Hello, and welcome back to the podcast.

Well, porcelain nativity sets are a popular choice for mantle, decor, and the Christian

home this time of year.

But are these sets forbidden from our places of worship by the second commandment?

It's a great and timely question sent into us by a listener named Lisa, Lisa writes

and asks this.

Hello, Pastor John, I just started reading Knowing God by J. I. Packer.

In chapter four, he discusses the second commandment.

I've always assumed this referred to actual objects of worship, like crucifixes or pagan

idols.

But Packer seems to say any material or even mental images of all or part of the Trinity

is forbidden.

Perhaps even a nativity set I wonder, and even frescoes painted inside the Sistine Chapel.

His argument made sense.

In our finiteness, we can't accurately represent him, so it would be inaccurate and essentially

a lie.

Having grown up in Baptist churches that lean pretty reformed, I'm surprised I've never heard

or thought of this before.

Have you?

Yes.

Because I've read Packer.

That's good.

...