The Charge: Exodus 20:4 says, "You shall not make for yourself a graven image." But Catholics kneel before statues of Mary. Caught red-handed!
The Defense: Context matters.
1. God commanded statues
Five chapters later (Exodus 25), God commands Moses to make two golden statues of angels (Cherubim) for the Ark of the Covenant. Later, He commands a bronze serpent statue (Numbers 21). Did God contradict Himself? No. He forbade making images to be worshipped as gods (like the Golden Calf). He did not forbid religious art.
2. We don't worship them
Do you worship your grandmother because you have a picture of her on the mantel? Do you worship Lincoln because you visit the Lincoln Memorial? No. Images remind us of the person.
- We honor (venerate) the person represented.
- We worship (adore) God alone.
We kneel to pray to God or with the saint, not to the plaster.
3. The Incarnation Changed Everything
Before Jesus, God had no face. Making an image of Him was impossible. But Jesus is the "image of the invisible God" (Colossians 1:15). God BECAME visible. He took on a face. Therefore, we can paint Him. To deny religious art is, in a way, to deny the Incarnation.
Art lifts the soul. Explore the beautiful sacred art gallery on the MyPrayerTower app.