Images of Corruption

And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. - Romans 1:23

    All of these things are prevalent today as symbols, signs, and reminders of God and religion. Pictures of a man called Jesus, pictures and statues of saints, crosses, doves of peace flying in front of flames of fire, Easter bunnies, chickens, egg hunts, and bumper stickers of a fish to indicate that the driver is a Christian.

    The glory of our God, essential to himself, cannot, is not, and must not be reduced to such images and idols. "But," we are reminded, "these are not idols; these are symbols and signs to remind us of God and spiritual things."

    They are idols! and if permitted or encouraged, with the passing of time, these symbols (like Moses' serpent of brass in 2 Kings18:4) become more prominent and important than what they are supposed to represent.

    The Lord gave us the bread and wine to remember his body and blood given for us. But these elements once eaten and drunk are gone and we see not them, but him. The Lord gave us the ordinance of baptism and "All of us who have been baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death; therefore, we are buried with him by baptism into death" (Romans 6:3-4). And having confessed our Lord in believer's baptism, we are done with the water and we live by faith upon him. "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry" (1 Cor. 10:14).