Only if your wife is your God
Lol I'm a photographer. Creating beautiful images of people so their families can look at them is my passion. Big difference between pics of the fam and a (likely inaccurate) image of God to bow down before.
We can't really be sure about the nature of 'photos' and their potential barrier that may create. I know this: There ARE photos that are most certainly SUBVERSIVE. And there are photos that are USED to depict subjects that REQUIRE worship by them that force such images upon their 'people'. We see it all the time in many countries. Where their leader's picture exists in every home, every business and on every billboard or sign.
The Bible tells us that IF we love our sons or daughters MORE than God or Christ, we err. If we love our parents or wives MORE than God or Christ we err.
So how to answer such questions concerning technology that did not exist then must be sought in the PRINCIPLES, not the technology.
I can offer this: If you allow photography to BE something that you worship, then it is probably going to get in the way of your FAITH in God. And if you let PICTURES get in the way of your relationship with God then that would be a hindrance as well.
Look, what God has tried to instruct us since the beginning is how to prevent PROBLEMS in our lives due to our OWN 'flesh'. For the 'flesh' desires that which is PLEASING to the "FLESH". And that is often contradictory to anything pertaining to Spirit. While one's 'spirit' may well be affected, it is difficult to even FIND 'The Spirit' if one is allowing the THINGS OF THIS WORLD to 'get in the way'.
We are also told NOT to fall in LOVE with this world or the THINGS IN IT.
So, is it any surprise that men intent upon making merchandise of others have introduced the MEANS to hamper the relationships of others? That there are 'things' that have been created and are appealing to the FLESH that are detrimental to The Spirit residing in one's heart?
I won't attempt to answer questions that one should be able to answer for themselves so far as photographs. But I will offer this: they are NOT REAL. They ARE images. And no matter what you THINK, you WILL NOT take them with you to the grave. They are nothing but images on pieces of paper. No different than any other image. The subject may vary but the form is the same with any and all.
The Catholic Church decided a long time ago that the command to resist the temptation of creating graven images was ONLY pertaining to 'carvings' or paintings of 'other gods'. They ERRED in their understanding. Because ANYONE that possess a HINT of The Spirit KNOWS that one can make a god out of ANYTHING. Drugs can be the god of the junkie. Money can be the god of those that worship wealth. Man can make a god out of ANYTHING that he worships or adores.
So the commandment was not to resist temptation to create 'carved gods' or 'painted gods', it was a warning to NOT DO exactly what it stated: NO GRAVEN IMAGES. For man was not mature enough to KNOW what images could hold potential damage and which were not.
And it's perfectly CLEAR that anyone that would pay millions of dollars for a painting MUST WORSHIP it to pay that much WEALTH to POSSESS it. And who but the Catholic Church has such a VAST wealth of such ART? So it only stands to reason that IF they erred in their understanding of the commandment, they would teach those that they LORDED over to ignore the commandment as well. Their whole 'religion' is filled with icons, idols, works of 'art'. And LOOK at the numbers of people that travel to Europe just to ADORE their 'churches' full of 'art' or 'graven images'.
While they attempt to label them 'houses of God', the truth is that God NO LONGER dwells within structures MADE BY THE HANDS of MEN. So the whole concept of 'graven images' has been LOST upon the Catholic Church. Sorry. I'm not the one that has LED others to falsely discern the commandment. I am here right now trying to explain it so that others MAY be able to SEE the TRUTH behind the commandment.
And at the same time, there are those of the Protestant denominations that will insist that WE ARE FREE to DO as we PLEASE so long as we SAY we believe in Christ. That NONE of the law pertains to 'Christians'. That it is UP TO US what we believe and follow.
But the TRUTH is that we are not, will not, nor have we EVER been granted such freedom. The Law was given to TEACH men. And those teachings are as relevant today as they were when the law was given. While we are no longer BOUND to the law, (we DO have the choice to FOLLOW as instructed now by those laws being written in our hearts), we are AS bound to that which pertains to LOVE as NEVER before. And that is the LOVE we offer to God and the love that we offer to each other.
And if you let THINGS of this world get in the way of that love then you have ERRED according to ALL the instruction we have been offered by God through prophet, His own Son and the apostles.
Blessings,
MEC