Pilgrim,

It seems to me that the command to not make any graven images(idols) is in reference to idolatry and not the making if things in general. After all, was Joseph's carpentry idolatrous? The command to refrain from making images is tied to the implication that they are being made for the use of worship.

The author of the article you linked to also pointed out, as i agree, that no physical image can suffice to characterize God, and must not be attempted.

However, in reference to the Passion, we are not talking about God the Father, whose "appearance" is beyond comprehension, but rather God's physical incarnation in Jesus Christ. Obviously, this incarnation was visibly and physically witnessed by other people.

I strongly believe that worshipping a graven image of either the Father or the Son would be idolatry, but when it comes to the issue of images in general, apart from worship, is there not a distinction between God the Father and Jesus Christ? I can't possibly comprehend God the Father via any visible or physical impressions, and thus can't possibly due him justice with some created image.

However this is not exactly the same with Christ. He came here physically and other people visibly saw him. He was tangible and material. Now i would think that there would be multiple problems with trying to create an accurate resemblance of what he looked like, one big reason being, at least to my knowledge, we don't know. But what i'm mainly wondering about here is the principle itself of images as it relates to God the Father and the physical Jesus Christ. Is there no variation?

Am i breaking the second commandment when i visualize in my mind Christ on the cross? Or when i visualize imagery in the Psalms such as lying in the shadow of His wings? I'm guessing that you don't believe in a distinct break between physical images and mental, because after all the deadliest form of idols for most people are probably rooted in their mind. Trying to explore this issue..