Ten Commandments (1972)_b.pdf - Herbert W. Armstrong

38 The Ten Commandments
"Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor seroe
them."
So it is the use of art or sculpture as a form of worship
or "aid" to worship that God condemns!
The real basis of all idolatry is that self-willed,
rebellious man refuses to SURRENDER himself to worship
the true God in the way that He commands! Not really
KNOWING the true God, then, nor having His Spirit, man
thinks he needs some "aid" or "representation" to help
him worship his humanly devised concept of God. Notice
that this second commandment is not speaking of the
worship of an idol - that's forbidden in the first
commandment. This second commandment forbids the
use of physical "aids" or "helps" in worshiping the invisible
God.
A Converted Person KNOWS God
No man who really knows God as his Father
no man who is living in daily communion with Him ­
needs a picture or image to help him to pray. If a man
thinks he needs this kind of help, it is simply because he
has not come to know God - and undoubtedly is not filled
with and led by the Holy Spirit of God. In order to worship
God in Spirit, you must have the Holy Spirit. "Now if any
man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his" (Rom. 8:9).
But God gives His Holy Spirit only after repentance
and baptism - and only to those who "OBEY Him" (Acts
2:38; 5:32). Very few men in this day and age have truly
surrendered themselves to obey God, to walk with Him, to
let Him RULE their every thought and word and action.
Therefore, they are not actually acquainted with God. He
seems far off - unreal - nebulous. They need a physical
"reminder" in front of them to help them realize that He
exists and is there to hear their prayers!
This very practice proves the lack of real spiritual
worship - and it comes directly from PAGANISM!
Pictures of Jesus
Thousands of professing Christians employ representations
in pictures of a so-called Jesus Christ in their