For this issues about graven image and statue, we should
remember that there are verses saying to forbid and there are also verses
saying to create.
Graven Images Prohibition
Exodus 20: 4-5
4 "You shall not make for yourself an image in the form
of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5
You shall not bow down to them, nor worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am
a jealous God, punishing the children for the sins of the parents to the third
and fourth generation of those who hate me, "
More reference: Psalm 115, Rome 1: 20-23
So, it is clearly stated in the bible that graven image and
statue is forbidden according to the bible. But, not all graven image and
statue was forbidden because God also told to make in the book of Exodus. God
told to Moses to create 2 graven images of cherubim (Angel). Let us read the
scripture;
Exodus 25: 17-22
17 "Make an atonement cover of pure gold-two and a half
cubits long and a cubit and a half wide. 18 And make two cherubim out of
hammered gold at the ends of the cover. 19 Make one cherub on one end and the
second cherub on the other; make the cherubim of one piece with the cover, at
the two ends. 20 The cherubim are to have their wings spread upward,
overshadowing the cover with them. The cherubim are to face each other, looking
toward the cover. 21 Place the cover on the top of the ark and put in the ark
the tablets of the covenant law that I will give you. 22 There, above the cover
between the two cherubs that are over the ark of the covenant law, I will meet
with you and give you all my commands for the Israelites.
More reference: Numbers 21:7-9
So, it is not bad to make graven image or sculpture. It is
not absolutely forbidden, just never think it that it is God because God forbid
it if you think it wrong. One example is money, it is bad if you use it badly
as an example you use to hire people to kill someone, so, that is wrong to use.
But if you use the money to give in a poor people, you use the money to buy
foods in your family, you use the money to build a church, you cannot say it is
bad. So, having graven image or sculpture in the Church is not bad if you use
it correctly.
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