The Second Commandment

The Second Commandment states, "Thou shalt not make unto thee 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 water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself to them nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the father 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."

Whenever I've read this commandment I've taken it very simply to mean we're not supposed to make statues to bow down to and that God will punish those who disobey. However, His mercy and blessing on those who do obey is far greater and continues long after the punishment He gives to those who hate Him.  The assembly who wrote the Catechism document had a more insightful conclusion than that though.  In answering the questions "What is required in the second commandment?" and "What is forbidden in the second commandment?" they infer that we are to keep worship pure.  They conclude like me, that this command forbids the worshipping images, but are quick to clarify that this command also forbids trying to worship the true living God through any images as well.  

So here's some questions in light of those conclusions. How do we justify pictures of Jesus hanging in our homes or in the children's nursery at our church buildings?  Why do people have statues of Mary on their lawns?  Why do many churches around the world have carved, sculpted or stain glass images of saints, Jesus, and other things in heaven and earth throughout their sanctuaries or worship?       

The reformed view of worship uses the second commandment to teach that worship should only be done in a way that has been commanded in God's word.  The typical non-reformed view of worship says that worship can be what God commanded, plus anything that is not specifically forbidden.  Reformed view would argue that if something wasn't specifically commanded to be done in worship, than essentially it is forbidden.  The reasoning is that God's word is sufficient as it was given.  Man always comes up with creative new ways to commit the same basic sin.  There wouldn't be a book big enough to write out example of worship that man would scheme that would be considered forbidden, therefore the we need only to measure any ideas we have for worship against the basic instructions He has already given. 

A few more questions.  Is drama or video appointed in God's word as a manner of worship?  If so, to what extent?  Is speaking in tongues, and if so to what extent?  What about special garments for church leaders to wear during a worship gathering (notice I said church leaders, not temple priests of the Old Testament)?  What is the more "biblical" instrument to use in worship music, organ or guitar?   

In age where many churches are trying to be on the cutting edge of programming and presentation, churches that stick to the prescribed manners of worship found in the Bible might have an inferiority complex.  G.I. Williamson addresses that by saying, " what could be more wonderful than to receive from the Lord Himself a sure knowledge of the way that He would be worshipped?"  But he also warns, "we must not assume that God is pleased with us just because we have a "pure" form of worship?"  The condition of the heart is what God has constantly had to remind His people about.  He may be more pleased with the "wrong" form of worship from someone who is broken and in awe before Him, than from someone who has the "right" form but a proud heart.  

May we strive to worship in a manner that externally matches what God's Word prescribes, and internally comes to God with sincere and contrite hearts.  All by the power of the Holy Spirit and through the interceding work of Jesus Christ.

The First Commandment

In the First Commandment God says, "You shall have no other gods before me." G.I. Williamson points out that this commandment demands that before we try to understand the proper manner, attitude or time of worship (which the subsequent commands address), we need to be certain that the object of our worship is in fact the one, true, living God. That's why God gave this as the first commandment. All the other commandments can't be properly followed if this one isn't kept. One might think that if they're worshiping God by the right name then they've got the first commandment taken care of.  However, someone might say that they believe in the God of Abraham and that Jesus is their "personal Lord and Savior", meanwhile their careers, material possessions or even the idol of self might really be on the throne of their lives instead of God.  That is a less blatant way that we can have other gods before the Lord.  Yet, there is still another way we can end up worship another god.  A way that is even less detectable on our sin radars.

The first commandment requires that we know the true and living God, as He really is.  It is not just about getting His name right and it is not just about making sure that the other things in our life don't get first place.  We have to accept and worship God based on how He has revealed Himself, not according to how we think He should be.  Otherwise, we set ourselves up to worship a god that we've created.  Here's an example.  Someone says they are a Christian,  and they embrace a Jesus that loves and forgives, but don't accept that He is the same God who deems sin punishable by death and who unleashed His wrath in terrifying ways like with Sodom and Gomorrah.   In this scenario not only is the person rejecting that God is a God of justice (which is clearly revealed in His Word), they are also diminishing the extent of His grace and mercy displayed in sending Christ by sparing His believers of the punishment their sin deserved and taking it on Himself.  

Another example.  A person identifies themselves religiously as a Christian, but they think that all religions worship the same God in different ways and that all paths lead to eternal life.  This completely contradicts what Jesus said about being the only Way, Truth and Life and that no one comes to the Father except through Him and on His terms.  Freemasonry supports an idea similar to this where their idea of a god is concerned.  They try to get away from God's distinct identity and instead exalt their own conception of a less distinct and more unitarian concept of a "supreme being," all in the name of brotherhood between people of various religions.  Thus, they are worshiping a god that they have created, breaking the first commandment. Regardless of whether a freemason names Jesus, they are not truly worshipping the one, true, living God.    Furthermore, the idea of a secret society does not jive with the great commission which calls us to openly and clearly proclaim the free gift of grace that is salvation through Christ's completed work on the cross.  

In my mind there's a difference between rejecting certain truths about God and being ignorant of something about Him.  The thief on the cross who placed His faith in Christ as the Saviour probably didn't know that Jesus was born of a virgin.  That's fine, he didn't have to know that to be saved.  But if someone rejects this truth about Christ's incarnation, then they are rejecting part of God's Word and worshiping an invented savior who was only a man and wouldn't have been capable of truly redeeming creation.

May we worship God as He has revealed Himself in His Word and resist any temptation to try and customize and package Him into someone He isn't.  One of the hardest times to resist this temptation is when you are in a position of sharing your faith with another person.  A person might be interested in a spiritual life, and may really like what they hear about Jesus in some ways, but there are certain things about God that you know they will not like and you think it might keep them from accepting Jesus in that moment.  Instead of sticking with the truth, you leave certain things out or adjust things to fit the god that those people want to accept.  People can't be saved by a false god, no matter how similar he may be to the true, living God.  So don't be ashamed of God and His Word when you have a chance to testify on His behalf (remember Luke 9:26).  

Finally, if you are a part of planning and leading worship, remember that we need to remember and proclaim God in all the ways He has revealed Himself through His Word, don't leave things vague, help people to know Him as He really is, leaving no room for the enemy to lead people into worshiping a god that is not the Lord.  To Him alone be the glory and honor and praise.