The 1959 movie Ben-Hur was one of the first epic Christian films. One of the most notable differences modern viewers notice is that unlike contemporary biblical movies and programs, such as The Chosen and The Passion of the Christ, Ben-Hur intentionally chose not to depict the character of Jesus directly in the film.
Because many Christians today have grown accustomed to seeing Jesus depicted by actors, in paintings, and in drawings, many are surprised to find out that there are Christians who object to depicting Jesus and even consider it idolatry.
Images and Idolatry
One of the clearest statements about making images of Jesus comes from the Westminster Larger Catechism, which states:
“The sins forbidden in the second commandment are … the making of any representation of God, of all or of any of the three persons, either inwardly in our mind, or outwardly in any kind of image or likeness of any creature whatsoever.”
Importantly, the catechism makes clear that it is not only forbidden to make images of God outwardly but also to avoid making representations of God “inwardly in our mind.”
While this understanding of idolatry and making images of God sounds strange to modern ears, it is important to realize that this view of idolatry was mainstream for Protestants even into the mid-twentieth century.
Early Church Roots
One of the earliest reflections on idolatry comes from the late second-century writer Tertullian. At a time when Christians were immersed in pagan ways of thinking about God and idolatry, Tertullian wrote his famous work On Idolatry.
Tertullian begins by defining idolatry as something deeper than what is commonly observed. Idolatry is not simply bowing down to crass statues and pillars, but it is also spiritual and rooted in the heart.
“For even without an idol, idolatry can be committed; and when the idol is there, it makes no difference of what kind it be, whether of what material, or of what shape.”— Tertullian, On Idolatry, Chapter 3
In other words, Tertullian highlights that idolatry does not require wood or stone, but it is a matter of the heart, even when a physical idol is not present.
But Doesn’t That Only Apply to Worship?
However, many people ask: Isn’t the Second Commandment only dealing with worshiping images? Can’t we think about Jesus or depict him in film, so long as we are not worshiping those images?
While this question is not without some strength, it raises difficult questions as well. Can we really divide the making of images of God and Christ from worship? And does Scripture make the distinction between the making and worshiping of images?
Tertullian pushes back strongly against this distinction. He says:
“God prohibits an idol as much to be made as to be worshipped.”— Tertullian, On Idolatry, Chapter 4
His point is that it is impossible to have idolatry without first making an idol. Tertullian continues:
“All things, therefore, does human error worship, except the Founder of all Himself. The images of those things are idols; the consecration of the images is idolatry.”— Tertullian, On Idolatry, Chapter 4
Simply put, Tertullian rightly points out that Scripture forbids the making of idols just as it forbids their worship, which is idolatry. In fact, both are explicitly prohibited in the second commandment.
Idols are warned against in verse 4 of Exodus 20:
“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or 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.”
While verse 5 prohibits idolatry:
“You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the LORD your God am a jealous God.”
It is because of this commandment that Moses later warns Israel, saying:
“Therefore watch yourselves very carefully. Since you saw no form on the day that the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the midst of the fire, beware lest you act corruptly by making a carved image for yourselves.” (Deut. 4:15, 16)
Moses was not just warning about idolatry—worshiping and consecrating an idol—he was warning against even the making of an idol.
How Does This Apply Today?
So how should Christians think about images of Jesus today? Here are four helpful ways to approach images of Christ in our modern context.
First, we should not rely too heavily on the worship versus making-idol distinction. As Tertullian highlighted, the line between the making of idols and the worship of idols is difficult to maintain, and in practice it is easy for the human heart to drift toward worship unintentionally.
Second, we need to be discerning about how we interact with depictions of Jesus. Movies like The Passion of the Christ and shows like The Chosen have made us accustomed to seeing portrayals of Christ. However, Christians should thoughtfully ask questions about these depictions.
Can these depictions ever truly portray what Jesus was like, given that he was truly divine as well as truly human? Do we risk depicting Jesus as we would prefer him to be, rather than appreciating how Scripture describes him? What do we do with passages like Deuteronomy 4, which explicitly caution against depicting God? Can we do things with good intentions, while unintentionally undermining explicit biblical commands?
These questions help us become more discerning in how we approach modern depictions of Jesus that often go unquestioned.
Third, we should lean into the ways God has already given us to “see” Christ in the Lord’s Supper.
Jesus said:
“This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”“This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Cor. 11:24–25)
When we are tempted to make images of Jesus, even in our minds, we are invited by Christ to remember him through bread and wine. Jesus gave us these visible signs as a way to “see” and remember him, and Scripture places no restrictions on them.
Lastly, we need to remember that God does not merely address external behavior in the Ten Commandments. God’s commandments are spiritual. We recognize this in commandments concerning murder and adultery and rightly speak against sinful anger and lust. But we also need to remember that the second commandment, like all the commandments, addresses our thoughts, minds, hearts, and desires as well.
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When it comes to images of Jesus, we may find ourselves relying more on instinct and cultural familiarity than on careful biblical and theological reflection.
My hope is that we would recapture a deeper reverence for who Jesus is and what he has done, and that we would seek to honor him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, especially in a culture like ours that is driven more and more by images.
