Protestantism’s
500-Year-Old
Bitter Root Judgment and Inner Vow
I believe that when Protestantism protested and left
the Roman Catholic Church, they reacted against Catholicism’s use of imagery.
I believe Protestants have held an ungodly belief that “All use of images
constitutes a graven image.” Their corresponding inner vow was that they would
“Reject all uses of imagery in their Christian lives.” The result is that
most Protestant books on systematic theology do not even include a section on
dream, vision, imagination, or any other application of the eyes of one’s
heart. This is startling considering that the biblical stories and actions which
came as a result of dreams and visions form a section of Scripture equal in size
to the entire New Testament! Their ungodly belief has given them the right to
ignore one-third of the Bible.
Another fruit is that Protestants do not lead in drama,
theater or the arts. Protestants have great conservative political think tanks
(i.e., a left-brain function), but few great Christian performing or visual arts
(i.e., a right-brain function). We need to repent of this ungodly belief and
inner vow for ourselves and our forefathers, and receive all that the Bible says
is ours.
The Negative
Judgment:
All use of images constitutes a graven image.
The Inner
Vow:
Therefore, I will reject all uses of images in my
Christian life.
The Result:
Many Protestant books on systematic theology do not
even include a section on dream, vision, imagination, or any other
application of the use of the eyes of one’s heart. This is startling
considering that the biblical stories and actions which came as a result
of dreams and visions form a section of Scripture equal to the entire
New Testament!
On the Positive Side
On the positive side of this question of man's capacity to
think visually, I would like to make two points.
All of the children and two-thirds of the adults I have
polled usually picture Bible scenes as they read them. As we are picturing
these Bible stories and praying for a spirit of revelation (Eph. 1:17), God
causes the story to come alive and speaks to us out of it. This is
essentially the same process we are describing, of setting scenes in our
minds and asking God to grant us revelation, then tuning to the flow of the
Holy Spirit and watching the scene come alive as God speaks to us.
One-fourth of the adults I have polled normally picture the
scenes of songs when they worship. As God inhabits our praises, the scenes
come alive and move with a life generated from the throne of God. Both of
these illustrate the very process I am describing.
Man's ability to think visually is currently being used
unknowingly by many Christians, particularly those who are intuitive and
visionary by nature. In reality, visual thinking is not a new thing. We are just
defining and clarifying what has been happening naturally for some. As a result
of this clear definition and statement, all believers can now be taught to
become more sensitive to the divine flow within us.
Summary: Why Is Using the Eyes of Our Hearts Important?
God has commanded us to imagine His Word ("meditate" - Josh.
1:8; I Chron. 29:18).
Divine creativity comes through image (Ex. 25:9-22; 35:35).
When God reasons, He uses imagery (Is. 1:18).
When Jesus taught, He used imagery (Matt. 13:34).
As Jesus lived, He ministered out of vision (Jn. 5:19,20).
God has declared that one of the primary ways He communicates with us is
through dream and vision (Num. 12:6; Acts 2:17).
God counsels us through our dreams at night (Ps. 16:7).
Sight is better than blindness (Jesus healed the blind - Mk.
10:46-52).
The Lord's Supper utilizes imagery ("This is My blood, this is My
body, do this in remembrance of Me" - Jn. 6:53,54; I Cor.
11:23-25).
Personal transformation occurs while we look into the spiritual realm (II
Cor. 3:18; 4:18).
Pictures are powerful and produce heart faith (Gen. 15:1,5,6).
The Bible is full of pictures, dreams, visions, metaphors, similes,
parables, and images (Genesis through Revelation).
Our prayers are to be full of imagery (Ps. 23).
Our worship is to be full of imagery (Ps. 36:5,6).
Differences Between Idolatry and
Setting an Image in One’s Mind
IDOLATRY
IMAGE
Authorized by:
Man (Ex. 32:1)
God (Ex. 25:9-22; Col. 1:15; Heb. 12:2)
The Goal:
Worship the idol (Ex. 32:8)
Never worship the image; use the image as
stepping stone into divine flow (Rev. 4:1)
The Action:
The idol remains dead (Is. 44:19)
Divine flow is prompted (Rev. 4:2)
The Prayer:
Pray to the idol (Is. 44:17)
Never pray to the image; as divine flow is
activated, communication with God is established (Rev. 4 - 22)
The Purpose:
To worship the thing (Is. 44:15)
To focus one’s heart before God (II Cor.
3:18; 4:18)
The Attitude of the Heart:
Stiff-necked; proud (Ex. 32:9)
Seeking God humbly (Prov. 2:1-5)
The Control Issue:
Manipulating God; magic
(I Kings 22:20-23)
Watching God in action; Christianity (Rev.
4 - 22)
