Plush Idol?
The Talking Jesus Doll is in the media a lot and it gets 99.95% love in comments and on customer reviews. But in any public comment section, there are always a few who say that our doll equates to the golden calf. Now, the vast majority of the idolatry accusers are atheists that mock religion online like it’s their job. Look at their profiles. But there are some who legitimately feel that our doll violates the second Commandment. There are 4 things the Bible tells us about idols:
1. Gods
If you want to get into the second commandment, you can't ignore the first. From Exodus 20:3:
3 Thou shall have no other gods before me.
We highlighted the word other because that's critical to understand. Your creator doesn't want you worshiping some other made-up god. Other. Does Jesus qualify as 'other'? No! Now, continuing, this Commandment bleeds into the next one which is the famous and highly misrepresented graven image line.
2. Material
Exodus 20:4 says
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
Graven refers to metal. Think 'engraved'. Leviticus 19:4 says "don't make 'molten' gods" and Exodus 34:17 says "You shall make no molten gods for yourselves". Some other verses refer to silver and gold idols. Isiah says in 2:20 when Jesus returns "men will cast away... their idols of silver and gold— the idols they made to worship." A couple others mention carved or stone idols. No mention of super-soft velboa plush fabric. Our doll is, in fact, not a graven image. So, we are safe on the idol composition question.
3. Likeness
You can't selectively stop at 'graven image'. The verse continues:
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
Ok, so maybe '...or any likeness of anything in heaven" is what idol accusers are referring to. Jesus is in heaven, so a Jesus doll could be questionable. But let’s think about what that would also mean. It means any children's book with a picture of Jesus is an idol. Grandma's painting of Jesus is an idol. And 'The Chosen' miniseries and 'Passion of the Christ' movie are both sacrilege. Every Christian song, that crucifix at your church, and even the Christ the Redeemer statue in Brazil are all idolatry. The Nativity scene on your fireplace mantle - idolatry. Really? These people suggest we should remove all depictions of Christ from the earth? Really? Why would they want that? Who would want to do that?
The verse continues to also forbid making any likeness of anything on the earth or in the sea. So that means basically everything in nature. Any painting of a sunset or mountain is forbidden, any book about fish. And that must include even cute plush stuffed animals of bunnies, kittens and koala bears. These are all 'on the earth' and therefore are in violation of the second commandment according to this logic. Don't give those to your kids, heathen!
Even humans fall into this definition. Deuteronomy 4:16 says "do not act corruptly and make an idol for yourselves of any form or shape, whether in the likeness of a male or female". So that would make Barbie, GI Joe, sports figurines and those classy faceless statues you get from Cracker Barrel - all idols.
Really? Do you see how this is becoming absurd? In our piousness, are we missing the point of the commandment? If you play 'The Bible Says', everyone is wrong about everything. Here's the most important point...
4. Worship
Now, lets continue reading Exodus 20:5 regarding the 'graven image':
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
Bow down and serve them, the idol. Did you catch that? All the idol talk is not about the object, but about the prefect. Is that thing your god? That's what Isiah said in the previous verse. Leviticus 26:1 says "you must not place a sculpted stone in your land to bow down to it". God says through Jeremiah 25:6 "Do not provoke my anger by worshiping idols you made with your own hands". Worship. Bow. The crime here is making such representations to worship them. That's why its called idol worship. This means you replace The God with your god. That's what the second Commandment is referring to.
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Nobody thinks we made the Talking Jesus Doll to be worshipped in replacement of God. Nobody thinks kids are putting these on an alter to be bowed to with incense and burnt offerings. It is not an idol as defined in the Bible. No matter how pious someone is, its just not he case.
Being besmirched for promoting Jesus is a badge of honor - just like Jesus said in Luke 6:22. To us its about the bigger picture. We are here to make disciples of all children of all nations. We want to reach and teach children about Jesus at the earliest age. We will not be discouraged.
So back to where this all started - The commandments. Jesus said the two most important commandments were "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind" and "Love your neighbor as yourself". The Talking Jesus Doll is teaching tens of thousands of kids around the world these very words of Jesus right now. That's not idol, that's ideal.
So, most people love our doll. There are a lot of ways to introduce and reinforce Jesus with your children. We suggest, not just one - but as many as you can. However, you do it, introduce Jesus early and often; always and in all ways. And, most importantly, teach your kids before the World does.
Our friends at Fox News had the same question:
Dave