A few weeks ago, Rachel was approached by a man who wanted a unique piece of artwork from her. As many of you know, Rachel is an artist, specializing in pet portraits. This work he wanted done was a pet portrait. However, he had an old painting which someone had done of one pet and he wanted Rachel to alter the painting to make it look more like a second pet.
It did not take Rachel long to think about the project and she very soon decided against it. In fact, the more she thought about it, the more she tried to convince the man not to have anyone alter the original painting. From one perspective, Rachel said that there are differences among artists in how they apply paint and the types of the paints used. But, from another perspective, she felt like the the integrity of artists as a whole was at stake. Art work is a representation of an artist himself or herself. She did not at all feel comfortable painting over someone else’s work.
God tells us that He made man in His image and after His likeness (Genesis 1:26-27; 5:1). Based on the fact that all mankind is made in the image of God, when someone chooses to murder another person, who has been made in the image of God, then the murderer sacrifices his right to life (Gen. 9:5-6). In the letter of James, he writes that because man and woman is made in the image of God, we should be careful how we speak abusively to and about other people (James 3:9).
Not only should we be careful that we do not “deface” other people physically or verbally, but there is also the possibility of “defacing” holy things. Two Hebrew words for this idea are “defile” and “profane.” In Leviticus 15:31, Moses wrote that Israel needed to keep itself from “uncleanness” lest they “defile” (deface) God’s tabernacle. The land of Canaan was “defiled” (defaced) through idolatry and immorality (Lev. 18:25) and God warned Israel not to do the same thing (Lev. 18:28).
If Israel sacrificed to false gods, they would “profane” (deface) the name of Jehovah God (Lev. 18:21). If they lied when they made an oath, they would “profane” God’s name (Lev. 19:12). Israel was to worship God according to His specifications so they would not profane God’s holy name (Lev. 22:2).
Holy things need to be kept holy and not defaced, defiled, or profaned.
Paul Holland
