Lively Preaching, Not Dumb Idols

Today we celebrated and remembered the Incarnation and God's Covenant. Through nine scripture readings and responsive carols we saw that God's design through history was to claim for Himself a people and to give His Son an inheritance of the nations for His glory.

How do we worship, hear God's Word, sing and pray? In a manner that honors God's Word, and does not add to or take away from the Word. We hear this from our Heidelberg Catechism Lord's Day 35:

Q. 96 What does God require in the second commandment?

A. That we in no way make any image of God, nor worship Him in any other way than He has commanded us in His Word.

97. May we not make any image at all?

A. God may not and cannot be imaged in any way; as for creatures, though they may indeed be imaged, yet God forbids the making or keeping of any likeness of them, either to worship them or to serve God by them.

98. But may not pictures be tolerated in churches as books for the people?

A. No, for we should not be wiser than God, who will not have His people taught by dumb idols, but by the lively preaching of His Word.