Abshalom! This is indeed a very profound topic for discussion, and it carries over into many issues beliefs and disagreements among Judaism and Christianity. For the purpose of my reply, let us focus on the definition of the word, Icon as you have presented it.My little websters dictionary on the computer defines icon thusly:
icon \"-'kn\ n 1 : image; esp : a religious image painted on a wood panel 2 : a small picture on a computer display that suggests the purpose of an available function
Whereas the definition which you gave has an icon defined as this:
ICON:1 : a usually pictorial representation : IMAGE2 [Late Greek eikOn, from Greek] : a conventional religious image typically painted on a small wooden panel and used in the devotions of Eastern Christians3 : an object of uncritical devotion : IDOL
So we have defined the terms. For the purposes of the defense of Christianity, I will say that I am refering to the icons in either definition #1 or definition#2. I am not suggesting idolatry. Allow me to share some scriptures.We may not agree on all points and yet I sense a common understanding in a mystical sense.
Deut 4:15-20=You saw no form of any kind the day the LORD spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars--all the heavenly array--do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the LORD your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. But as for you, the LORD took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance, as you now are.
From this scripture, it is quite clear that God wants us to focus on Him and not on created things as a source or an inspiration of wisdom. The New Testament concurs with this. Note:
Rom 1:18-25=The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen.
Perhaps this verse describes the Fall of Man since Eve did in fact listen to a snake instead of to God. What do you think?
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