Why aren't religious pictures, statues, pendants, etc. of Jesus or saints considered sinful as graven images?

i guess it depends on what faith you are in.
eastern orthodox and roman catholic churches seem to be into that stuff bigtime, but my parents' liberal protestant church seemed to frown on all of that

You'd have to believe that there is such a thing first.

Because people don't pray to the statues. pictures, pendants, etc.

Why should they be? Christians aren't jewish

they are by some... it's a matter of opinion. personally I think most of them are just ridiculous. People often need something to focus their energy on though.