Church: Ignored Second Commandment treated scientifically

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The ban on images of any kind, clearly stated by God in the Second Commandment, was completely ignored time and again in ancient times. The Church of Rome carried on the idolatry into the Middle Ages and into modern times. Formerly Protestant churches approached this topic only “scientifically”, in the form of “art in Christianity”, laden with a good portion of ideology.

Are you allowed to have pictures and figures?

Are devout Christians allowed to have pictures, figures and amulets for their faith? This question could actually be answered with just three verses from the Bible. Nevertheless, many churches are filled to the ceiling with pictures and statues of all kinds, and have been for many centuries. God has spoken clearly about this. This was also recorded in writing around 1450 BC.

However, God’s commandments were not left untouched by man. Man had the presumption to adapt God’s unchanging statutes to his own liking. The prophet Daniel already knew about the lawless one who would one day presume to change the times and laws (Daniel 7:25). Around 550 years later, this lawless one was already at work, but at that time he did not have much room for maneuver, as Paul described, 2 Thessalonians 2:7:

“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.“

God’s Hidden Second Commandment

The Second Commandment of God, first removed by the Roman Catholic Church for its catechism and declared to be an unimportant appendage of the First Commandment, can be found in Exodus 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.“

The first sentence of the Second Commandment contains “no image or likeness of any kind”. Actually, it’s easy to understand. “No” does not mean “one”, or “a few small ones”, or “at least a pretty one”, or anything like that, but “zero, nothing”, in other words “none”. This also excludes all imaginable sizes of such images, from the monumental image in Rio de Janeiro to the small pendant on the waistband or on the rear-view mirror in the car. No “likeness” of God also excludes things that are supposed to represent God in a figurative sense. Often used as “lucky charms”, constant companions and talismans. Here too, the clear answer is “none”.

The temptation of the “exception”

The ban on images and likenesses of any kind applies to everything imaginable that takes place on earth, in the sky, in the water and under the earth, or could take place according to human ideas. This in combination with “no” results in a total of “a complete zero”.

But people seem inclined to want to make an exception for special situations and occasions. “It’s just this small, inconspicuous picture.” People want to express their faith. “God will surely understand,” is the justification thought of many. Is this acceptance of the exception really the case?

Most countries have laws that prohibit theft, robbery and murder and also state the punishment for non-compliance. What “exception” could be made here and what judiciary would simply turn a blind eye to an “exceptional robbery” declared by the perpetrator?

The “exception to the exception” here is again the Church of Rome. Its social doctrine of “social justice” allows the needy to steal from the wealthy. A negation of God’s commandment not to steal. But this is due to the nature and character of this church. (Info).

Church of Rome teaches contrary

An image of any kind is one side of the coin, the other side describes how to deal with it. This is especially true if you do not have an image yourself, but go into a building in which such images are hung or displayed. This is especially true for the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches.

In many churches you are literally “overwhelmed” by the variety of sinfully expensive figures, some of which are covered in gold, that are attributed to various people. In St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican there is a construction in the center with a depiction of a sun that outshines everything. This is a suitable example of a parable. However, in the Church of Rome this depiction has less to do with Jesus Christ than with the pagan “sun god” Mithras.

“Do not worship them or serve them!” is clearly stated in the Second Commandment. Bowing, kneeling, falling before them, kissing hands or feet, worshiping before them, making intercessions, whatever form this may take, all of these fall under the clearly stated prohibition.

Moses received the commandments in writing

This Second Commandment, like the other nine commandments, was given to mankind again on Mount Sinai. Written by God on two stone tablets and given to Moses. The people of Israel, who were at the beginning of their 40-year journey through the desert, received these statutes so that God could test their obedience and, above all, to prepare them as bringers of light to this world riddled with paganism. They were to be a shining example for the nations. God promised that if the people adhered to His statutes, a prosperous life protected from enemies was certain.

This kind of thing spreads among the surrounding nations. They can see with their own eyes that the people of Israel always reap full harvests, prosperity increases and aggressors stumble at the country’s borders. This “oddity” in particular, of completely stopping all work on every 7th day of the week (Sabbath), whether in the mill or in the fields, was probably one of Israel’s most striking characteristics.

This was precisely what was intended to convince the Gentiles that the people of Israel worshipped the one true and living God and that their own “gods” were pure nothingness. The actual goal was the conversion of the Gentiles and thus their recognition of God’s statutes.

Only rarely fully obedient to God

Did the people of Israel adhere to God’s statutes? Yes, but only for short periods of time. The “great remainder” was accompanied by devotion to the beliefs of the pagan peoples, the acceptance of their idols, images and rituals (Info). The first major “slip-up” occurred during the making of the Golden Calf. But this was exactly when Moses received the tablets of the law on Mount Sinai and had not yet returned.

Unbelief and no trust

The second significant “slip” of unbelief had already occurred after 2 years of wandering in the desert. The people could actually have crossed the Jordan and entered the promised land of Canaan by then. Of the twelve scouts sent out, only two, Joshua and Caleb, were of the opinion that this land could be entered. Everything was as God had promised. The other ten scouts warned, whined and complained about the “overpowering” people in Canaan with their strong armies and gigantic fighters.

The people listened to the ten warning scouts and were even close to stoning Joshua and Caleb. None of them had any faith in God’s promises, in that He promised that He would eliminate all of Israel’s enemies in its path. The consequence followed immediately. God announced that no Israelite of this generation would enter the land of Canaan. It was a matter of another 38 years of wandering through the desert. Only Joshua was an exception. He became Moses’ successor and finally, on the second attempt, led the people across the Jordan to Canaan.

The majority are in an apostate state

A look at the Bible shows that all the prophets sent by God, far more than just those who either left their own writings or are mentioned, had their hands full trying to get the people of Israel back on the right path. The period between the fall of northern Israel with its capital Samaria and the complete destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD alone covered around 800 years of constant apostasy from God’s statutes. (Info). Stets begleitet mit Götzendienst und den entsprechenden Bildnissen, Figuren, Symbolen und Gleichnissen.

So it is no surprise that archaeologists regularly come across images and figures of all kinds in ancient synagogues during old excavations in the Middle East. The “big misunderstanding” today is that these finds are seen as examples of the legitimacy of such images. The symbols found often resemble those used by pagan peoples to worship their “sun gods”. This is a godsend for all those who use this to formulate a common relationship or a common origin of the different religions. These are the relics used by apostasy in idolatry, which the prophets of God denounced again and again.

Academics – Scientists – Non-believers

The obviously non-believing science sees the frequently used images as a historical development within cultures and uses them to create a “Christian art history”. This is also the case with the so-called cultural representative of the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), Johann Hinrich Claussen. He wrote a book about the “Christian art history” over 2000 years.

The book “God’s Images” was discussed by the media mouthpiece of the EKD based on a conversation with the religious scholar and journalist Mechthild Klein (Source).The author therefore tries to explain the prejudices and errors in Christian art.

If the archaeological findings are to be believed, says the religious scholar, then sacred images and figures were indeed created in Judaism and early Christianity. This raises the question of whether “the idea of ​​the prohibition of images in Judaism and early Christianity is actually still tenable.”

Second Commandment throws science into disarray

This “scientific” question would be answered if only the few lines of God’s Second Commandment were read. Combined with the reports of the prophets in the Old Testament about the sometimes hopeless apostasy caused by the idolatry of the ancient people of Israel, any further discussion about “Christian art” would lead in a completely different direction. But ultimately one wants to look at this from a cultural-historical, scientific perspective.

The author was also able to give appropriate examples. Archaeology found amulets, seals, small sculptures and figurines. All of them were used by Judaism and early Christianity. Claussen also wants to know that these pieces provided “protection, healing, comfort, strength”, and also expressed piety and had a magical function.

Ideologies of the humanities

As is appropriate for pure humanities, particularly in the field of theology, every aspect is explored in every conceivable direction according to a scholastic. Often leading to a goal that is based solely on personal ideas and wishes. This is then finally declared to be scientific knowledge. Every subjunctive becomes a synonym for facts.

The author shows the ideology behind this “scientific” analysis of “Christian images” by saying that, according to his findings, humanity only understood in the 18th century that there are “biologically and anatomically” two genders and that in the course of the 19th century attempts were made to define these two genders, male and female. This was a problem for the image of Christ, as it was difficult to assign a clear gender to the loving, merciful, healing, helpful and patiently suffering Christ. How male or female could he be?

Everything has remained the same

A majority apostasy from God’s statutes within a majority period of time. The service to worthless idols, in whatever form, did not stop. Paul listed a whole series of character problem traits for the church in Galatia and idolatry was at the top of the list, Galatians 5:20:
“Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,“

For such “academic smart-heads” who want to present their ideologies as the current zenith of spiritual science, Paul had a fitting answer ready, 1 Corinthians 3:19:
“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.“

The deception of the people

It is to their benefit if these apologists live out their spiritual excesses against their better judgment in order to achieve a kind of self-realization and to be able to present themselves in public in this way. But this environment is sold to humanity as Christianity without even beginning to address the truth of the gospel, the background and, most importantly, God’s will.

The once Protestant churches in Germany also refer to Martin Luther and call themselves Evangelicals, although they have long since become a mouthpiece for the ideologies of the Roman Catholic Church. (Info). With all the consequences of seducing those who follow into hopelessness. This is false labeling, the real deception of people.

Bible verses from King James Version (1611)