Aren't Christians and mainly the
church being heretical by worshiping a cross/guy on a cross? Because the second commandment says: “You shall not make for yourself a carved image—any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; you shall not bow down to them nor serve them.”
But I know of one that worships (or at least prays to) Mary, which always struck me as pretty obviously idolatrous.
I think there's a difference between depicting the crucifixion in decorations as a reminder, declaration, etc. and idolising it. That difference would be best seen in how you respond to vandalism/damage, I guess.
@Zergling_man A ton of churches have Jesus on a cross right behind the speaking stand or on it. Looks like worshiping to me imho.
@MrNobody @Zergling_man I'm quite certain they would care
>you shall not bow down to them nor serve them
Implying that they think that the statue or symbol is the divine itself, not just a mere representation. Who really thinks that the cross with Jesus on the church is the actual Jesus? I've never seen this. Replace that cross by any other, and most people won't complain.
Compare with pic related
@MrNobody @Zergling_man "a carved image—any likeness of anything"
No I don't think they meant literally worshipping the item
@MrNobody @Zergling_man No, my interpretation is: Making an item representing a spirit (God) and then worshiping it as if it represents God is a sin.
@MrNobody @Zergling_man Or to be more general, making and worshiping any item, even with intention of worshiping a true God, will always mean worshiping a false god, which is forbidden.
>you shall not bow down to them nor serve them
This part implies that such an image already exists (or it would be impossible to perform those actions), therefore someone already carved them. If we take your interpretation for it, the commandment has, therefore, already been violated and there would be no reason to expand on it. That it is written means that the two should be read in conjunction: "do not carve them and then bow down to them", ergo, "do not build yourselves false gods and worship them"
Your interpretation, on the other hand, literally reads as: "drawing is a sin".