Christian Art in the Home

DD2008 · Jan 23, 2009

So the summary is: Images of Christ aren't considered appropriate in the Reformed community. But you can have images of any other Bible chacter.

What about Nativity Scenes?

Sorry so many questions. But I've never encountered this before. I was raised Southern Baptist and we had images of Christ in the house. My grandparants still have that painting in the living room. My grandpa kept this image of Christ in his study at the Church that was made out of the shadowed words of the complete handwritten book of John.

edie19 · Jan 23, 2009

I've seen some amazing art depicting Christ in my lifetime

Salvador Dali's The Sacrament of the Last Supper (at the National Museum of Art in DC)

Michelangelo's Pieta (saw it at the 1964 New York world's fair)

I can view and appreciate these works, but when it comes right down to it the 2nd Commandment is clear regarding these depictions - our God is a jealous God and He instructed us against these images for a reason - because He knew they would take our focus off of Him and onto the artwork

and as Bradford and I have both said - we don't need them, we have the Word and He is the Word and that is sufficient.

DD2008 · Jan 25, 2009

Since Christ is fully God and fully man what is wrong with making an image of Christ the man like we make images of others in the history of the Church?

edie19 · Jan 25, 2009

DD2008 said:
Since Christ is fully God and fully man what is wrong with making an image of Christ the man like we make images of others in the history of the Church?

the second commandment

DD2008 · Jan 25, 2009

edb19 said:
the second commandment

I have three of four crucifixes hung throughout the house and a statue of the baby Jesus being held by Joseph and Mary. And an individual statue of Mary with the imaculate heart. Is that against the second commandment?

What about the Miraculous medal pendant?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miraculous_Medal

My wife and I each have one of these. As long as there isn't any superstition with it its alright isn't it?

I have stopped praying to Mary and the saints but I didn't think there was anything wrong with keeping the artwork.

Epiphoskei · Jan 25, 2009

As long as it's merely art. The danger is that we often find our images aren't quite what we think them to merely be.

AndOne · Jan 25, 2009

Kind of on the subject - but not totally...

I have a few tatoos of Christian symbols. They were done in my youth - wish I could have them all removed. Though they are not symbols of worship for me - they are symbols of vanity. Despite the fact that they were meant to be a form of witness to non-belivers, the bottom line is that they really do nothing but draw attention to myself. That is no good....

Thank God for his forgiveness.....

MattHall · Jan 25, 2009

My conviction is that images of Christ are wrong; including crucifixes.

The other list is fine IMHO as long as you are not worshiping them.

For me it is a matter of art depicting historical figures and art depicting God.

Where can I find the Calvin/Luther bookends? That sounds awesome!

JCFantasy23 · Jan 25, 2009

DD2008 said:
What are your thoughts on Christian art in a person's home. Is it ok to have Crucifixes, pictures and statues of the saints, and rosary beads..etc decorating your house?

Personally I love crosses and biblical sayings throughout the house. I don't have any beautiful pictures to hang up but I wouldn't be against those either. To me there's no point of having a picture or statue of a saint, though. I don't use Rosary beads but if that is your belief, I see nothing wrong with having them in your house.

Epiphoskei said:
It's Christ where this becomes more problematic. Since we already worship Christ, if we have regularly seen images which are supposedly pictures of him, when we worship, we're going to be worshipping with those images in our minds.

For some reason I always disliked seeing painted and drawn Jesus in pictures, just makes me uncomfortable. I always don't like seeing actors impersonate him either. I would probably be the same if people tried to draw or paint God. I could never figure out the reason but you have a point with your post.

DD2008 said:
So, imagine you had a Crucifix in the living room and a statue of Mary on a shelf, a statue of Joseph Mary and the baby Jesus on another shelf with a Rosary, and an Icon of Mary on the wall.

Is that going to make your Presbyterian Pastor worry?

Ha, sounds more Catholic to me so perhaps the Presbyterian Pastor would worry

DD2008 said:
One thing about the Catholics, they certainly do have some great religious art.

That's one thing I've always admired about the Catholics most, is their dedication and obvious inspiration. I know that a well decorated church does not matter for worship, yet taking pride in your church by trying to spruce it up (or your home) doesn't seem like a bad idea to me.

DD2008 said:
Let me give an example. I grew up as a Southern Baptist Pastor's kid. In our living room was a painting called the Head of Christ by Warner Sallman:

Image deleted.

Do you believe that this image is idolatrous and shouldn't be hung in a home?

I know one of my first pictures of my parents together showed them in my father's baptist home with a large print of the Lord's supper above the couch. It was a sweet picture and made me feel touched.

I basically agree with everyone here, though. I just never felt comfortable viewing pictures of Jesus but crosses and other things on the wall can help remind me to pray and I feel blessed having them in my home. I think artwork in general can be inspiring, but in no way would I worship them.

DD2008 · Jan 25, 2009

I'm trying to decide whether to redecorate or not.

JustAsIam77 · Jan 25, 2009

I don't like Christian symbols, statues, rosaries but thats just me.

It takes away from the aspect of complete faith alone without the need for these material things. The unseen vs the seen. (If that makes any sense at all). My 2 cents or less.

DD2008 · Jan 25, 2009

JustAsIam77 said:
I don't like Christian symbols, statues, rosaries but thats just me.

It takes away from the aspect of complete faith alone without the need for these material things. The unseen vs the seen. (If that makes any sense at all). My 2 cents or less.

If you came over to visit me and saw the things I described would you filp out?

JustAsIam77 · Jan 25, 2009

DD2008 said:
If you came over to visit me and saw the things I described would you filp out?

No, not at all!

Epiphoskei · Jan 25, 2009

Most Reformed folks don't seem like huge filpers to me.

DD2008 · Jan 25, 2009

JustAsIam77 said:
No, not at all!

Epiphoskei said:
Most Reformed folks don't seem like huge filpers to me.

Everyone seems very nice so far.

Our Church today had some kind of meeting after the worship service complete with potluck. We didn't stay becasue our 2 year old wouldn't like it very much. But everyone didn't seem to mind that we left. I'm new to the Presbyterian order so I'm not sure if I nedded to stay or not.

One of the Elders told me that he would be giving me a call soon, I don't know if that meant he was coming over or what? If he's coming over he's going to see some things that look a little Catholic. I want to keep them but I don't want to offend.

JCFantasy23 · Jan 25, 2009

DD2008 said:
Everyone seems very nice so far.

Our Church today had some kind of meeting after the worship service complete with potluck. We didn't stay becasue our 2 year old wouldn't like it very much. But everyone didn't seem to mind that we left. I'm new to the Presbyterian order so I'm not sure if I nedded to stay or not.

One of the Elders told me that he would be giving me a call soon, I don't know if that meant he was coming over or what? If he's coming over he's going to see some things that look a little Catholic. I want to keep them but I don't want to offend.

It is so sweet and great you are being very conscientious about this with your new pastor, and also wanting to delve deeply into finding out if you are doing the right thing or not, but the bottom line is if you feel OK with it with your relationship with God, then do not take what you feel is important down. Search in your heart and see if you feel God is telling you it is wrong; don't worry about your pastor, I am sure his congregation varies a lot when it comes to how they decorate their homes in a religious manner.

DD2008 · Jan 25, 2009

JCFantasy23 said:
It is so sweet and great you are being very conscientious about this with your new pastor, and also wanting to delve deeply into finding out if you are doing the right thing or not, but the bottom line is if you feel OK with it with your relationship with God, then do not take what you feel is important down. Search in your heart and see if you feel God is telling you it is wrong; don't worry about your pastor, I am sure his congregation varies a lot when it comes to how they decorate their homes in a religious manner.

Interesting thought. I do get caught up worrying about what others think many times instead of focusing on what God thinks about it. I should pay more attention.

bradfordl · Jan 26, 2009

...but the bottom line is if you feel OK with it with your relationship with God... ...Search in your heart and see if you feel God is telling you it is wrong...

Thar ya go! No need for scripture or study.. just do wut ya feel... foller yer own heart, and you'll never go wrong! Can we say ex-is-ten-tial-ism?

'Course there's that one troublesome little bit 'o scripture that we might hafta ignore:

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

JCFantasy23 · Jan 26, 2009

bradfordl said:
Thar ya go! No need for scripture or study.. just do wut ya feel... foller yer own heart, and you'll never go wrong! Can we say ex-is-ten-tial-ism?

'Course there's that one troublesome little bit 'o scripture that we might hafta ignore:

Errr when I pray about some things, sometimes God answers. This is what I am referring to. I am not saying rationalize it in your own mind, but seek God in all things. Nothing wrong with that.

xapis · Jan 26, 2009

JCFantasy23 said:
Errr when I pray about some things, sometimes God answers. This is what I am referring to. I am not saying rationalize it in your own mind, but seek God in all things. Nothing wrong with that.

There is if what a person believes is an answer from God does not comport with the clear teachings of His holy and inspired Word.

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