Tuesday, March 22, 2022

Martin Chemnitz (1522-1586) on the Allowance of Images if they are Not Given Worship/Adoration

  

9 These things about the worship of images are clear from the law of God. There are, however, those who contend that this law simply prohibits not only the worship and adoration, but also images themselves. For they make two distinct parts of this law, the first of which simply forbids the making of images, while the other forbids adoring and worshiping them once they have been made. But in Lev. 26:1 the text of the law is stated in such a way as to show that what is forbidden is to make or set up images for adoration or for worship. It says: “You shall make for yourselves no idols and erect no graven image or pillar, and you shall not set up a figured stone in your land, to bow down to them.” And Scripture itself shows that the making and use of images, if they are not set up for adoration and worship, is not simply forbidden. For to set up figured stones for adoration is prohibited (Lev. 26:1). But Jacob (Gen. 28:18-22) set up a stone for a token as a memorial or reminder of something that had happened, and poured oil on it. And in Joshua 4:1 ff. the Lord commanded to lay down and erect 12 stones, that they might be a sign for a memorial or reminder of the history of their passing through Jordan. Joshua also, when he was about to die, set up a great stone under the oak in the sanctuary of the Lord, that it might be a witness of the covenant made with the Lord (Joshua 24:26-27). Samuel also erected a stone, as a memorial of divine help against the Philistines, and called its name “Stone of help” (1 Sam. 7:12).

 

An outstanding example is found in Joshua 22. When the two and a half tribes had built an altar, the other Israelites, thinking that this had been done for worship, declared war against them. However, then the former showed that they had built this altar, not for sacrifice, but for a testimony and a memorial of history, the children of Israel approved this and praised the Lord.

 

Yes, God Himself commands (Ex. 25:18 ff.) that two golden cherubim should be made, on both sides of the mercy seat. And God Himself there shows that the cherubim were images of some winged form, for He says: “The cherubim shall spread out their wings above, overshadowing the mercy seat with their wings, their faces one to another; toward the mercy seat shall the faces of the cherubim be.” And of all the works of the tabernacle, to which also the cherubim belong, the Lord says, Ex. 31:3-4: “I have filled Bazaleel with the Spirit of the Lord, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftmanship, to devise artistic designs to work in gold, silver, and bronze.” Also Solomon , for the purpose of adorning the house of the Lord (1 Kings 7:16 ff.;  Chron. 3:15 ff.), made the capitals of the pillars fashioned like lilies; he made pomegranates; under the molten sea he made 12 oxen; on their bases he formed lions, oxen, and cherubim; on the panels he carved cherubim; lions, and palms. Also on the garment of the high priest there were pomegranates formed of gold (Ex. 39:24).

 

In Num. 21:8 the Lord commands Moses to make a bronze serpent and set it up for a sign. It is certain, however, that this serpent was a type of Christ (John 3:14-15). And for a memorial of this history, which had happened in the desert, that brazen serpent was preserved among the children of Israel for more than 700 years; and until the misuse of worship and adoration arose, they did not judge that they were sinning against the Law (Ex. 20:4) by preserving this image. However, then they began to burn incense to this image, Hezekiah judged that this militated against that law of God, and therefore he broke that serpent in pieces (2 Kings 18:4).

 

Also, Christ was not horrified by, nor did He condemn, the image of Caesar on the coin (Matt. 22:19021), And so I think it was also with the statue which Michael put in the bed in place of David (1 Sam. 19:13).

 

Therefore, to make, have, and use images for ornament, for a memorial, for a reminder, and for a representation of histories does not militate against the law of God if there does not come to it worship and adoration of the images.

 

10 Some argue that the law of God about images does not speak about secular places, civic, domestic, or private, but only about sacred places, where people come together to worship God, that no images should be placed there. But Moses says, Deut. 27:15, that if an image is set up or used for worship or adoration, even if it is done in secret or in an unhallowed or private place, he is cursed. And Joshua certainly erected the stone for a sign in the very sanctuary of the Lord (Joshua 24:26). Solomon also made various images in the very temple of the Lord (1 Kings 7:15 ff.). yes, God Himself commanded images of cherubim to be made in the holy of holies above the ark of the covenant, whither those turned their faces who were about worship (Ex. 25:18-22).

 

Therefore I do not see on what basis in the Word of God the use of images in churches could or should be condemned if they are not set up or used for worship and adoration, but either for adornment or for a memorial or for a reminder or for a representation of histories which are true and useful. Certainly this cannot be deduced from the law in Ex. 20:4-5. The fear and danger of superstition and idolatry are alleged, but that can be guarded against and averted by inculcation of the true doctrine and by warning against the worship of images. Or if the doctrine has been spurned, and worship adoration come to the images, then it will be right to imitate the example of Hezekiah.

 

I do not, however, with the Tridentine fathers approve the necessity of having images in churches, nor do I place any part of piety in them, but with Luther I place images among the adiaphora if they are not set up or used for worship and adoration. Neither should sins be made out of things which are adiaphora, if no wrong opinions or wicked abuses are added, without the Word of God, even as some people shout that no images, even indifferent ones, should be tolerated, and place a goodly part of piety in their lack or destruction. (Martin Chemnitz, Examination of the Council of Trent, 4 vols. [trans. Fred Kramer; St. Louis, Miss.: Concordia Publishing House, 2021], 4:77-79)