God warned israel about representing him with images of animal and birds. All the dealings of God with man had been in human appearances, because we are in his image. He appeared to Abraham , moses, Jacob ,Joshua. Manoah, Daniel . Etc it was the holy spirit that was the angel bringing all such manifestations. Whatever John saw has to be consistent with every other scriptural harmony. The holy spirit is a He , not an it. And God won't give his glory to animals.

chukwudi44:



Was it not the same God that asked moses to make graven images of the bronze serpent and the winged creatures.God never asked us not to make images rather what he said is that we should not worship them simple.

Even your CEC have images of PaStor chris and his wife scattered over the churches billboard abi Pastor Chris is greater than the holy spirit

Hey don't begin to sound baseless, having the picture of pastors on their publicity instruments is a common num which is in no way particularly indicative with just CEC or Pastor Chris so young man don't blaze an alternative path of unproductive dialogue.
Make your point and leave it at that if you have any further detail make it known logically with veritable facts that have credible foundations.

newmi:

This is my candid view on this issue and it is based on my personal study on the subject in simple sentences. I do wish which to contess anybodies view so this is in no way intended to attack or canvas support for anyone, l repeat this is an independent view.

Luke 3:22
And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like <hosei> a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.

Now it is interesting that the Grk. word translated "like" as used in the context is the word "hosei"
"Hosei" could be used to simply express a disposition of mannerism; phrases like
as if:--about, as (it had been, it were), like (as) expresses this disposition of mannerism.

now be that as it may, let us bring this back into the context;[size=15pt] ", the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape "as if like a dove" or "as it had been a dove" , or "as it were a dove"[/size]
now the disposition with which the Holy Ghost came down on Jesus as a specific "private and personal" sign given to John the baptist to identifying the Jesus as the Christ was such that a dove would assume ina descent motion

John 1:30-34
This is he of whom I said, After me cometh a man which is preferred before me: for he was before me.
31 And I knew him not: but that he should be made manifest to Israel, therefore am I come baptizing with water.
32 And John bare record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him.
33 And I knew him not: but he that sent me to baptize with water, the same said unto me, Upon whom thou shalt see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he which baptizeth with the Holy Ghost.
34 And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God.

now that was a sign for John to see and know, thus dissolving doubts about the authenticity of the eventual presence of a long awaited fulfilment of the prophesies concerning the coming messiah "King of the Jews".
It is important we understand that issues concerning the messiah was a very sensitive one considering the fact that at this time in history, the Jews were under the political jurisdiction of a foreign power thus explaining the several rebellions that took place all in an attempt to bring a "Jewish emmancipation"

Acts 5
34 Then stood there up one in the council, a Pharisee, named Gamaliel, a doctor of the law, had in reputation among all the people, and commanded to put the apostles forth a little space;
35 And said unto them, Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.
36 For before these days rose up Theudas, boasting himself to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered, and brought to nought.
37 After this man rose up Judas of Galilee in the days of the taxing, and drew away much people after him: he also perished; and all, even as many as obeyed him, were dispersed.
so to a large extent, even when Jesus final came revealed with great signs and miracles most people thought him to be a political saviour and for morethan one recorded occation they sought to seize Him and forcefully make Him king but according to the accout He had to escape.

So for John the Baptist to come and proclaim Jesus as the Christ in the public he sure did require a coonvincing sign one of which God was not short of.

it wasn't like everybody saw this dramatic event, it was just a sign meant for John thus all John needed to look out for in the crowd was for the one upon whom the Spirit would descend in the manner of a dove.

chukwudi44:



Was it not the same God that asked moses to make graven images of the bronze serpent and the winged creatures.God never asked us not to make images rather what he said is that we should not worship them simple.

Even your CEC have images of PaStor chris and his wife scattered over the churches billboard abi Pastor Chris is greater than the holy spirit

Tonye-t:

Thanks bro for the analogy. . .this dove symbolism for the Holy spirit is one thing i am very appalled at. . .unfortunately it seems to be widely celebrated.!

Image123:

What would you say as regards fire or tongue of fire symbolism for God? All things are lawful for me but all things are not expedient. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

Negro_Ntns: Your query forks into two directions - (a) dove as a divine symbol, and (b) dove as an image of worship.

(a) GOD uses different objects and references to talk communicate with man. When Cain murdered Abel and didn't know what to do with the body, a bird was sent to give him reference. Cain did not start worshipping the bird after that or did he?

(b) worshipping a carved image of a bird is pure idolatry. At the beginning of His creation GOD delegated man to have dominion over all life in the animal kingdom. worshipping a dove image is a surrender of that authority conferred by GOD and is disobedience. GOD did not give dove or any animal dominion over man. . . . but as history shows, man is ever disobedient.