You provided the thread for my very Q!

I have listened to a sermon by Rev. Charles Biggs A God of the Word and in it he speaks of images/paintings of Christ. While he states there are to be no visible representations in our worship services, he makes a concession that in our world, if a person creates an image of the Christ or creates a cinematic representation (artistic) for a purpose that is not designed to teach (didactic) then we can say it is not a violation of the 2nd commandment. He states the WCF is concerned with the second of these, the didactic. Also, he uses Rembrandt as an example, asking "Rembrandt, are you painting the Christ for the purpose of teaching?" The answer is "No". Then, "Rembrandt, is the purpose for this for worship?" Again, "No." "Is then, the purpose for art?" "Yes". "Then, Rembrandt, I do not believe it is in violation of the 2nd commandment."

This is very confusing to me. Is it not true that any and every attempt is forbidden?

__________________
Donald P. Grubb
theol46@embarqmail.com

Berean Baptist Church, Mansfield, OH
Mansfield, OH

John 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing.
The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.