Seeking advice: Local church has large painting of "Jesus Christ" in the sanctuary.

[Jack K]

Be patient, my friend. Change seldom happens quickly in churches. Nor does it typically happen by someone quoting a Bible verse or a line from a confession so that the leadership says "Oh, lookie there, we were wrong."

If this is important to you, continue to press your point firmly but respectfully. Study the issue until you become the best informed person in your church on this particular matter. Study all viewpoints. Understand and appreciate whatever good intentions are behind the practice you dissapprove of, even if those intentions are ultimately wrong. Ask to meet personally with your consistory to discuss it. Buy your pastor lunch just to talk more about it. Be able to present your case from many angles. Have multiple good arguments. Don't just be accusatory ("That picture is wrong because..."), also be positive ("Our appreciation of Jesus could grow if..."). Be respectful—yes, I already said that—but persistent, and if your case is correct you are likely to win same adherents eventually. The fact that it didn't happen with a single mention to a single elder and one talk with the pastor is no surprise, and should not be a reason to despair.

If you believe this church can grow and your goal is to try to help that happen, rather than just deciding you have to quit and leave, you will need much patience and prayer. Reformation efforts seldom "take" on the first try. They also cost the reformer dearly, in terms of time and trouble if nothing else. But in the end they are great service to the church.

 

[Willem van Oranje]

Two words (or one compound word): flamethrower.

It would probably be wise to take the painting down and remove to a safe location before turning on your flamethrower. That way, you won't damage the wall and ceiling.

 

[Joseph Scibbe]

This is taking a turn for the worse. The second commandment is not about worshipping a false god. That's what the first commandment is for. The second commandment is about worshipping the true God according to his commandments, in particular without the "enhancement" or aid of a visual representation. This includes not only statues but "any likeness."

Exodus 20:4 4 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:

So, according to what you quoted the Heidleberg is in direct confrontation with Scripture when it says that "Although creatures may be portrayed". Although the next verse mentions worship this one forbids any likeness of anything. If you are going to use this verse to say that pictures of "Jesus" are sinful then you must say that any likeness of anything is sinful as well.

 

[Damon Rambo]

O.K. This is way off topic; suppose someone in the first century had invented a camera. Would it have been wrong to take a picture of Jesus?