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Graven Image
April 2, 2011

Modern Christianity seems to use the cafeteria approach when it comes to the Ten Commandments. When it is a tasty choice, the commandment is kept and taught, and when the choice is not palatable, the choice like an unsavory vegetable, is left ignored. Similarly, when it comes to understanding God, most people regardless of faith or religion, choose to understand God in terms that are palatable for them. These people can be heard referring to God as my God, as if they have made God in their own image and likeness, never realizing how contrary this is to the original intent. Man was created to be the image and likeness of God.

Genesis 1:26
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

When we allow ourselves to make God in our own image and likeness, we dangerously skirt the issue of making a graven image of God, something that God commands us not to do.

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:

Whoever it is that makes a graven image of God, limits the power of God. In many ways, what God can do for us is limited by us. It is when we seek God as God is that we begin to understand the power and majesty that is God, and it is at this point that God can show us his power.

Matthew 21:22
And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Whoever limits God by thinking of God as my God, limits God in their own life only to whatever conceptual limits the person has of God. The concept becomes a graven image as it is designed to replace God in the person�s mind. Instead, God shows us to have faith. It is with faith we can do all things. It is by faith we do not limit God; rather we acknowledge God not fully understanding all of his mysterious ways. It is when we are able to do this, that we can please him, as God is able to work with our mind and expand it beyond what is humanly possible to accept. So as we live our Christian lives, we must be careful to not limit God by not limiting him in terms of being our God. Rather we must acknowledge God without limitations. And as we do in faith, God will give to us what we ask of him.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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