Image: Adobe Stock – Anat art
How the desire for visible faith alienates us from the invisible – a call to repentance in an age of image overload. By Ellen White
No matter how hard an artist tries to depict things he has never seen with his own eyes, his works fall miles 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 really be reproduced by human art. If God had seen fit to depict Jesus in this way, he would have described exactly what he looked like through the apostles. 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. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not take hold of it … This was the true light, which enlightens every man who comes into the world … And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:1-14) – Manuscript Relases 15, 105.6
The image in the heart
We do not need external representations of Jesus. Our thoughts, our imagination, should be filled with the One who came from the Father – full of grace and truth. He is beautiful in all his ways, surpassing all that the eye can see or man can imagine (Song of Songs 5:10). – Ibid. 107.1
Cross outside – Jesus buried
Catholics decorate their churches, altars and vestments with crosses. The sign of the cross can be seen everywhere; it is outwardly honored and elevated. But under all the outward symbols lie the actual teachings of Jesus buried – suffocated 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 set up images of Jesus, the apostles and the Virgin Mary as objects of worship. But although they display the symbol of the cross, they completely lack the spirit of the one who really bore the cross. – Letters and Manuscripts 4, Manuscript 55, 1886
Heavenly things without images?
Should we not seriously consider whether we really need to illustrate our books so heavily? Perhaps our thoughts would get a clearer, truer picture of angels, of Jesus and of spiritual things if we did not confine them with pictures. Many of these images are in truth far removed from what really is. And don’t they convey a false message? We want to be truthful in everything we share about Jesus. But many of these pathetic portrayals – in books or magazines – are simply deceiving the public. – Manuscript Releases 15, 114.3
Flood of images and silent idols
I have been shown something that I need to correct. In my own home, too, more and more pictures have accumulated. I see the same thing in almost every house I enter. Is the Lord behind this? Doesn’t the second commandment (Exodus 20) forbid this rampant image-making? If we do not consciously repent, this flood of images will continue to grow – and God’s people will become idolaters unnoticed.
So what is to be done? I have come to understand that spending so much money on photos and images is a kind of idolatry. This money should actually be spent on missionary work – instead of on pictures that don’t really get us anywhere.
I made the decision for myself to no longer displease God in this matter. In this time of trial and upheaval, I recommend everyone to study the words that Moses was supposed to say to the people back then. Then there would not be people in the “courts of the temple”, i.e. in spiritual responsibility, who weave their personal vanities into the sacred and burn with secular fire instead of being inspired by God himself. May the Holy Spirit of the Lord touch our hearts and awaken our minds. For it is often the seemingly small, trivial things that bind our attention – precisely when our hearts should actually be fully focused on God. – Manuscript Releases 15, 115.2-4
Without an image and yet visible
The distinguishing mark of Christianity is not an external symbol – not a cross, not a crown – but what really shows that a person lives in connection with God. The world is to be convinced by the power of his grace – by the visible transformation of character. No other influence has so much power on the soul as the example of a selfless life. The strongest argument for the gospel is a Christian who is loving – and whom you simply have to like. – Ministry of Healing, 470
Source: hoffnung-weltweit.info
