Can Christians Promote False Images of Jesus?

Michie · May 1, 2020

lsume said:
I’ve never met a young person that was born again. Of course that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen. When you pray for the sick do they recover? Have you had a two way conversation with Christ. Are the signs that follow a Christian present in your life. Do you Love The Lord thy God according to the commandment Do you remember right after you were born again wanting to give away all that you had? Those are some of the questions I must ask myself. Christ bares Witness to His flock. He turns on and off the hearing so that you only Hear His Voice in Truth.

Yeah ok. God bless! :wave:

zoidar · May 1, 2020

Bible Highlighter said:
Can Christians Promote False Images of Jesus?

Many people think Jesus looks like a white European when in reality Jesus is a Jew and we do not actually have any actual picture of Him. But many in the church today create images of Him that look like a white European (no doubt because they are white). Yes, I am white, too. I am so white, it's like I am a white rabbit hopping down the bunny trail. If I take off my shirt, I can probably blind some people. Be that as it may, I realize that Jesus is not like me in skin color. Ancient people from the middle east are generally mid tone in skin tone color and they are not white and neither do they look European. In Exodus 20, we learn that we are not to even make graven images (which is in relation to God or anything to be worshiped). My wife and I have come to not have any pictures of any animals in the home even. For in the past, animals were worshiped and they still are today. We should not seek to make anything an idol or be like the world in any way. I know. People say it is just art. But I think there is a difference of using art in a way that is for communicative purposes vs. say something that hang everywhere in a person's home like an idol. We humans tend to want to serve ourselves and our own needs. We want to be like the world. But as Christians, we cannot be that way. We have to be holy and separate and different. This takes time for God to talk to our heart and for us to be open and ready for change towards dedicating our life more to Him.

If I say, "Picture Jesus".
What is the first image that comes to your mind?
Jim Caviezel?
Jeffrey Hunter?
The famous paint of Jesus by Warner E. Sallman?
The painting of Jesus from a young girl, Akiane Kramarik (based upon her own vision)?
The Orthodox paintings of Jesus?

The only description we have of Jesus is in Revelation. It is not a detailed police artist sketch of what He actually looked like. But we do know Jesus is Jewish and many try to create false images of Him and think that is fine. All I can say is pray about it, and seek the Scriptures in regards to false graven images in the Bible. Nowhere does God want us to have imagery that is a representation of Him hanging around.

I don't agree with the question. Images of Jesus are not false images. If I paint a picture of my grandad it wouldn't come out exactly like him since I don't fully remember his look and neither am I'm the perfect artist. Still the picture is of him and not a false image.

Also people have had visions of Jesus, that seem to match the depictions we have today.

timothyu · May 1, 2020

zoidar said:
Also people have had visions of Jesus, that seem to match the depictions we have today.

That would be credible if they had never seen an image previously or know who He was.

Man is usually interested in using God to justify our ways rather than changing ourselves to suit His will. Man also tends to make Jesus over in our own image rather than change ourselves to follow his commandments. They prefer to see Him as one of us, rather than us being changed to fit in with His crowd.

DamianWarS · May 1, 2020

Bible Highlighter said:
Can Christians Promote False Images of Jesus?

Many people think Jesus looks like a white European when in reality Jesus is a Jew and we do not actually have any actual picture of Him. But many in the church today create images of Him that look like a white European (no doubt because they are white). Yes, I am white, too. I am so white, it's like I am a white rabbit hopping down the bunny trail. If I take off my shirt, I can probably blind some people. Be that as it may, I realize that Jesus is not like me in skin color. Ancient people from the middle east are generally mid tone in skin tone color and they are not white and neither do they look European. In Exodus 20, we learn that we are not to even make graven images (which is in relation to God or anything to be worshiped). My wife and I have come to not have any pictures of any animals in the home even. For in the past, animals were worshiped and they still are today. We should not seek to make anything an idol or be like the world in any way. I know. People say it is just art. But I think there is a difference of using art in a way that is for communicative purposes vs. say something that hang everywhere in a person's home like an idol. We humans tend to want to serve ourselves and our own needs. We want to be like the world. But as Christians, we cannot be that way. We have to be holy and separate and different. This takes time for God to talk to our heart and for us to be open and ready for change towards dedicating our life more to Him.

If I say, "Picture Jesus".
What is the first image that comes to your mind?
Jim Caviezel?
Jeffrey Hunter?
The famous paint of Jesus by Warner E. Sallman?
The painting of Jesus from a young girl, Akiane Kramarik (based upon her own vision)?
The Orthodox paintings of Jesus?

The only description we have of Jesus is in Revelation. It is not a detailed police artist sketch of what He actually looked like. But we do know Jesus is Jewish and many try to create false images of Him and think that is fine. All I can say is pray about it, and seek the Scriptures in regards to false graven images in the Bible. Nowhere does God want us to have imagery that is a representation of Him hanging around.

it's natural to picture an image of Jesus that feels most intimate to us in our own circles. Caucasian Jesus is popular because Western Christianity is so dominant; it was european's natural expression of Christ. However colonial practices tend to be quite ethnocentric so this view has been push on others. The pushing part is wrong but the natural gravitation to an identity of Christ that looks like what we are most familiar with is not wrong and it's silly to make a thing about it.

Zao is life · May 1, 2020

Jude1:3Contendforthefaith said:
• Second Council of Nicaea - 7th Ecumenical Council (787 A.D.)

CHURCH FATHERS: Second Council of Nicaea

• Anathema to the calumniators of the Christians, that is to the image breakers.

• Anathema to those who apply the words of Holy Scriptures which were spoken against idols, to the venerable images.

• Anathema to those who do not salute the holy and venerable images.

• Anathema to those who say that Christians have recourse to the images as to gods.

• Anathema to those who call the sacred images idols.

• Anathema to those who knowingly communicate with those who revile and dishonour the venerable images.

• Anathema to those who say that another than Christ our Lord has delivered us from idols.

• Anathema to those who spurn the teachings of the holy Fathers and the tradition of the Catholic Church, taking as a pretext and making their own the arguments of Arius, Nestorius, Eutyches, and Dioscorus, that unless we were evidently taught by the Old and New Testaments, we should not follow the teachings of the holy Fathers and of the holy Ecumenical Synods, and the tradition of the Catholic Church.

• Anathema to those who dare to say that the Catholic Church has at any time sanctioned idols.

• Anathema to those who say that the making of images is a diabolical invention and not a tradition of our holy Fathers.

.

Now I know why I will never, never be Catholic.

Thank God the Father in the name of Jesus my Savior and only Lord, they do not have the authority to pronounce anathemas which are anathema to God - i.e bowing before so-called "sacred images" and hence, turning them into idols.

Most of those so-called "anathemas" are anathema to God and to Christ.

May every human choose this day (each and every day) who he will follow - God, or man.

lsume · May 1, 2020

lsume said:
The whole feeling thing is very dangerous. How many people falsely believe that they are born again? When the music is just right to ignite tears of joy and the testimony causes more tears, it’s easy to see a correlation between those emotional experiences and being truly born again. How does anyone know if they are born again let alone knowing if someone else is? Being attacked on this site is certainly very real. I don’t want to get into any confrontational conversations about Christ. I stand on what Christ has given me and pray often for Him to continue raising me. Of course, He will never stop. I have expected someone who is truly seeking to ask for help. Everyone has to be taught exactly the same way. There is one author and finisher of our faith. When Christ comes to you and Speaks to you and reveals Himself to you, you will absolutely know It. Can everyone who is heaven bound say that they Love The Lord their God? I have prayed for my love in Christ to grow and that prayer has been answered. Everyone will know that love who is heaven bound. The Word of God makes it clear that all of God’s children will be obedient to The Word with help from Christ without which no one could be saved. I believe that everyone will get the chance to accept Christ as Lord and Savior.
Deut.6 Verses 5 to 7

[5] And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

Jude1:3Contendforthefaith · May 1, 2020

Fullness of the Gentiles said:
turning them into idols.
.

The people who were against icons were influenced by islam.

.

Zao is life · May 1, 2020

"And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creepers creeping on the earth. And God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him. He created them male and female." (Gen 1:26-27)

And man said, "Let us make God in our image, after our likeness. And let us bow before the image and offer them homage, and pray to them."

"You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make to yourselves any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them. For I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and fourth generation of those that hate me, and showing mercy to thousands of those that love Me and keep My commandments." (Exo 20:3-6)

And man said, "Let us declare our authority over God's authority, and let us make our own Law, and let us bring man under bondage to our law by declaring obedience to God anathema, so that we can bow to our images, to our likenesses of God".

Zao is life · May 1, 2020

Jude1:3Contendforthefaith said:
The people who were against icons were influenced by islam.

.

"And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creepers creeping on the earth. And God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him. He created them male and female." (Gen 1:26-27)

And man said, "Let us make God in our image, after our likeness. And let us bow before the image and offer them homage, and pray to them."

"You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make to yourselves any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them. For I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and fourth generation of those that hate me, and showing mercy to thousands of those that love Me and keep My commandments." (Exo 20:3-6)

And man said, "Let us declare our authority over God's authority, and let us make our own Law, and let us bring man under bondage to our law by declaring obedience to God anathema, so that we can bow to our images, to our likenesses of God"

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Josh 24:15).

Jude1:3Contendforthefaith · May 1, 2020

Fullness of the Gentiles said:
"And God said, Let Us make man in Our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the heavens, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over all the creepers creeping on the earth. And God created man in His image; in the image of God He created him. He created them male and female." (Gen 1:26-27)

And man said, "Let us make God in our image, after our likeness. And let us bow before the image and offer them homage, and pray to them."

"You shall have no other gods before Me. You shall not make to yourselves any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them. For I the LORD your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the sons to the third and fourth generation of those that hate me, and showing mercy to thousands of those that love Me and keep My commandments." (Exo 20:3-6)

And man said, "Let us declare our authority over God's authority, and let us make our own Law, and let us bring man under bondage to our law by declaring obedience to God anathema"

Icons are not idols.

There is a difference between veneration and worship :

And You Shall Make Two Cherubim Of Gold; of Hammered Work You Shall Make Them At The Two Ends Of The Mercy Seat.
• Exodus 25:18

Then Joshua tore his clothes and Fell To The Earth On His Face Before The Ark Of The Lord Until The Evening, Both He And The Elders Of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.
• Joshua 7:6

.

Zao is life · May 1, 2020

If you want an image of Jesus, look into the face of the man who is about to be beheaded for his testimony to Christ. Look into the faces of those who through faith in Christ are in Christ, and follow Him only, and do not bow to images. For God made man in His image, after His likeness.

"For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2Cor 4:6).

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is." (1John 3:2).

Zao is life · May 1, 2020

Jude1:3Contendforthefaith said:
Icons are not idols.

There is a difference between veneration and worship :

And You Shall Make Two Cherubim Of Gold; of Hammered Work You Shall Make Them At The Two Ends Of The Mercy Seat.
• Exodus 25:18

Then Joshua tore his clothes and Fell To The Earth On His Face Before The Ark Of The Lord until the evening, both he and the elders of Israel; and they put dust on their heads.
• Joshua 7:6

.

That ark itself was not meant to be worshiped, nor venerated for itself. It contained the Ten Commandments and the Spirit of God would hover above it, above the Mercy Seat. It was the Spirit of God which was venerated, not the ark. Once a year the High Priest would sprinkle the blood of Atonement on it. The ark was not a representation of God, nor of His likeness, and God did not desire they bow before it. It would have broken the commandment contained in the ark, and the one doing so would have died.

"You shall not make to yourselves any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heavens above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow yourself down to them, nor serve them."

And man said, "Let us declare our authority over God's authority, and let us make our own Law, and let us bring man under bondage to our law by declaring obedience to God anathema, so that we can bow to our images, to our likenesses of God"

"And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Josh 24:15).

JacksBratt · May 1, 2020

Bible Highlighter said:
Can Christians Promote False Images of Jesus?

Many people think Jesus looks like a white European when in reality Jesus is a Jew and we do not actually have any actual picture of Him. But many in the church today create images of Him that look like a white European (no doubt because they are white). Yes, I am white, too. I am so white, it's like I am a white rabbit hopping down the bunny trail. If I take off my shirt, I can probably blind some people. Be that as it may, I realize that Jesus is not like me in skin color. Ancient people from the middle east are generally mid tone in skin tone color and they are not white and neither do they look European. In Exodus 20, we learn that we are not to even make graven images (which is in relation to God or anything to be worshiped). My wife and I have come to not have any pictures of any animals in the home even. For in the past, animals were worshiped and they still are today. We should not seek to make anything an idol or be like the world in any way. I know. People say it is just art. But I think there is a difference of using art in a way that is for communicative purposes vs. say something that hang everywhere in a person's home like an idol. We humans tend to want to serve ourselves and our own needs. We want to be like the world. But as Christians, we cannot be that way. We have to be holy and separate and different. This takes time for God to talk to our heart and for us to be open and ready for change towards dedicating our life more to Him.

If I say, "Picture Jesus".
What is the first image that comes to your mind?
Jim Caviezel?
Jeffrey Hunter?
The famous paint of Jesus by Warner E. Sallman?
The painting of Jesus from a young girl, Akiane Kramarik (based upon her own vision)?
The Orthodox paintings of Jesus?

The only description we have of Jesus is in Revelation. It is not a detailed police artist sketch of what He actually looked like. But we do know Jesus is Jewish and many try to create false images of Him and think that is fine. All I can say is pray about it, and seek the Scriptures in regards to false graven images in the Bible. Nowhere does God want us to have imagery that is a representation of Him hanging around.

Yes, Christians are human and try as we might, we get things wrong we make mistakes, we say things that are not correct.... we present the wrong images sometimes.

Bible Highlighter · May 1, 2020

zoidar said:
I don't agree with the question. Images of Jesus are not false images. If I paint a picture of my grandad it wouldn't come out exactly like him since I don't fully remember his look and neither am I'm the perfect artist. Still the picture is of him and not a false image.

Also people have had visions of Jesus, that seem to match the depictions we have today.

Nope. Nobody knows what Jesus actually looked like. So any creation of image of Him is a false image of Jesus. For example: We know Jesus did not look like Jim Caviezel because Jesus was not a white European.

Monksailor · May 1, 2020

Jesus is Jesus, Lord, Savior, God the Son. Any outward physical appearance is irrelevant. Jesus, himself, told us that race and many other outward things were irrelevant in Gal 3:28 ESV "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Jesus came for "all the little children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight." It makes absolutely no difference what "color" Jesus is. I think people like to portray Him in their "color" so as to better relate to Him. What is wrong with that? I have seen pictures of a black, dark brown, and white Jesus and have never had any problem with it. Should I?

Bible Highlighter · May 1, 2020

DamianWarS said:
it's natural to picture an image of Jesus that feels most intimate to us in our own circles. Caucasian Jesus is popular because Western Christianity is so dominant; it was european's natural expression of Christ. However colonial practices tend to be quite ethnocentric so this view has been push on others. The pushing part is wrong but the natural gravitation to an identity of Christ that looks like what we are most familiar with is not wrong and it's silly to make a thing about it.

Only people who are steeped in iconography or in using some form of idol images in their home, work place, etc. will not be able to see what I am saying here. Many people have animals depicted everywhere in their home on towels, bedsheets, etc. Yet, in ancient times, it was more popular that these things were displayed everywhere as things to be worshiped. Idolatry is more apparent in places like India. So if you went there and had a picture of an animal on your shirt, they could think you are a fellow animal worshiper. Idolatry. Yep. It's everywhere in a subtle way, and people just don't see it because it has been a part of their old life (and they do not even realize it).

Bible Highlighter · May 1, 2020

Monksailor said:
Jesus is Jesus, Lord, Savior, God the Son. Any outward physical appearance is irrelevant. Jesus, himself, told us that race and many other outward things were irrelevant in Gal 3:28 ESV "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
Jesus came for "all the little children of the world. Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight." It makes absolutely no difference what "color" Jesus is. I think people like to portray Him in their "color" so as to better relate to Him. What is wrong with that? I have seen pictures of a black, dark brown, and white Jesus and have never had any problem with it. Should I?

God tells us not to make any image in Exodus 20.
It would be like somebody creating a picture of you and saying it was you all over town. Surely you would not be happy if somebody was falsely misrepresenting you. Imagine how God feels (Especially when He said do not make any images or idols).

Bible Highlighter · May 1, 2020

JacksBratt said:
Yes, Christians are human and try as we might, we get things wrong we make mistakes, we say things that are not correct.... we present the wrong images sometimes.

The Bible tells us to flee idolatry. Are people fleeing idolatry if they keep the idol hanging around?

Is it no big deal if they do so? Does the Bible condemn idolatry?
If so, then we need to take it seriously and put idolatry out of our lives.

Monksailor · May 1, 2020

Bible Highlighter said:
God tells us not to make any image in Exodus 20.
It would be like somebody creating a picture of you and saying it was you all over town. Surely you would not be happy if somebody was falsely misrepresenting you. Imagine how God feels (Especially when He said do not make any images or idols).

NO, I would not mind it at all. It would have to be better than I look. Besides that would be wonderful. I do not want my picture online for all of those personal data wolf warehouses. It would be great if someone lied to them for me and gave them false info.

Well, you better throw out/delete all of your images of family and friends right away.

Bible Highlighter · May 1, 2020

Monksailor said:
NO, I would not mind it at all. It would have to be better than I look. Besides that would be wonderful. I do not want my picture online for all of those personal data wolf warehouses. It would be great if someone lied to them for me and gave them false info.

Well, you better throw out/delete all of your images of family and friends right away.

I would mind it because I would not want people to falsely misrepresent me and I care about the truth.

Can Christians Promote False Images of Jesus?

Can Christians Promote False Images of Jesus?

Yes. (Please explain).

No (Please explain).

I don't know.

Maybe, it depends.

I don't agree with the question (Please explain).

Other (Please explain).

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