Question 263: What Does The Second Commandment Teach You?

An Anglican Catechism (Expanded Version)

Question 263: What does the Second Commandment teach you?

The Second Commandment teaches me to worship God as He has commanded—not according to my imagination, but according to His Word. I must avoid every form of idolatry, honor God’s holiness, and approach Him with reverence and truth. This command shapes my understanding of who God is and how He is rightly adored. (Exodus 20:4–6, Deuteronomy 12:4, John 4:24, 1 Thessalonians 1:9, Hebrews 12:28)

Full Scripture References

“You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. You shall not bow down to them or serve them…” – Exodus 20:4–6 (BSB)

“You must not worship the LORD your God in this way, but you are to seek the place the LORD your God will choose.” – Deuteronomy 12:4 (BSB)

“God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” – John 4:24 (BSB)

“For they themselves report what kind of welcome you gave us, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:9 (BSB)

“Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” – Hebrews 12:28 (BSB)

Expanded Explanation of Catechism Question

The Second Commandment teaches me that God cares deeply not only that I worship Him, but how I worship Him. It reminds me that worship must be based on His self-revelation—not on images, feelings, or cultural trends. Fr. Chris Warner (AMiA, Church of the Holy Cross, SC) writes, “Worship begins in surrender. The Second Commandment calls us to lay down our inventions and let God define Himself.” (Worship and the Word, 2018)

This command warns me against making even mental or emotional idols—fashioning a god who exists to serve my preferences. Bishop Julian Dobbs (ACNA, Diocese of the Living Word) says, “We are not permitted to domesticate the Almighty. The Second Commandment protects the transcendence and holiness of the true God.” (Address on Worship and Idolatry, 2021)

This commandment also teaches me the importance of reverent worship. Fr. Jon Shuler (AMiA, New Anglican Mission) explains, “In an age of spiritual consumerism, this command is prophetic. It tells us that worship is not about expressing ourselves—it’s about honoring God.” (Teaching Series on the Ten Commandments, 2016) God’s glory is the goal, not human experience.

The liturgy of the Anglican tradition embodies this command by anchoring worship in Scripture and sacraments, not in visual representations of the divine nature. Gerald Bray (ACNA-affiliated, Beeson Divinity School) notes, “The Second Commandment is upheld when worship is Word-centered, Christ-exalting, and Spirit-filled.” (God Is Love, 2012)

Canon George Grant (ACNA, Parish Presbyterian Church, TN) summarizes the lesson well: “The Second Commandment teaches that worship is holy ground. We are not the architects of adoration—God is. To keep this command is to step out of self and into sacred awe.” (Recovering Anglican Piety, 2019)

Early Church Fathers On Catechism Question

“God does not need an image—He has spoken. Let us worship not what our hands have made, but Him who made us.” – Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies, c. 180 AD

“The commandment teaches that we are to seek God where He reveals Himself—not in forms or fantasies, but in His Word and Spirit.” – Origen, On Prayer, c. 230 AD

“The image of God is Christ Himself, not something shaped from wood or stone. To see God, we must look to His Son.” – Athanasius of Alexandria, Against the Heathen, c. 318 AD

“Let us worship with reverence and truth, not with superstition. The Second Commandment is a call to holiness of heart, not decoration of temples.” – Augustine of Hippo, On Christian Doctrine, c. 397 AD

An Anglican Catechism (Expanded Version)

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An Anglican Catechism (Expanded Version)