Graven Images

Years ago, while visiting in Kolkata, India, I passed through a narrow alley tightly packed with small workshops. These shops were a beehive of skilled artisans noisily hammering metals, carving wood, and pouring plaster casts to make idols. And after they were colorfully decorated, the figures were worshiped by millions of Hindus in the city.

In the first commandment, God calls his people to worship him alone. In the next commandment, God forbids the making and worshiping of idols or of any representations of himself for worship. God abhors idols, and he warns that people who keep worshiping them will be punished. Seeing idols should fill us with sorrow and compassion for the people who worship them, and this should prompt us to share with them about the one true God and Savior of us all.

Now, if we don’t worship idols crafted by artisans, does that mean we can lightly skip over the second commandment? No—this commandment also deals with how we worship the one true God.

And how do we rightly worship God? Jesus explained that we “must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” This means we are called to worship God by acknowledging him as the Creator of heaven and earth and by following his Son, Jesus. We worship God by gathering to hear and obey his Word. We worship God by loving and serving people who are made in his image—that is, everyone.