[af_vet_1981]

Why is it idiocy?

... We don’t have any statues in the church. There is one painting of Jesus, but it is off to one side.

Because both statues and paintings are artistic renderings of the image of Jesus ...

there is essentially no difference between them.

[Mr Rogers]

There is certainly a difference between a 12" x 8" painting in a rather obscure corner, and a 7 foot tall statue of Jesus on the wall!

As for why...I think most baptist would view statues or painting as distractions. I don't have any pictures from inside the our church. I tend to go to smaller churches and this Internet picture would be pretty typical:

Guess the bottom line is the church voted 131 to 40 to remove the statue. Just didn't want it. Over 75% voted to remove.

[jocon307]

“Because both statues and paintings are artistic renderings of the image of Jesus ...

there is essentially no difference between them.”

But is not a statue a “graven” image, whereas a painting is not?

This is why the Orthodox have those great Icons (that’s what they are called, isn’t it?) - mosaic or other flat images of Saints, Jesus, etc.

Oh please, nobody yell at me, I am not equating Saints with Jesus, just trying to give examples.