Approaching the West — Page 164
A pproaching the West—164 The Second Commandment also emphasizes the Unity of God. Thou shalt not make 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 waters beneath the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, not serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the inequity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love Me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:4-6, Deuteronomy 5:8-10) The Jews upheld this commandment, but the early Christians took a departing turn and proclaimed that God Himself broke this commandment by appearing in the shape of a man. Apostle Paul wrote, Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. (Philippians 2:5- 7) Throughout the centuries, the Christians have graven images of Jesus believing him as Divine and they bow themselves to his image without any restraint.