forward and washed them with water. He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe and put the ephod on him. He also fastened the ephod with a decorative waistband, which he tied around him. He placed the breastpiece on him and put the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece. Then he placed the turban on Aaron’s head and set the gold plate, the sacred emblem, on the front of it, as the LORD commanded Moses.


10 Then Moses took the anointing oil and anointed the tabernacle and everything in it, and so consecrated them. He sprinkled some of the oil on the altar seven times, anointing the altar and all its utensils and the basin with its stand, to consecrate them. He poured some of the anointing oil on Aaron’s head and anointed him to consecrate him.
Numbers 7:1-3
[ Offerings at the Dedication of the Tabernacle ] When Moses finished setting up the tabernacle, he anointed and consecrated it and all its furnishings. He also anointed and consecrated the altar and all its utensils.

2 Chronicles 29:18
Then they went in to King Hezekiah and reported: “We have purified the entire temple of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering with all its utensils, and the table for setting out the consecrated bread, with all its articles.
2 Chronicles 29:17-19
THis was the case with the imagery included in the tabernacle/temple as well...and the same concept is there with Icons. They prayed over pictures they make which are physical representations of what occurred within scripture...just as the images of the Cheribum and other aspects of the Heavenlies were prayed over and the physical element was able to bring others into the spiritual dynamic of seeing what God's throne in Heaven was truly like.

It has NEVER been an issue of bowing down in worship to anything apart from the Lord--for anyone truly wishing to listen (even if you disagree)--and for some good places to investigate, one can go here to the following:


As one man said best on the issue when discussing what terms mean within Orthodoxy:
Iconographic Theology
An iconographer is primarily concerned about evoking an experience within the observer. Though the icon must be theologically correct, the symbolic meaning of the icon is secondary to an individual’s “participation” in either the event depicted or in the life of the saint. The strange reverse perspective of the icon, its non-static depiction of the saints in movement toward you or toward Christ, and its light depicted not from a particular location but from both inside and outside of the icon is all meant to include and involve you in the picture. An icon is not meant to be a descriptive snapshot of a particular event or person in Church history, rather an icon is a mysterious portal that makes you a subject in that scene or a friend to that saint.

The icon encapsulates Orthodox theology better than anything else about the Church, not because of its symbolism nor its traditional style, but because the icon expresses that Christianity is to be experienced (“taste and see” Psalm 33:9/34:8) more than understood. You can neither fully comprehend an icon, nor the Orthodox Church, from an intellectually objective distance but rather only as an intimate subjective partaker.

The icon within the Orthodox church, particularly within the liturgy, is not meant to be a pretty decoration adorning the sanctuary walls; an icon is not there to give you something attractive to look at if you get bored during the service. Nor, as some non-Orthodox believe, are the icons primarily there to remind the faithful of Biblical events or the lives of the saints—which would be a rational epistemology. The icons are primarily painted to bring the viewer into fellowship with the Church Triumphant. The icons transform our experience—a phenomenological epistemology—from being on earth to being within the Kingdom of God. The icons do not just passively impart a sense of sanctity to the service; rather they actively transport us to the sacred realm that exists when one is fully, experientially, present with God and the saints (who are not dead but alive with Christ—Ephesians 2:4-7). The presence of the icons invites us to belong to a community that mystically transcends time and place. Therefore, “since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Icons of the Saints
Orthodox churches have icons of Christ and the saints in front on the icon screen (iconostasis) and on the walls. The icons can be understood as Orthodoxy’s hall of fame. The Church remembers the saints’ all out commitment to Christ and holds them up as models for us to emulate and as inspiration for when we face tough times.


It is important to keep in mind that the Apostolic Tradition, while it has roots going back to the first century, developed over time taking on a more elaborated form from its simpler precedents. It is also important to keep in mind that we are talking about a grass roots devotional practice, not a theological system like Gnosticism which generates a significant paper trail. Still there are multiple sources that support the Orthodox understanding of the veneration the saints.
Philip Schaff in History of the Christian Church Vol. II §27 noted that the early catacombs contained inscriptions where the departed are asked to pray for their living relatives (p. 83). What is interesting is a letter from the Church of Smyrna dated AD 155:
Him indeed we adore (προσκυνουμεν) as the Son of God; but the martyrs we love as they deserve (αγαπωμεν αξιως), for their surpassing love to their King and Master, as we wish also to be their companions and fellow-disciples (pp. 82-83).
The distinction between the worship of Christ and the veneration of the saints is very much the same distinction Orthodox Christians use today. This shows the remarkable continuity of Orthodoxy with early Christianity. It can also be taken as evidence that the distinction between adoration and veneration was not concocted by the Seventh Ecumenical Council but has very early roots.


Mary with Jesus
The Christian catacombs with religious images and symbols in Rome have been dated back to the late second century.

There were other excellent articles on the subject from those people that I've greatly enjoyed when it comes to the endeavor of creating understanding. For more:

Apart from that, for some excellent books on the subject that I think would be worth considering:

Awesome picture to have:cool:


How do we know this is Mary with Jesus? Was there a caption?
 
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Gxg (G²)

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How do we know this is Mary with Jesus? Was there a caption?
Captions weren't needed in that era just as it was with other pictures that were utilized in catacombs that Christians used since the designs tended to be similar to one another. Generally, pictures of Mary with Jesus would be depicted in a certain manner...as one didn't assume automatically that a picture with a woman holding a baby in the believer's areas meant that it was Hagar with Ishmael, Samon being held by his mother or other things.

In regards to the picture in question, I think it's reasonable to note what others have when seeing the fading fresco depicting the Virgin and Christ Child sitting underneath the outstretched branches of an apple tree. Sitting beside the Virgin and Child is a figure believed to be a prophet. Curiously, the prophet has a disproportionately large outstretched arm that points at one of the apples on the tree. According to Professor Athnos, the placement of the apples on the tree matches the placement of stars on sky charts recorded by Chinese astrologers around the same time as the birth of Christ.
 
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Henaynei

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Ezekiel 8:6-18
He asked me, "Human being, do you see what they are doing, the horribly disgusting practices that the house of Isra'el is committing here, so that I must distance myself from my own sanctuary? But you will see even worse abominations."
7 He brought me to the entrance of the courtyard; and when I looked, I saw a hole in the wall. 8 He said to me, "Human being, dig into the wall." After digging in the wall, I saw a door. 9 "Go in," he said, "and see the wicked practices they are engaged in here." 10 So I went in and looked, and there, carved on the walls all around, were every kind of reptile and repulsive animal, along with all the idols of the house of Isra'el. 11 Standing in front of them were seventy of the leading men of the house of Isra'el- in the center stood Ya'azanyahu the son of Shafan. Each man had his incense- burner in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up. 12 Then he said to me, "Human being, did you see what the leaders of the house of Isra'el are doing in the dark, each one in the room of his own carved image, because they say, 'ADONAI can't see us; ADONAI has left the land.'?" 13 He also said to me, "You will see even worse abominations that they are doing."
14 He brought me to the entrance of the north gate to ADONAI 's house; and there before me were women weeping for Tammuz. 15 "Human being," he asked me, "have you seen this? You will see practices even more disgusting than these." 16 He brought me into the inner courtyard of ADONAI' s house; and there, at the entrance to the temple of ADONAI, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty- five men with their backs toward the temple of ADONAI and their faces toward the east; and they were worshipping the sun toward the east. 17 He asked me, "Human being, have you seen this? Does the house of Y'hudah consider it a casual matter that they commit the disgusting practices they are committing here, thus filling the land with violence, provoking me still more? Look! They are even putting the branch to their nose! 18 Therefore I will act in fury, my eye will not spare, I will have no pity. Even if they cry loudly right in my ears, I will not listen to them."

b'Shalom {iPod touch w/CF app}
 
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Gxg (G²)

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Ezekiel 8:6-18
. 3 He stretched out what looked like a hand and took me by the hair of my head. The Spirit lifted me up between earth and heaven and in visions of God he took me to Jerusalem, to the entrance to the north gate of the inner court, where the idol that provokes to jealousy stood. 4 And there before me was the glory of the God of Israel, as in the vision I had seen in the plain.

5 Then he said to me, “Son of man, look toward the north.” So I looked, and in the entrance north of the gate of the altar I saw this idol of jealousy.

He asked me, "Human being, do you see what they are doing, the horribly disgusting practices that the house of Isra'el is committing here, so that I must distance myself from my own sanctuary? But you will see even worse abominations."

7 He brought me to the entrance of the courtyard; and when I looked, I saw a hole in the wall. 8 He said to me, "Human being, dig into the wall." After digging in the wall, I saw a door. 9 "Go in," he said, "and see the wicked practices they are engaged in here." 10 So I went in and looked, and there, carved on the walls all around, were every kind of reptile and repulsive animal, along with all the idols of the house of Isra'el. 11 Standing in front of them were seventy of the leading men of the house of Isra'el- in the center stood Ya'azanyahu the son of Shafan. Each man had his incense- burner in his hand, and a thick cloud of incense went up. 12 Then he said to me, "Human being, did you see what the leaders of the house of Isra'el are doing in the dark, each one in the room of his own carved image, because they say, 'ADONAI can't see us; ADONAI has left the land.'?" 13 He also said to me, "You will see even worse abominations that they are doing."

14 He brought me to the entrance of the north gate to ADONAI 's house; and there before me were women weeping for Tammuz. 15 "Human being," he asked me, "have you seen this? You will see practices even more disgusting than these." 16 He brought me into the inner courtyard of ADONAI' s house; and there, at the entrance to the temple of ADONAI, between the porch and the altar, were about twenty- five men with their backs toward the temple of ADONAI and their faces toward the east; and they were worshipping the sun toward the east. 17 He asked me, "Human being, have you seen this? Does the house of Y'hudah consider it a casual matter that they commit the disgusting practices they are committing here, thus filling the land with violence, provoking me still more? Look! They are even putting the branch to their nose! 18 Therefore I will act in fury, my eye will not spare, I will have no pity. Even if they cry loudly right in my ears, I will not listen to them."

b'Shalom {iPod touch w/CF app}


When considering what Ezekiel 8:6-16, there are many powerful points that are often forgotten. For as one man of God said once, what you worship is what you'lll become...and if you worship that which is worthless, you become worthless yourself (Jeremiah 2:5-6).

The first scene of religious impropriety is seen in Ezekiel 8:5-6, where Ezekiel is told to look north. From where he was located, the gate of the inner temple courtyard, his gaze would be directed toward the image of jealously, an image of a god or goddess that made the Lord "jealous."

The people and their religious leaders were throughly corrupt....for they had many idols in the land. The "idol that provokes to jealously" could've been an image of Asherah, the Canaanite goddess of fertility, whose character encouraged sexual immorality and self-gratification. King Manasseh had placed such an idol in the temple (II Kings 21:7)...and King Josiah had to burn the Asherah pole. But the idols/images could've been a myriad of things that were in place. The images they utilized of various creatures were inappropriate since it violated the command against making graven images (Deuteronomy 4:15-18).



When the prophet was commanded to dig and discover a secret area, what he saw was wall art of gravings or paintings--unholy grafitti--that were nothing but images of various animals and more idols termed as of the house of Israel. Moreover, representative of the Judahite community, including Jaazaniah (who belonged to a prominent family since Shaphan--his father--is mentioned in II Kings 22)..they peformed an incense ritual. This second scene is actually worse than the first since it depicts people actively disregarding Israelite traditions.....and sadly the people attempted to justify their behavior by saying that the Lord had forsaken the Land--really saying in many ways that the Lord wasn't really paying attention or looking to see what was going on.

It is very interesting to see Jaazaniah mentioned as one of them since his father was one who recieved the Book of the Law and gave it to righteous King Josiah----and in many ways, the boy probably was the "black sheep" of the family.


[FONT=Times New Roman,Times]
ezekie6.gif
[/FONT]
[FONT=Times New Roman,Times]Source: The Bible knowledge commentary, Vol 1, Page 1164[/FONT]​




Moreover, on Ezekiel 8:12, where the Lord says "Son of Man, Do you see what the elders of the House of Israel are committing in the Dark, each man in the room of his carved images?" the phrase "Each man in the room of his carved images" suggest that each elder had his own "favorite god".

What is mentioned with Ezekiel 8:16-17 is interesting since the phrase "putting the branch to their nose" may describe a ceremonial gesture in pagan worship that is not documented elsewhere in the Bible...but the translation is not certain. Moreover, with what was going on with the incense in their hands that they were holding, it is very sad since the cloud of incense played a prominent role in screening the high priest on the Day of Atonement (Lev 16:13). Scripture shows Moses recording that the High Priest "shall put the incense on the fire before the LORD, that the cloud of incense may cover the mercy seat that is on the ark of the testimony, lest he die." ...but in the time of Ezekiel, it had become part of a detestable pagan ritual..far from how it was originally meant to be ( Nu 16:17,35; 2Chr26:16,19; Jer7:9 )



Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary has a nice summary on "Incense" which it defines as the following:
a sweet-smelling substance that was burned as an offering to God on the altar in the tabernacle and the temple. The purpose of this incense offering was to honor God. Incense symbolized and expressed the prayers of the Hebrew people, which were considered a pleasant aroma offered to God. The incense used in Israelite worship was of a specific composition, considered very sacred. The four substances from which it was made were stacte, onycha, galbanum, and pure frankincense (Ex 30:34, 35). Some of this was to be ground into powder and placed in front of the Testimony in the tabernacle of meeting (Ex 30:36). The use of any other composition of incense or of this particular compound for any other purpose was regarded as sin; this incense alone was to be considered holy (Ex 30:36-38). According to the law, only the priests descended from Aaron could offer incense (Lev 2:2). The priest offered holy incense morning and evening on the altar of incense in front of the veil in the Holy Place in the tabernacle or temple.
This incense formula specified for use in public ritual was not to be allowed for private use (Ex 30:37, 38).

Apparently some wealthy individuals were tempted to make their own private supply for personal use.Incense is also mentioned in connection with certain pagan worship practices of the Israelites. The worship of Baal, the queen of heaven, and other foreign gods by means of incense was condemned in the Old Testament (1Ki11:8 records that wise King Solomon built high places "for all his foreign wives, who burned incense and sacrificed to their gods"). The Lord warned that he would destroy the pagan incense altars (Lev 26:30; 2Chr. 30:14). The burning of incense at the pagan shrines on “high places” and to other gods was strongly denounced ("Because they have forsaken Me and have burned incense to other gods that they might provoke Me to anger with all the work of their hands, therefore My wrath burns against this place, and it shall not be quenched." 2Ki22:17; 2Ch34:25). The use of incense appeared widespread in connection with Israelite lapses into pagan worship (Jer11:12, 17; 48:35). Another misuse of incense is mentioned in 2Chr26:16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21. This passage describes how King Uzziah was afflicted by the Lord, who caused leprosy to break out on his forehead because he had attempted to burn incense in the temple. This duty was reserved for the priestly descendants of Aaron. The New Testament church did not adopt the use of incense in worship. In fact, the use of it was considered a work of paganism and was banned by the first Christian emperors. However, later in church history incense was again widely used. In a figurative use of the word, the psalmist requested that his prayer might be brought before the Lord as incense (Ps 141:2)" (Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., Harrison, R. K., & Thomas Nelson Publishers. Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary)




[FONT=Times New Roman,Times]This ungodly incense burner, decorated with sacred serpents, was discovered in the excavation of the Canaanite temple at Beth Shan[/FONT]​



On the subject of incense, Torrey's Topical Handbook is a great place to go for more reference.

For good places for study material:


Other things that really do stand out in Ezekiel 8 are what is mentioned in reagrds to how the elders were standing toward the Sun. Concerning Ezekiel 8:16, almost all ancient temples were oriented toward the east. These "twenty-five men" who were using incense were worshipping the sun, which required them to turn their backs to the temple....like one turning their backs on God. When the Judahites were bowing down to worship the sun, it was very shocking for the prophet to witness. For Veneration of the sun god Shamash (associated with wisdom and law) was prominent in Mesopotamia. Worship of the Lord, however, had also been associated with the sun (Psalm 84:10-12 , 2 Kings 23:10-12).
 
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Gxg (G²)

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what about Ezekiel 8:6ff?
If I can share..

I think the scripture is very powerful in regards to noting that which the Lord may favor. As said best in Clarke's commentary:

Clarke's Commentary on the Bible
And saw - every form of creeping things - It is very likely that these images pourtrayed on the wall were the objects of Egyptian adoration: the ox, the ape, the dog, the crocodile, the ibis, the scarabaeus or beetle, and various other things. It appears that these were privately worshipped by the sanhedrin or great Jewish council, consisting of seventy or seventy-two persons, six chosen out of every tribe, as representatives of the people. The images were pourtrayed upon the wall, as we find those ancient idols are on the walls of the tombs of the kings and nobles of Egypt. See the plates to Belzoni's Travels, the Isaic Tomb in the Bodleian Library, and the Egyptian hieroglyphics in general. Virgil speaks of these, Aen. lib. viii.: -
Whatever images the Lord gives of Himself are what we are to keep in mind....and those not lining up with what He has allowed are not to be the things we walk in. Thankfully, MJism is not against being able to make artwork for the Lord. And for some good resources on the subject:

yhst-62261573929913_2197_8476040



 
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Henaynei

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Personally, I strongly object to any effort to depict the countenance of HaShem, or Yeshua, in any from or media. And most especially during worship or religious setting.

b'Shalom {iPod touch w/CF app}
 
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Gxg (G²)

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Personally, I strongly object to any effort to depict the countenance of HaShem, or Yeshua, in any from or media. And most especially during worship or religious setting.

b'Shalom {iPod touch w/CF app}
Makes you wonder on the issue of Bible stories made in movies/media--be it "The Passion" on the suffering of Christ or "The Nativity Story" in regards to the birth of Christ or other films dealing with Biblical history. Personally, although they can never have it fully accurate as to how things exactly were, I'm thankful for many of those films that have caused others to study on the life of the Messiah and seeing what the scriptures have to say.....and that is also said in light of the many children's church stories utilizing pictures to show the Messiah.

Love it when the saints do things such as sacred artwork in showing what the Scriptures beautifully demonstrate for the saints to see---regarding the many ways in which the Lord has shown Himself. If you are not aware of it by the way---should you still have little ones---I'd highly suggest looking up something known as the Jewish Children's Bible Series....


094370636x.jpg




It is indeed a blessing....and something I think is beneficial when it comes to aiding via illustration with the scriptures. Of course, it does not include much of the NT---though what it had to offer was indeed a gem...& of course, plenty of others out there on the issue that one could look into.


Same with other venues utilizing the medium of art when it comes to the Scriptures for portrayal. There's one film I know of which is a clay-animation film on the account of the Exodus---known as "The 10 Commandments":



The Ten Commandments
51vJjWj4c%2BL._SS500_.jpg



The stories of the Exodus's accounts are truly some of the most beautiful mentioned in the Scriptures...and seeing them on flim are always a blessing. The Burning Bush has always stood out to me. The film known as "The Prince Of Egypt" was one of my favorites when it came to bringing the Exodus Account to life...especially on that part, as seen in:​




We used to show it all the time during my time working in Children's Church, as well as doing artwork with the children when they were excited about seeing the Lord as He described Himself. And growing in doing Children's ministry and Youth Ministry, I was amazed seeing how much of a need was met via the arts. As I've shared before elsewhere, in Youth Ministry, I've often been very saddened for those individuals who often hear I Corinthians 12 or Romans 12 discussed with the gifts...and then hear sermons on how those gifts played out in Acts. For some (as it was for myself as well growing up), they may not have the gift of wisdom or prophecy---and they may love the arts, but they'll always feel that there's no place for them. My cousin and I loved doing artwork and he's actually an Art Major now---one who was amazingly gifted...and I'd often wonder if the NT would make room for that gift. Others would say "Well, its nice what others do in art--but its not really a gift of the Spirit or something he uses in Acts." That said, I was shocked when I was able to see this:

Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. He has filled him with the Spirit of God—with skill, with understanding, with knowledge, and with all kinds of work, to design artistic designs, to work in gold, in silver, and in bronze, and in cutting stones for their setting, and in cutting wood, to do work in every artistic craft (Exod 35:30-33).


Exodus 31:2-4 also discusses the same theme. And on the issue, It amazed me to see how the Lord already had the Spirit of God use others in the realm of art----and for those who are bent toward that direction, it is a big deal. The widsom of Bezaleel and Aholiab is skill in supervising and teaching others how to do things, as well as being able to do intricate, artistic things themselves. Another way of putting it would be "strength of capacity" or even "expansion of their minds." In addition, God gave them understanding, which means "discernment" In this context of building the Tabernacle, it would mean being able to arrange or connect all the different parts. God also increased their knowledge, which means "a particular acquaintance."



The very God who formed the world, who brought order out of chaos at creation, also filled men like Bezalel (not a New Testament Christian, but an Old Testament believer) to produce works of art...and for others who had that gifting, they don't have to feel as if the Lord cannot use that for His glory. It's why there is now an entire ministry developed called "Prophetic Art", as mentioned earlier, where others will draw during worship services and use their art to glorify the Messiah. ...and for those leaning toward visual presentations, it truly is a blessing. Some of this was shared upon with other examples as it concerns the realm of Biblical Comic books, as discussed here in #33. Additionally, if interested, some of this I was blessed to be able to share on at one of the fellowships I attend--as seen here in HEROES: Rebels
 
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Henaynei

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I understand that a/v media have become the "written word" of this century.
I admit I have watched some of the movies you mention. I also admit to a mild to moderate burn when the ethnicity of Yeshua, His disciples or His challengers is misrepresented or over exaggerated.

*My* biggest concern and difficulty however is when graphic representations of HaShem or Yeshua are used during worship or to augment the religious experience or devotion. "Veneration" does not excuse, soften or validate ant of that in my understanding.

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Henaynei

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Both my DH and DS are very artistic, musically, graphically and with the written word.

IMO Art that glorifies G-d can be wonderful, just not that which depicts the countenance of G-d graphically. Even Moshe' did not get to see the face of G-d :)

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I understand that a/v media have become the "written word" of this century.

I admit I have watched some of the movies you mention. I also admit to a mild to moderate burn when the ethnicity of Yeshua, His disciples or His challengers is misrepresented or over exaggerated.
Trust me when I say that I feel you on where you're coming from. More was shared on that in #1, #39 and here.

This is something I've often had ALOT of issue with when it comes to many being offended that Christ was not portrayed as a European-looking individual with blone hair and blue eyes and a Halo around his head....much of it being cultural, due to what occured over the centuries when Euro-Centric thought dominated everything and others were trained to think that all other ethnicities were inferior---especially those who happened to be of darker complexion. I crack up still whenever I come across others shocked to see that Jews have been of Ethopian background, Indian, Asian and many other cultures...for in their mind, "Jesus was White!!!!" based on what they saw in the media.



The same goes for depictions of Christ or others as being weak-or depictions being made where others act dogmatically about it when the truth is that no one was fully there in the times of the scriptures...and thus, no one will ever truly know.

Others may disagree, but I think people relate by using their senses and visual representations of Christ, etc. are just an effort to reach people, entirely innocuous. Like it or not, we ALL Have Mental images of Christ that comes to mind when thinking of Him, and those images were influenced by something we either saw in a painting at service, children’s church, or even a Christian movie……and that image, though perhaps close, may not be 100% accurate, but God still worked it for good….and that mental image was a part of connecting with the Lord as we sought to relate to Him, for using one’s imagination is a part of learning timeless truths, whether it be imagining the landscape of a biblical location when studying Biblical history, or imagining the look of the Burning Bush or Transfiguration of Christ bit by bit…..

Unless it hindered us in obeying Him or caused us to promote something like heresy, where’s the real issue?

Regardless of the color/shades, The Gospel Message’s still the same.


For example, being a Child worker, I see this all the time whenever the children do crafts. Some wish to color Jesus as white, others as brown, and some even green.

However, there’re no benefits in being vexed about it since the children are being taught EXTENSIVELY on whom Christ was (i.e. His Divinity, message, mission, etc), sin’s ugliness, n’ the need for His Redemption/Lordship for our lives. Additionally, it’s encouraging to witness their growth in Love for Him.

Moreover, they’ll eventually square with His LITERAL APPEARANCE in time---which was a Hebraic/Middle Eastern Jewish man (though appearances can be similar to some things...especially in light of the reality of Ethiopian Jews and other similar groups), so why become indignant on the issue?

How would it look if 5 yr old Chang depicted Jesus Yellow n’ with slanted eyes, despite Jesus not LITERALY appearing as such and despite how Johnny earnestly seeks God, and I stopped him in class claiming “BAD JOHNNY!!! THAT’S NOT CHRIST’S APPEARANCE….IDOLATRY!!!!”?

Why would I belittle the importance of thirsting to be more like Christ n’ place more emphasis on KNOWING HIS EXTERNAL attributes rather than the ESSENCE of who He WAS?

Regarding idolatry, I believe the command was more than making images of gods…. Specifically, it was the importance of not BOWING DOWN IN WORSHIP OF THEM (Exodus 20:4-5).

Images ALONE were not what constituted idolatry, but WORSHIP/Insistence of them as God.

In Israel’s time, worshiping various statues/carvings was very popular….Pagan nations attributed all kinds of miracles/powers to them….BUT JEHOVAH was to be Distinct, not simply seen as another idol/statue made by man…Thus, He forbade them from trying.

That said, it seems imagery of Christ would qualify as idolatry if one were to worship that image, as if the image BY ITSELF CONTAINTED Power (i.e. thinking a depiction one made is THE real depiction of the Lord and therefore should be REVERED).

Moreover, the “Idol” part would seem to be the insistence of Him ONLY being of one race, refusing to ever research/acknowledge His actual ethnicity.

Considering differing depictions of Christ ALONE as idolatry seems EXTREME, as it implies all art forms (ex. the timeless illustrations of Christ from the Renaissance, to crafts/artworks of Him at Christian Bookstores, and movie portrayals like “The Passion”) are condemned,….

And how many have been inspired to glorify God more after witnessing these masterpieces


19978_BlackJesus_Pg23_WEB.jpg



tim-jesus-jesus.jpg




Ultimately, Jesus was a Jew. He was Middle Eastern. So He was not white, nor was He black. He probably had more olive colored skin of a Jewish person in the first century (ie: non-European mixed).

But the reality is that different cultures will "culturalize" Jesus. The west makes Him white; African Sahara show him black. Is this bad? Not fully certain, IMHO, nor do I think it is to be seen as a big issue. It's not fact 100% that he came from all cultures...and yet it's true that all people find their root in the Messiah ( Acts 17:25-27 ). But imagine, say, a white plantation owner in 1820 being presented the Gospel of Christ with pictures of a black Jesus. He probably wouldn't accept the gift, now would he? And to avoid being a stumbling block, some one may've felt they needed to show the Lord in a certain manner.

And yet even with that, if someone was against Christ appearing a certain way because he didn't want the Lord to be seen in association with a culture they hated, that would be a BIG deal...just as it was when white plantation owners hated seeing any depiction of Christ as dark. This was something I think has always remained in our culture. For when my mom and I attended the church I grew up in (i.e. Liberty Church Of Marietta, Ga), there was what we called "THe Great White Flight" in which half the church left due to how the Pastor was preaching on the issue of racial reconcilliation...and dared to say that Jesus, when one studies those who're Jewish, was similar to how many Black people look. And that it was something that needed to be presented whenever discussions on the person of Christ occured if there was to be outreach to those in Urban communities and from Minority Backgrounds.

From that point on, the leadership made it a case to display Jesus in Easter Plays as someone of a different ethnicity everytime portrayals came up so as to be culturally sensitive. And it has been a huge blessing. Within the Messianic Jewish fellowship I attend, the lead teacher/rabbi has made it a BIG issue to always ensure others are aware of the sheer level of diversity within the Jewish world.....and for him, if others are bothered that Yeshua doesn't appear to be SOLELY AskenaziJewish as many seemed to be during times where others defined Jewish people by European terms, he has no problem with it.

. The truth is Jesus is all colors.
And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.
Revelation 5

*My* biggest concern and difficulty however is when graphic representations of HaShem or Yeshua are used during worship or to augment the religious experience or devotion. "Veneration" does not excuse, soften or validate ant of that in my understanding.
I think what often happens is that people may not realize that ANYTHING in a service can become a point of idolatry and augumentation. Happens all the time in Messianic fellowships when there's a demand to only play Jewish music since (in the minds of many) that is the only kind of worship that they can see the Lord being pleased with....and responding to....and thus, they close themselves off from worship and end up worshipping a form of it rather than singing unto the Lord whenever they can and regardless of the musical style.

The same thing happens with the arts. For there were times the Lord called his people to look upon certain things in the OT as a part of their worship to Him. Some may've felt it was unecessary to do so and perhaps augmenting things when they could just sing---but there was something about the visual being present that helped others come into worship. When others use artistic giftings to glorify the Lord and aid others in seeing things that they may only be used to hearing about, if it's done unto the Lord and not in the spirit of worshipping a form, I don't see any real problems.
 
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Henaynei

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I agree that art and depictions of many kinds can edify, beautify and glorify during worship and study.
All kinds of artistic depictions can do so, just not representations of the face of HaShem or Yeshua. To me this steps over the line of "maybe" into "definitely is" idolatry.

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Both my DH and DS are very artistic, musically, graphically and with the written word.
:clap::wave:

IMO Art that glorifies G-d can be wonderful, just not that which depicts the countenance of G-d graphically. Even Moshe' did not get to see the face of G-d :)
So true....even though the Lord did give other graphic descriptions of Himself that are truly shocking. The train of His robe filling the temple still brings things to mind, as well as where Moses was said to have seen the foot of the Lord

Exodus 24:10
and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like a pavement made of lapis lazuli, as bright blue as the sky.
Exodus 24:9-11
 
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Gxg (G²)

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I agree that art and depictions of many kinds can edify, beautify and glorify during worship and study.

All kinds of artistic depictions can do so, just not representations of the face of HaShem or Yeshua. To me this steps over the line of "maybe" into "definitely is" idolatry.
Can see where you're coming from. Personally, for me, I think it's necessary to at least show the face of Yeshua since He said of Himself that those seeing Him saw the Lord ( John 14:8-10 , Colossians 1:14-16 ) and I don't see how anyone reading about the way Yeshua spoke to people can avoid imagining what he looked like when he either spoke or did things.
 
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Henaynei

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Easy G (G²) said:
Can see where you're coming from. Personally, for me, I think it's necessary to at least show the face of Yeshua since He said of Himself that those seeing Him saw the Lord ( John 14:8-10 , Colossians 1:14-16 ) and I don't see how anyone reading about the way Yeshua spoke to people can avoid imagining what he looked like when he either spoke or did things.

:)
From that POV no depiction can be wrong and none accurate.
;)

So then, is any art that makes a statement about G-d wrong?

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Gxg (G²)

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:)
From that POV no depiction can be wrong and none accurate.
;)

So then, is any art that makes a statement about G-d wrong?
I think the best bet is to go off of the things described in the cultures that the Lord dealt with when it came to images He condemned. As it was not said of Yeshua that making pictures of Him was considered to be idolatry, I'd not think it be a good idea to make a law where there is none....but in regards to showing God as a creature with wings, He never describes Himself as such and no one can comprehend that anyhow.and thus, for those I'd leave it be. :)
 
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Gxg (G²)

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Both my DH and DS are very artistic, musically, graphically and with the written word.

b'Shalom {iPod touch w/CF app}
If you have any art online that they've done, would love to check it out
 
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Easy G (G²) said:
If you have any art online that they've done, would love to check it out
kind of you to ask.. Neither have felt good enough in the graphic arts to present to the public, but DH has written and published several books, fiction a d non-fiction. You can find them here

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