Aaron Weaver
Art as Worship
Dr. Nassif
4/25/13
Theological Defense of Icons
Icon is a picture, mosaic, fresco or statue, and an Iconoclast is opponents of Icons. The main reason of attack on Icons was the images on Christ also Mary and the Saints were also included. Some Iconoclast allowed worship of images such as the cross and the bible but not with pictures of Christ or Mother Mary and Saints. A lot thought it was wrong to worship and others thought it was fine to have images but placed them high on the walls so worshippers were not to worship them. Iconoclasts claimed that Icons were idolatrous based on Exodus 20.4: “You shall not make for yourselves any graven images.” Also John 4.24, God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.” This scriptures were basically saying that it’s a sin to worship images of God, and many felt that it was wrong but other felt it was ok because it wasn’t the Icons itself they were worshiping it was the image.
Some iconoclast viewed the use of Icons as a revolution in the church. The iconoclastic Council of Hieria (754) viewed them as a satanic trick on Christians in order to get them to return to pagan worship. “Satan misled people so that they worshipped the creatures instead of the Creator. The Law of Moses and the Prophets worked together to remove this ruin… But the devil gradually brought back idolatry under the appearance of Christianity.”(Nassif Notes) The iconoclasts also claimed the use of icons in the church was a parting from ancient
