Here is an interesting question for you. Does the Mel Gibson movie violate the 2nd Commandment? In the NKJV, it goes like this: You shall not make for yourself a carved image-any likeness of anything that is in 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 nor serve them.

Certainly film is not a carved image, but it is an image, and an image of God in this instance. I do not know if anyone will worship the image of Christ in the movie, but I do not think I could rule it out. Regardless, there is a prohibition of making an image. God intended Israel to have an "imageless" worship, according to the Geneva Bible.

Isaiah 40:18 says To whom then will you liken God? Or what likeness will you compare to Him?

Deuteronomy 4:15-16 says Take careful heed to yourselves, for you saw no form when the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, lest you act corruptly and make for ourselves a carved image in the form of any figure: the likeness of male of female, the likeness of any animal that is on the earth or the likeness of any winged bird that flies in the air, the likeness of anything that creeps on the ground or the likeness of any fish that is in the water beneath the earth.

Baptists through the years have criticized Roman Catholics for their statues and images. Most Baptist churches have one or two themselves. Notable is the picture of the golden blonde Jesus facing slightly left. Also famous in the painting of Jesus knocking on the door to remind of the most abused passage in the Bible.

There is also a popular stained glass window of Jesus carrying the lost sheep, and some of him simply looking out with arms outstretched as if to say did you not read the Old Testament?

Well, I am not sure. Tell me what you think. You can e-mail me at larry_thompson_ada@yahoo.com.

No pictures please.