Reformed theology's standing on religious art?

[PresbyDane]

I know that we are not suppossed to make idols and those kind of things.
But what would Reformed theology allow and what are some of your private pieces of art?

 

[Backwoods Presbyterian]

Anything that does not depict the Godhead in any fashion is kosher.

 

[swilson]

Does not the commandment state that we are not to make images of anything on earth?

 

[Hamalas]

Does not the commandment state that we are not to make images of anything on earth?

"You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in the heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them for I the Lord your God am a jealous God," Exodus 20:4-5a (ESV) emphasis added.

The commandment prohibits making idols, regardless of what they look like. The key part of this passage is what is italized above, we are not to serve other masters. We know that making images of things other than God are acceptable, (provided they are not being worshiped of course), because of other passages where God commands His people to fashion images.

"And thou shalt make a candlestick of pure gold: of beaten work shall the candlestick be made: his shaft, and his branches, his bowls, his knops, and his flowers, shall be of the same. And six branches shall come out of the sides of it; three branches of the candlestick out of the one side, and three branches of the candlestick out of the other side: Three bowls made like unto almonds, with a knop and a flower in one branch; and three bowls made like almonds in the other branch, with a knop and a flower: so in the six branches that come out of the candlestick. And in the candlesticks shall be four bowls made like unto almonds, with their knops and their flowers."
Exodus 25:31-34 (ESV)

If you want a great brief treatment on this issue read Francis Schaeffers little book, Art and the Bible, it is one of the best that I have ever read on the subject!

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

Ditto to the Schaeffer recommendation. It is brief but excellent.

http://www.puritanboard.com/f15/reformed-aesthetic-13453/

 

[PresbyDane]

Thank you for the suggestions please come with more if you have any.

 

[py3ak]

I don't know of any adequate treatments of the subject. I hope it won't be too long before somebody does it better than Schaeffer did. I think an appreciation for art, a healthy appreciation for religion in general (a la Paul and Warfield) and an unswerving commitment to Christianity that is distinctively such would be prerequisites for giving the topic a proper treatment.

 

[discipulo]

Gene Edward Veith jr - State of the Arts ( a great word game on the title too) is very good.
Chapters Comprehending the Arts / Biblical Foundations / Christianity and the Arts
But it exhibits some paintings like El Greco Agony in the Garden, well...so did Schaeffer. and
Gene Edward Veith jr The Gift of Art - The Place of the Art in Scripture - very good too! (no images)

Link below to Mp3 Lectures by G E Veith
including What the Bible says about the Arts and A Christian Aesthetic
Monergism :: Gene Edward Veith, Jr.

 

[VirginiaHuguenot]

http://www.puritanboard.com/f29/complete-works-hans-rookmaaker-11855/
http://www.puritanboard.com/f29/art-gods-sake-call-recover-arts-15604/
http://www.puritanboard.com/f29/protestantisme-et-les-beaux-arts-18029/
http://www.puritanboard.com/f29/leon-wencelius-7565/
http://www.puritanboard.com/f18/rpw-music-wider-culture-36302/
http://www.puritanboard.com/f24/influence-calvinism-38883/

 

[discipulo]

Thank you so much Andrew
A lot of interesting material - and this one is particularly important to me!!!

Donald J. Bruggink and Carl H. Droppers, Christ and Architecture: Building Presbyterian/Reformed Churches.

Sorry Martin I was off topic here...I was carried away by the good

What do you exactly mean by private pieces of art?

I know that we are not suppossed to make idols and those kind of things.
But what would Reformed theology allow and what are some of your private pieces of art?

 

[Marrow Man]

If you want a great brief treatment on this issue read Francis Schaeffers little book, Art and the Bible, it is one of the best that I have ever read on the subject!

Thanks for the recommendation. I did find an online version of the book (with limited preview) here.

 

[PresbyDane]

Thank you so much Andrew
A lot of interesting material - and this one is particularly important to me!!!

Donald J. Bruggink and Carl H. Droppers, Christ and Architecture: Building Presbyterian/Reformed Churches.

Sorry Martin I was off topic here...I was carried away by the good

What do you exactly mean by private pieces of art?

I know that we are not suppossed to make idols and those kind of things.
But what would Reformed theology allow and what are some of your private pieces of art?

Well I have bible quotations and crosses (without Jesus) what are other examples of ok reformed art, and what do you own yourself.

 

[Zeno333]

Does not the commandment state that we are not to make images of anything on earth?

This brings up the early history of photography....some used that exact statement to say that the newly invented technology of photography was evil.
I do not agree, but it is an interesting part of the early history of photography.

 

[discipulo]

Well I have bible quotations and crosses (without Jesus) what are other examples of ok reformed art, and what do you own yourself.

I thought you meant favorite pieces of Art, well, we also have some Bible verses Hand made in Cloth and framed on the wall, also one carved in wood, but simple things really, like handcraft.
I must say I can appreciate some «sacred art» in a museum, but I wouldn't have it on my wall.

Here you can find available many portraits of Reformed historical figures, from several countries, some Bible Scenes (within keeping of the 2nd Commandment of course), free wall papers, etc.

reformationart.com

 

[No Longer A Libertine]

So basically Washington D.C is full of pagan temples, one to Washington, Jefferson and the most grandiose to Lincoln who is even seated on a throne!
FDR is seated in his monument as well albeit for a different reason.

I'm not being sarcastic, these are temples to the cult of personality.

 

[discipulo]

So basically Washington D.C is full of pagan temples, one to Washington, Jefferson and the most grandiose to Lincoln who is even seated on a throne!
FDR is seated in his monument as well albeit for a different reason.

I'm not being sarcastic, these are temples to the cult of personality.

In a master’s class in urbanism a Professor showed us how Washington urban design is filled with esoteric pagan free mason stuff - Pierre L'Enfant (the french Architect who designed W. DC) was a free mason of course, so were George Washington, Paul Revere, Benjamin Franklin....

These 2 videos are amazing, then there is also a huge number of sources and books on this.

Amazon.com: Secret Mysteries of America's Beginnings: The New Atlantis -- Volume 1: Christian J. Pinto: Movies & TV


I know, sorry, just to make this remark