Does the Dove violate "graven images"??

[MarcoPolo]

*Luke 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. (KJV)*Is the Holy Spirit in “bodily shape” that is like a dove a violation of the command to not make graven images? Why or why not?

 

[FaithofAbraham]

Luke 3:22 And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. (KJV)Is the Holy Spirit in “bodily shape” that is like a dove a violation of the command to not make graven images? Why or why not?

Not if God makes it.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

For once, I’m completely in agreement with FaithofAbraham.

 

[FaithofAbraham]

Sure God also ordered cherubim for the Ark of the Covenant and other things. If God directly says to do it then it’s ok.

 

[Claire_from_DE]

That’s two in a row, we’re on a roll!

 

[MarcoPolo]

If God directly says to do it then it’s ok.

Too true! But philosophizing here on this concept… Should we then keep the Sabbath instead of the common Christian Sunday worship? Did Jesus directly say to worship on Sunday?

 

[snowfly]

Too true! But philosophizing here on this concept… Should we then keep the Sabbath instead of the common Christian Sunday worship? **Did Jesus directly say to worship on Sunday? **

No, and He didn’t say to have Confession boxes either, but He did pass on the Keys and Authority to Peter and his successors.

And the power to bind and loosen.

 

[FaithofAbraham]

Too true! But philosophizing here on this concept… Should we then keep the Sabbath instead of the common Christian Sunday worship? Did Jesus directly say to worship on Sunday?

Only Jews are required to observe Sabbath, there are only a few things of the Jewish law Gentiles need to do, stated in Acts 15. Aside from common sense things like not lying, murdering, etc.

 

[MarcoPolo]

Only Jews are required to observe Sabbath, there are only a few things of the Jewish law Gentiles need to do, stated in Acts 15. Aside from common sense things like not lying, murdering, etc.

I am confused, perhaps it would help if I stated my position. I don’t think the Dove is a violation of the “graven images” commandment either. But my reasoning differs from you. I don’t think it’s because these instances are merely exceptions of God breaking His own commands.

To understand this commandment, one must know about the idol-worship practices the Jews were engaged in at that time. They were doing things like making golden calves and worshipping the calf itself (Ex 32:4), among other carved idols. This command is in context with “Have no gods but me.” Simply making an image is not the sin. It is the worship of an idol as a god. The next sentence in that commandment: “You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God”.

So why is it not sinful when Moses created cherubim on the Ark? Or when Solomon carved cherubim in the Temple? Or Ezekiel’s awe of cherubim statues in his vision? It is because, unlike the calf, the physical form is not worshipped as another god.

If simply having images of things above or below the earth is sinful, then all images of deceased persons are sinful.

 

[FaithofAbraham]

So why is it not sinful when Moses created cherubim on the Ark? Or when Solomon carved cherubim in the Temple? Or Ezekiel’s awe of cherubim statues in his vision? It is because, unlike the calf, the physical form is not worshipped as another god.

If simply having images of things above or below the earth is sinful, then all images of deceased persons are sinful.

I’m not entirely sure. Maybe we aren’t supposed to have images at all unless God tells us. Without images there would be no porn and a lot of other bad things. So I’m undecided about this.