Can we draw pictures of God?

[South_FLA]

Looks like a polar bear in a blizzard eating vanilla ice cream out of a white bowl.

That actually made me laugh

 

[South_FLA]

I read this once:

Understanding our identity helps us begin to grasp the significance of the Father's heart for us. As this happens, it shapes our perspective of life in ways that are hard to imagine. It allows us to clearly see the truth of God's love. It also helps us look past the distortions of the brokenness that the realities of this world present to us.

God really showed me this several years ago, as I was trying to work with our godchildren on Scripture memory. Every Sunday morning, people from our simple church would come over for brunch, and we would spend time together. After brunch was over, I would pick a Bible verse and teach it to Jace and Gloriana. Jace was seven, and Gloriana was a very precocious four-year-old.

My goal in teaching them the verse each week was to go beyond Scripture memory and help them to discover the person behind the words. On this particular Sunday, I was teaching them one of my favorites: Proverbs 16:15. In the light of the king's face is life, And his favor is like a cloud of the latter rain. My main objective that week was to teach Jace and Glori the importance of seeking the face of God.

Jace was getting it pretty easily, but Gloriana was struggling a bit. I decided that maybe she would understand things easier if she could act it out, so I sent her about twenty feet down the hallway and asked her to stop and face me.

"Gloriana, look at me," I said. "Now what do you see?"

"Uhh, I see you, Uncle Brad."

"What else do you see?"

She frowned. "I see the sofa you are sitting on, and the window behind you."

She did not seem too enthusiastic about my object lesson. I had her walk about ten feet closer and then asked her the question again.
"Gloriana, what: do you see?"

This time she let out a little huff before she answered. "I see you, Uncle Brad."

"What else do you see?"

"The same things I saw before," she said. "I see the sofa and the window."

"Look closer, Gloriana," I said. "Can you see anything else?"

I could see her little eyes focusing as she started to notice details that she could not see from her original view. Now we were getting someplace.

My goal was for her to see that if she got closer to me, then she would be able to see me in more details. I had her come and stand right in front of my face. I was sure that this would help her to understand my point. Little did I know that she was getting ready to go beyond that and to teach me one of the most important lessons I have ever learned.

As she stood just a few inches away from my face, I repeated my instructions.

"Gloriana, look at me. Now what do you see"

As I have already stated, Gloriana was a precocious little four-year-old. As she opened her mouth to answer, I watched her facial expression change from the kind of exasperation a teenager trapped in a four-year-old's body would express at being asked the same question for a third time, into amazement and wonder.

"Gloriana, what do you see?"

"Ah!" she squeaked. "I see me! I see me!"

It took me a moment to figure out what she meant. Then it hit me. Glori was standing close enough to me that she was seeing her own reflection in my eyes. I think my spirit went into shock that morning as God used a child to teach me the lesson of a lifetime.

When we get close enough to God, not only are we changed from glory to glory as we behold His beauty, but we become free to see ourselves in His eyes. When we see ourselves in the eyes of His love, it is without all of the distortions and brokenness of this life.

When we determine to pursue God as a loving Father, with the confidence that we belong in His presence because we are His children, it will free us to get close enough to see ourselves in His eyes. Who you are in the Father's eyes is who you really are. Your experience in this world will try to convince you that you are guilty and condemned, but through His eyes, you are Holy and blameless before Him in love.

Ephesians 2:6 says that you are already "seated with Christ in the heavenly realms." We know that Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, which means that we are too. I believe that we were meant to live this life from the lap of our Father, drawing close to His heart, looking deep into His eyes.

Wow man that was amazing *wipes tear from eye*
Seriously though, that was good.

 

[Willie-T]

Wow man that was amazing *wipes tear from eye*
Seriously though, that was good.

Yeah, Brad's whole book, Culture of the Few, is chock full of excellent things like that.

 

[South_FLA]

In my art, I have never drawn a face, but I have depicted:

His hand or arm to represent how he carries us.
The bottom of his robe to show the woman touching it for healing.
As light.
The palm of his hand with my name written on it.

There is an old old picture showing Jesus in the garden with His face upturned to heaven. His hands are resting on each other upon a rock, and all is dark around him, but there is a light on his face- you can vaguely see the disciples sleeping in
the distance. For some reason, I like that one.

Do you feel that God has rebuked you for this? Just wondering because if "likeness" includes drawing than that's a sin.

 

[Depleted]

What I'm sayin is that these Christians I'm talking about said that Jesus literally showed himself as a man, along with his glory and qualities, even the holes in his hands, and he had long hair with a beard.

When we fixate on looks, but not action/substance, that is the sin.

 

[South_FLA]

When we fixate on looks, but not action/substance, that is the sin.

I agree that knowing God is wayyyyyy more about feeling than appearance. Often when I talk to God I look up at the sky and don't really think about a man.

 

[Chester]

Exodus 20:4 - Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:

Does this mean we can't draw pictures of God? I have seen people on this very website have drawn pictures of God as their profile pic so idk what to think really.

You quote Exodus 20:4 here: I have friends that take this to mean that we should not have likenesses of things like animals, fish, etc. in our homes. I don't think I agree with them, but it is what the verse says - "or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:"

If we say we should not draw pictures of God, what about angels (they are in "heaven above")? etc.

Unsure about all of this? Any good answers? I have been taught as well that I should not draw pictures of God?

 

[john832]

You quote Exodus 20:4 here: I have friends that take this to mean that we should not have likenesses of things like animals, fish, etc. in our homes. I don't think I agree with them, but it is what the verse says - "or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:"

If we say we should not draw pictures of God, what about angels (they are in "heaven above")? etc.

Unsure about all of this? Any good answers? I have been taught as well that I should not draw pictures of God?

Don't draw pictures of angels. How complicated is it when God simply says "don't do this"?

 

[Chester]

Don't draw pictures of angels. How complicated is it when God simply says "don't do this"?

What about drawing fish and animals?

 

[Joidevivre]

Do you feel that God has rebuked you for this? Just wondering because if "likeness" includes drawing than that's a sin.

Not at all - the drawing just makes everything more visual, and I am a visual person. I tune in way deeper than the artwork. It is the Word behind the drawing - it superimposes itself right over the drawing.

In fact, I felt strongly that the Holy Spirit encouraged me to draw what I have.

 

[john832]

What about drawing fish and animals?

Pretty simple instruction seems to me,

Don't make images of anything in heaven and don't make images of anything on earth or in the water for religious use.

 

[Chester]

Pretty simple instruction seems to me,

Don't make images of anything in heaven and don't make images of anything on earth or in the water for religious use.

"for religious use"? What do you mean by that?

Is it OK then to draw angels if we just use the pictures for something other than "religious use"? What about pictures of fish and animals in a Bible story book - is that "religious use"?

I am trying to figure out what people believe about this and why?

 

[oldethennew]

we are visual creatures, words create pictures for each of us on an individual basis,
according to how God has put us together...so, take what you have been given, IF'
you have been given', and allow others their joy in what their Saviour has allowed
them to see...

 

[ROSSELLA]

Exodus 20:4 - Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:

Does this mean we can't draw pictures of God? I have seen people on this very website have drawn pictures of God as their profile pic so idk what to think really.

This commandment is never (as far as I can remember) given without being coupled with some form of the next verse, which states "You shall not worship or serve them..."

I can't be 100% certain because humans can never be certain in their interpretation of certain verses, however, I think that because of the context, this was meant to restrain the creation of idols, not the outpouring of artistic expression. It's one thing to make a picture or carving, but it's another to take that picture or carving and worship it.


Some other things to take into consideration: When God ordered the Ark of the Covenant built, part of that design included two sculpted cherubim. Why would God order this if it was wrong to do so?

 

[South_FLA]

Not at all - the drawing just makes everything more visual, and I am a visual person. I tune in way deeper than the artwork. It is the Word behind the drawing - it superimposes itself right over the drawing.

In fact, I felt strongly that the Holy Spirit encouraged me to draw what I have.

Well that's good. So than drawing God can't be a sin.

 

[South_FLA]

This commandment is never (as far as I can remember) given without being coupled with some form of the next verse, which states "You shall not worship or serve them..."

I can't be 100% certain because humans can never be certain in their interpretation of certain verses, however, I think that because of the context, this was meant to restrain the creation of idols, not the outpouring of artistic expression. It's one thing to make a picture or carving, but it's another to take that picture or carving and worship it.


Some other things to take into consideration: When God ordered the Ark of the Covenant built, part of that design included two sculpted cherubim. Why would God order this if it was wrong to do so?

Perfect. So drawing nor sculpting is a sin. Just the worshipping part. I have not read about Noah's ark yet so that just made it clear.

 

[Chester]

This commandment is never (as far as I can remember) given without being coupled with some form of the next verse, which states "You shall not worship or serve them..."

I can't be 100% certain because humans can never be certain in their interpretation of certain verses, however, I think that because of the context, this was meant to restrain the creation of idols, not the outpouring of artistic expression. It's one thing to make a picture or carving, but it's another to take that picture or carving and worship it.


Some other things to take into consideration: When God ordered the Ark of the Covenant built, part of that design included two sculpted cherubim. Why would God order this if it was wrong to do so?

Excellent, clear, biblical post!

 

[ROSSELLA]

Excellent, clear, biblical post!

Thank you!

 

[ROSSELLA]

Perfect. So drawing nor sculpting is a sin. Just the worshipping part. I have not read about Noah's ark yet so that just made it clear.

Glad to help! The Ark of the Covenant's history is actually kind of fascinating. It's different than Noah's Ark, but a lot of the details are found in Exodus. God commanded it be built as a place of worship for Him. There are several long chapters that details the exact specifications, so we know pretty much how it looked, but the Ark itself was lost. It appears several times in the Bible. It was basically a place where God dwelled among the Israelites. Exodus 25 and 37 talk about it, although a lot of verses do and I'm not sure of all of them. It also reappears during David's reign, although I can't remember which book it is. I just finished reading a recap in 1 Chronicles of the incident which one of the Samuels goes into more detail about. I don't remember everything the Bible has to say on it, but I'd definitely recommend looking into it in your spare time.

 

[Angela53510]

I'm a Baptist, and part of our belief system is that we do not worship idols. So we don't put up pictures of Jesus or anyone else. Ok, we usually, but not always have a cross in our churches. But definitely no pictures of Jesus, or representations of the Father. (Occasionally a dove or two, I confess!)

That being said, I am finding some posters here driven to serious legalism. Like it is a sin to look at anything! That a Sunday School lesson with Jesus holding the children, would send both the teacher and the children to hell. Oh yes, and the publisher and the artist.

I do think the whole idea, is not to worship images. So, if God gives you a vision of himself, or even if you imagine it, and you did not worship the imagine, I can't see the harm. I know there are cults that go so far as to say, because we are made in God's image, we should have no pictures of people, period!

I think the OP has a sincere question. But the answer is to tell him to seek and worship God, in Spirit and in truth. And not to worry about externals. In fact, we should all be seeking God and who he is. Sometimes, words help me in that process. They can create an image of the character of God. You know, good and just. Holy and perfect and true, the omnis, etc. Do you think God will smite me, because I can remember in my mind those words, since I have an eidetic memory?

For that matter, images of God are out there. Look at the Sistine Chapel! Everyone has seen that painting on the roof. Even secular people use it as a reference point. So, we are going to retain certain images in our brains whether we want to our not. Just don't worship those images!