Do representations of Jesus in Nativity scenes violate the 2nd Commandment?

By Elizabeth Prata

SYNOPSIS
The essay explores whether Nativity depictions violate the Second Commandment, emphasizing idolatry as the true prohibition. Drawing on Scripture and RC Sproul, ultimately deciding that conscience and worship—not nativity images themselves—determine faithfulness, urging grace toward differing convictions among believers.

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This is a question that comes up almost at every Advent season. It’s a good question. I delved into it a few years ago myself, in order to come to a settled opinion based on my understanding of the pertinent verses in the Bible. I wanted to assure myself I wasn’t disobeying a commandment and wanted to satisfy my conscience.

No matter which side you come down on, it is a disputable matter which should be left up to the individual’s conscience. Let’s not judge each other for someone’s conscience or decision.

Here is the second commandment, Exodus 20:4-6,

You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not worship them nor serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, inflicting the punishment of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing favor to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

When I was searching the scriptures for a better understanding of the verse, I was also going through one of RC Sproul’s Ligonier courses. It was called “Recovering the Beauty of the Arts.” Episode 7 of the series 9-part series centered on teaching about “Images”. From the notes,

Many Christians treat this command as if it precludes making images of anything at all. But the most important concern in the second commandment is idolatry. That is, we are not to make any images in order to worship them. Our propensity as fallen humans is to exchange the truth about God for a lie and worship the created instead of the Creator (cf. Rom. 1:23). In his Institutes, Calvin argued that there is a huge difference between making images of deity and making representational images of things.

In a devotional, Sproul said,

The Lord is invisible (1 Tim. 1:17), and so the divine image cannot be pictured. Yet Scripture allows for images that depict the humanity of Jesus as well as pictures of redemptive events and themes in our churches. These can be idolatrously abused, but the solution is not the disuse of images.

I agree with this stance, that depictions of Jesus in His humanity, or doing the miracles, would be acceptable. However, I personally limit myself even further. I don’t enjoy depictions of the adult Jesus for any reason. Scripture said His likeness is unremarkable.

He has no stately form or majesty
That we would look at Him,
Nor an appearance that we would take pleasure in Him.
(Isaiah 53:2b).

As for His current appearance,

Just as many were appalled at you, My people, So His appearance was marred beyond that of a man, And His form beyond the sons of mankind.
(Isaiah 52:14).

I would not feel comfortable with any depiction of Jesus’ face. There is one piece of art I enjoy, it is called Robe of Righteousness by Lars Justinen but it does not show Jesus’ face.

I also enjoy Gari Melchers’ rendition in art of the Nativity scene, an unusual depiction of a slumped and exhausted Mary and a contemplative Joseph, who is gazing at the babe whose head is lit with glory…or is that just the lamp placed nearby?

I own a variety of nativity sets, with instead of a human likeness, just a manger with a bit of hay and the illusion of a baby. I display them every Christmas. I have some sets with the Wise men present (even though they actually appeared much later) and some sets without the Wise Men. I would not want to see any depictions of the Lord Jesus as an adult, even to illustrate a miracle. Others may differ. Sproul obviously did.

The key for me is worship. Am I worshiping this baby in a manger? The person, yes, I am, but not the actual hard copy item. I do not bow down in front of my nativity sets and worship Jesus, or pray, or in any way see it as anything other than a reminder of an incredible incarnation.

To me, the nativity is a reminder that it is a high and amazing miracle that we have opportunity to know a God who is not just high and lifted up, but also poured Himself permanently into flesh so as to be rejected, despised, and killed in excruciating pain in order to ransom us and pay OUR penalty for sin.

If you differ, that is fine! We do not argue about what is not expressly commanded nor do we argue about what is expressly forbidden. If the Bible says it, that is the end of the matter. All other concepts, there is room for grace and latitude with one another.

Further Reading

Piper on Packer: Does God forbid my nativity set?

Alistair Begg changed his mind on nativity scenes, find out in which diection. “Why I changed my mind…“

Answers in Genesis weighs in on “Picturing Jesus“