MilitaryBrat2007
Puritan Board Freshman
Greetings!
Obviously, we (Americans at least) have all probably seen the weird "Eye of Providence" of the American One-Dollar note (I'll attach an image). Even as a younger child, I always felt this image to be uncomfortable due to it's awkward depiction of God as a polygon and eye. I had attempted to find a discussion on this issue on Puritan Board, but I didn't see any posts fully related to the topic.
According to the government, "In his design of the seal’s reverse, [Charles] Thomson retained the pyramid with the Eye of Providence in a triangle at the zenith and, as products of his Latin scholarship, introduced the mottos Annuit Coeptis (He [God] has favored our undertakings) over the eye and Novus Ordo Seclorum (A new order of the ages) beneath the pyramid." So this is trying to make an image of our God.
You see examples of this image also in Romish paintings (Pontormo's Supper at Emmaus), and there also no doubt the "all seeing eye" has lots of freemasonic ties as well.
From Westminster:
Question 109
What are the sins forbidden in the second commandment?
The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, all devising, (Numb. 15:39) counselling, (Deut. 13:6–8) commanding, (Hosea 5:11, Micah 6:16) using, (1 Kings 11:33, 1 Kings 12:33) and any wise approving, any religious worship not instituted by God himself; (Deut. 12:30–32) the making any representation of God, of all or of any of the three persons, either inwardly in our mind, or outwardly in any kind of image or likeness of any creature whatsoever; (Deut. 4:15–19, Acts 17:29, Rom. 1:21–23,25) all worshipping of it, (Dan. 3:18, Gal. 4:8) or God in it or by it; (Exod. 32:5) the making of any representation of feigned deities, (Exod. 32:8) and all worship of them, or service belonging to them, (1 Kings18:26,28, Isa. 65:11) all superstitious devices, (Acts 17:22, Col. 2:21–23) corrupting the worship of God, (Mal. 1:7–8,14) adding to it, or taking from it, (Deut. 4:2) whether invented and taken up of ourselves, (Ps. 106:39) or received by tradition from others, (Matt. 15:9) though under the title of antiquity, (1 Pet. 1:18) custom, (Jer. 44:17) devotion, (Isa. 65:3–5, Gal. 1:13–14) good intent, or any other pretence whatsoever; (1 Sam. 13:11–12, 1 Sam. 15:21) simony; (Acts 8:18) sacrilege; (Rom. 2:22, Mal. 3:8) all neglect, (Exod. 4:24–26) contempt, (Matt. 22:5, Mal. 1:7,13) hindering, (Matt. 23:13) and opposing the worship and ordinances which God hath appointed. (Acts 13:44–45, 1 Thess. 2:15–16)
Even if this symbol isn't a depiction of the God of the Bible, then it is still depicting and venerating another foreign omnipresent deity.
All this lead to the question, if this image is a violation of the second commandment, then how should we as individuals react? Should we change our conduct at all (such as avoiding the use of such notes)?
Obviously, we (Americans at least) have all probably seen the weird "Eye of Providence" of the American One-Dollar note (I'll attach an image). Even as a younger child, I always felt this image to be uncomfortable due to it's awkward depiction of God as a polygon and eye. I had attempted to find a discussion on this issue on Puritan Board, but I didn't see any posts fully related to the topic.
According to the government, "In his design of the seal’s reverse, [Charles] Thomson retained the pyramid with the Eye of Providence in a triangle at the zenith and, as products of his Latin scholarship, introduced the mottos Annuit Coeptis (He [God] has favored our undertakings) over the eye and Novus Ordo Seclorum (A new order of the ages) beneath the pyramid." So this is trying to make an image of our God.
You see examples of this image also in Romish paintings (Pontormo's Supper at Emmaus), and there also no doubt the "all seeing eye" has lots of freemasonic ties as well.
From Westminster:
Question 109
What are the sins forbidden in the second commandment?
The sins forbidden in the second commandment are, all devising, (Numb. 15:39) counselling, (Deut. 13:6–8) commanding, (Hosea 5:11, Micah 6:16) using, (1 Kings 11:33, 1 Kings 12:33) and any wise approving, any religious worship not instituted by God himself; (Deut. 12:30–32) the making any representation of God, of all or of any of the three persons, either inwardly in our mind, or outwardly in any kind of image or likeness of any creature whatsoever; (Deut. 4:15–19, Acts 17:29, Rom. 1:21–23,25) all worshipping of it, (Dan. 3:18, Gal. 4:8) or God in it or by it; (Exod. 32:5) the making of any representation of feigned deities, (Exod. 32:8) and all worship of them, or service belonging to them, (1 Kings18:26,28, Isa. 65:11) all superstitious devices, (Acts 17:22, Col. 2:21–23) corrupting the worship of God, (Mal. 1:7–8,14) adding to it, or taking from it, (Deut. 4:2) whether invented and taken up of ourselves, (Ps. 106:39) or received by tradition from others, (Matt. 15:9) though under the title of antiquity, (1 Pet. 1:18) custom, (Jer. 44:17) devotion, (Isa. 65:3–5, Gal. 1:13–14) good intent, or any other pretence whatsoever; (1 Sam. 13:11–12, 1 Sam. 15:21) simony; (Acts 8:18) sacrilege; (Rom. 2:22, Mal. 3:8) all neglect, (Exod. 4:24–26) contempt, (Matt. 22:5, Mal. 1:7,13) hindering, (Matt. 23:13) and opposing the worship and ordinances which God hath appointed. (Acts 13:44–45, 1 Thess. 2:15–16)
Even if this symbol isn't a depiction of the God of the Bible, then it is still depicting and venerating another foreign omnipresent deity.
All this lead to the question, if this image is a violation of the second commandment, then how should we as individuals react? Should we change our conduct at all (such as avoiding the use of such notes)?
The Jews brought Jesus a coin with Ceasar's image on it, Mark 12:15,16,17, which was intended to represent his supposed divine status. Such coins typically had the inscription CAESAR AVGVSTVS DIVI PATER PATRIAE, or, Caesar Augustus the divine, father of the nation. Yet Jesus didn't take issue with that aspect of the coinage, or suggest it should necessarily be avoided. So, my thought is that while such representations on legal tender is unfortunate, I didn't make it, yet I am more or less constrained to use it in various capacities in order to function within the civil society which providence has placed me in. Others' consciences may dictate otherwise. 
