GRAVEN IMAGES

The Mystic Christ - Chapter Preview

Just as we remember our father when we see his portrait, we are reminded of God, the Creator of the world, when we see the idol. When a devotee of Krishna sees the idol of Sri Krishna, he remembers the real Lord Krishna and not the stone image. Temples and idols are needed for those of us who are drowned in ignorance. Ammachi, Awaken Children, vol. 1

In our search for unity and peace among the religions of the world we will take up the issue of graven images - especially if we are Christian, Muslim or Jewish. We will demonstrate that icons or images are good for spiritual practice. Meditating on God with a form will take us to God with no form.

In the chapter Jesus and the Old Testament, we explored the precedent set by Jesus in looking past some aspects of the Old Testament laws and we will apply that precedent to the question of graven images. The prohibition against worshipping false idols appears in the Ten Commandments in Exodus and then again in several other Old Testament scriptures.

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. Exodus 20:4-5, NIV

Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the Lord your God. Leviticus 26:1, NIV

The mind imagines that happiness arises from being a separate individual. This individuality is continuously inflamed by thinking we will gain happiness from relationships, cars, houses, clothes, money, status, control of others, sex, drugs, or other worldly bounty. These things are merely reflections of the ALL and since they are impermanent, they can never provide lasting happiness. True and lasting happiness can only come from God who must be searched for and experienced within ourselves. When we try to find happiness in the objects of the senses mentioned above, we are really searching for God but in all the wrong places. By thinking these things bring happiness we are really worshipping our own ego and the presumed objects of happiness. This is true idolatry.

In the New International Version of the New Testament the word "idolatry" appears four times - three by Paul and one by Peter.

Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry. 1 Corinthians. 10:14, NIV

The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21, NIV

Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Colossians. 3:5, NIV

For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries. 1 Peter 4:3, NIV

In Paul's "idolatry" scriptures, the word "idolater" appears twice, both written by Paul. Again, the second example clearly indicates that Paul defines an idolater as one who is intoxicated with immoral acts, greed and impurities of the mind, as opposed to bowing to statues. The Greek word from which "idolatry" was translated can mean worship of idols either literally or figuratively. Figuratively fits with the context of the rest of the scripture and especially in the preceding quote by Paul in which he states flatly that the acts of immorality, lust and impurity are idolatry. The idea here is that an idolater is one who lives their life for the purpose of pursuing bodily pleasures and other worldly desires. In effect, such a person worships these things and not God. This is true idolatry and has nothing to do with bowing to statues.

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