Some people think that any picture or statue is an idol (Exodus 20; Deuteronomy 5) and so refuse to allow statues of biblical heroes or pictures of Jesus in their churches. Is that the case? What does the commandment against idolatry really mean? It does say not to make an image of anything in heaven, on earth or in the water. However, it also says not to bow down to them. Can we look elsewhere for an answer? Yes we can. We may notice that the mercy seat was covered by two statues of cherubs, images of things in heaven. We may also notice that the tent covering the tabernacle contained pomegranates embroidered into its fine tapestry. Those are images of things on earth. The difference is that those statues and pictures were not worshiped. Nobody bowed down to them.
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