There is nothing wrong with producing or enjoying religious art, per se. Viewing a painting of a biblical scene in an art gallery and admiring the artist’s technique cannot be considered idolatry. Having a picture of Jesus or of angels in one’s home may not be idolatry, either. Iconography can be studied as an art form, and icons can be viewed as fascinating examples of historical religious art. But using icons to aid one’s worship or viewing them as a “window to heaven” is definitely idolatry.
The Bible strictly forbids idolatry (Leviticus 26:1; Deuteronomy 5:9). God alone deserves to be bowed down to and worshiped. Icons are not intercessors before the throne of grace, and neither are the saints they represent. People in heaven do not have the power to hear our prayers or grant our requests. Only Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit can intercede for us before the Father (Romans 8:26–27, 34). We should stay as far away as we can from anything that could possibly lead to idolatry.
(W)hat about Jesus's facial features? They were Jewish. That Jesus was a Jew (or Judaean) is certain in that it is found repeated in diverse literature, including in the letters of Paul. And, as the Letter to the Hebrews states: "It is clear that our Lord was descended from Judah." So how do we imagine a Jew at this time, a man "about 30 years of age when he began," according to Luke chapter 3?
In 2001 forensic anthropologist Richard Neave created a model of a Galilean man for a BBC documentary, Son of God, working on the basis of an actual skull found in the region. He did not claim it was Jesus's face. It was simply meant to prompt people to consider Jesus as being a man of his time and place, since we are never told he looked distinctive.
(I)n the 20th century, Mormons often stayed away from anything that seemed "too Catholic or too Protestant," says LDS artist Brian Kershisnik, who has a studio in Kanosh. "There were certain things we didn't do because other people did."
Such concerns seem to be dissipating among LDS leaders and artists.
"Art can be a powerful teacher, even more so than the spoken word sometimes," says Gary E. Smith, an Alpine artist and founding member of the Mormon Belief and Art Movement in the 1960s. "It can stay with you, can inspire you over long periods of time."
"My work is very Mormon and very Catholic," says Kershisnik, whose giant oil painting "Nativity" was featured prominently at Brigham Young University. A print of it is hanging in a Roman Catholic church in Logan.
"My work is very Mormon and very Catholic," says Kershisnik, whose giant oil painting "Nativity" was featured prominently at Brigham Young University. A print of it is hanging in a Roman Catholic church in Logan.
Often we limit our apologetics to the printed media and critique the doctrines of Christian cults. But we do not apply discernment to art. Because of this, cultic depictions of Jesus and their unique doctrine in Bible Prophecy tends to be used by Christian ministries as representing Christian art.
We need to use discernment when it comes to what art is used to depict our Savior and the doctrines found in the Bible to make sure we do not inadvertently use illustrations from Christian cults that: preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough.
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