Picture: Adobe Stock – Anat art
How the desire for visible faith alienates us from the invisible – a call to conversion in the age of the flood of images. By Ellen White
An artist may try as hard as they can to depict things they’ve never seen with their own eyes, but their works fall far short of reality. It hurts my heart when I see such depictions. Neither God nor heaven—not even Christ, the image of the Father—can truly be represented by human art. If God had thought it worthwhile to depict Jesus in this way, he would have used the apostles to describe exactly what he looked like. Instead, John shows us who Jesus is—not with colors, but with words:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it… This was the true light, which enlightens everyone who comes into the world… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1,1:14) Manuscript Releases 15, 105.6
The picture in the heart
We don’t need external representations of Jesus. Our thoughts, our imaginations, should be filled with the One who came from the Father—full of grace and truth. He is beautiful in all his ways, transcending everything the eye can see or man can imagine (Song of Solomon 5,10:107.1). – Ibid. XNUMX
Cross outside – Jesus buried
Catholics decorate their churches, altars, and vestments with crosses. The sign of the cross is seen everywhere; it is outwardly honored and exalted. But beneath all these outward symbols lie the true teachings of Jesus—smothered under mountains of empty traditions, false interpretations, and strict demands. Spirit of Prophecy 4, 384
These religious people display the cross of Jesus everywhere and place images of Jesus, the apostles, and the Virgin Mary as objects of veneration. But although they display the symbol of the cross, they completely lack the spirit of the One who truly bore the cross. Letters and Manuscripts 4, Manuscript 55, 1886
Heavenly without pictures?
Shouldn’t we seriously consider whether we really need to illustrate our books so heavily? Perhaps our minds would form a clearer, more truthful picture of angels, of Jesus, and of spiritual things if we didn’t limit them with images. Many of these depictions are, in truth, far removed from what is real. And aren’t they thereby conveying a false message? We want to be truthful in everything we convey about Jesus. But many of these pathetic depictions—in books or magazines—are simply a deception of the public. Manuscript release 15, 114.3
Flood of images and silent idols
I was shown something I need to correct. Even in my own home, more and more images have accumulated. I see the same thing in almost every house I enter. Is the Lord behind this? Doesn’t the Second Commandment (Exodus 2) forbid this rampant image-making? If we don’t consciously repent, this flood of images will continue to grow—and God’s people will inadvertently become idolaters.
So what should we do? I’ve come to understand that spending so much money on photos and images is a kind of idolatry. This money should actually be going toward missionary work—not into images that don’t really help us.
I have made the decision for myself to no longer displease God in this matter. In this time of trial and upheaval, I recommend everyone to carefully study the words that Moses was to speak to the people. Then there wouldn’t be people in the “courts of the temple,” that is, in spiritual positions of responsibility, who weave their personal vanity into the holy and burn with secular fire instead of allowing themselves to be inspired by God himself. May the Holy Spirit of the Lord touch our hearts and awaken our minds. For it is often precisely the seemingly small, unimportant things that capture our attention—precisely when our hearts should actually be completely focused on God. Manuscript release 15, 115.2-4
Without a picture and yet visible
The identifying mark of Christianity is not an outward symbol—no cross, no crown—but that by which one truly sees that a person lives in union with God. The world is to be convinced by the power of His grace—by the visible transformation of character. No other influence has as much power over the soul as the example of a selfless life. The strongest argument for the gospel is a Christian who is loving—and whom one simply cannot help but love. Ministry of Healing, 470
