JOSEPH W. TKACH
PASTOR GENERAL

December 1987

Dear Friend:

You asked whether it is right to have pictures or statues of Christ.

The Second Commandment prohibits the use of anything which represents God or could easily become an object of worship: "Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth" (Ex. 20:4). Since Jesus Christ is God (Heb. 1:8), this would directly prohibit any picture or likeness of His person.

In addition, so-called pictures or statues of Christ have no similarity whatever to the way Jesus Christ really looked. Christ inspired the apostle Paul to write: "Doth not even nature [the inborn quality of a man as contrasted to that of a woman] itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?" (I Cor. 11:14). Yet, these pictures invariably show a man with long hair, soft feminine features, and a sentimental, sanctimonious look in his eyes. This is NOT the Christ of your Bible.

Jesus was undoubtedly very masculine in appearance. As a young man, He was a carpenter -- working outdoors (Mark 6:3). In fact, He continued to spend most of His time outdoors even during His ministry. He was not womanish in appearance, but rather had short hair like a man should have.

Christ inspired the prophet Isaiah to describe His human appearance in this way: "For he [Jesus] shall grow up before him [the Father] as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him" (Isa. 53:2). As a human being, Jesus was a normal, healthy, perhaps somewhat "outdoorsy"-looking young Jew.

Therefore, most crucifixes, pictures, and images of Jesus are in total opposition to every description given of Him in the sacred Word of God. They give a false impression of the true Jesus Christ in every respect.

If we think of Jesus' appearance at all, we should think, in general terms at least, of the way He looks today. He inspired John to describe His present appearance in these words: "His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire" (Rev. 1:14). Christ, through John in the book of Revelation, tells us that His overall countenance is as the sun shining in its full strength (Rev. 1:16).

Thank you for your inquiry. We appreciate the opportunity to assist you with your study of the Bible.

PERSONAL CORRESPONDENCE DEPARTMENT