Question with 8 notes
Anonymous asked: I have been wanting to ask this for some time. I am almost positive, as I was raised Christian and absolutely hated it, that somewhere in the bible it says somewhere along the lines of: one must not picture or try to put a face to Jesus or to Heaven or hell. Also that one must not "disfigure" the body by whatever force of nature i.e tattoos. I only ask because I see so many hypocrites who get tattoos of Jesus, of angels stabbing a demon or "the devil". Am I correct or crazy?
Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
Leviticus 19:28
Of course many modern Christians will write off Leviticus as being part of the old laws, it is part of the same book that condemns homosexuality, mixed fabrics, and planting two types of seeds next to each other. The problem is it is also the only place in the bible that condemns bestiality and selling one’s daughter in to prostitution. If a Christian is to say that those laws no longer apply and that it is okay with god they may be saying more than they intend to. Of course a well equipped Christian will find excuses to justify whatever they really want regardless of the actual words of the bible.
According to the bible no one is able to see the face of god and live, Exodus 33:20 says “But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.” Also in Exodus 20:4 god supposedly commands “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.” In context though it seems to be condemning making idols of other things and worshiping other things since god goes in to his ramble about being a jealous god and not wanting anyone to worship anything or anyone but him. (Polytheism much? I think so.)
Jesus was (supposedly) a real person so to the best of my knowledge there aren’t any issues with people seeing the face of Jesus. There is of course the whole “worshiping idols” issue but that doesn’t seem to phase people much. If anything idols seem to be one of the foundations of Christianity. If it wasn’t for the countless crucifixes and images of a meek and mild Jesus giving us doe eyes Christianity wouldn’t likely have the popular status it enjoys.