Several years ago, my daughter and I went to see a stage production of The Phantom of the Opera. It had been a favorite book of ours, and we had enjoyed the film version together at the theater and later on DVD. We had excellent seats and the musicians and actors were outstanding. As much as I enjoyed it though, the images I was seeing on stage were just not Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum whom I had "accepted" as "Erik" and "Christine" in my mind. The stage production just seemed to me to be a nice imitation. Well, OK, I realize that theater is all just an imitation of life, but this lesson sort of reveals the way it is with idols. We get a mental image of what God should be, and we construct Him according to that mental image. Another example might be those generic products at the store--whether it's crackers or soda or cereal, the generic brands just don't seem quite right. It works the same with God--any "representation" we might formulate, regardless of our motives, limits Him to a human idea, human craft, human manipulation. To venerate any representation--statue, crucifix, picture, etc.--is to limit God to a cheap imitation--the creation's creation.

I don't think God has anything against artistic renderings as long as they are kept in perspective. He, Himself commissioned the sculpting and weaving of cherubim, angels, trees, flowers and fruit for the adornment of the tabernacle and even the ark. I believe the concern lies in Exodus 20:5 which says, "You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God . . . ." The natural mind of man desires something of the same substance to which it can relate "naturally." The reality is that God is not natural, but supernatural, or perhaps a better term would be Spirit. In the words of Jesus, "God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).

A problem with idols, whether physical or mental is addressed by G. K. Beale in the book We Become What We Worship. "You eventually become like your idol. We have created idols after our own image. And that's exactly what we try to do with God, but we don't do it physically with wood or stone, but in a mental way." It's not hard to see this principle at work. Our children "idolize" the latest rock star, athlete, or actor. They not only want to dress like them and fix their hair in similar fashions, but they use their expressions of speech, imitate their walk, anything to become like the idol. The Bible tells us to "offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:1-2). The emphasis is on the unseen over what is seen, the godly and not the worldly.

There are some privileges that God has reserved for Himself alone. Perhaps He did not want images of Himself created because it was a part of His plan to do that Himself, because He sent us His image in His Son Jesus Christ. "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father  and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own.
Rather it is the Father living in me who is doing His work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name and I will do it. If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father and He will send you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth . . . Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.  On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, And I too will love him and show myself to him . . . If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him" (John 14:9b-23).

That is the image we should be seeking to become. It's not a work that can be done by the hands of man, but only by the will of God and by the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Lord, help me not to create idols or to worship the creation's creation, but let me be conformed into Your image and likeness. Amen.