Here’s another one for the “And We Wonder Why We’re Hated” conversation…
Matthew Paul Turner, the recovering churched boy, wrote a post earlier this week about an imaginary conversation between mother and child as they both gaze upon this picture.
“Mommy, what is that?”
“Oh, Sweetie, that’s a picture of how much God loves the world! He loved the world so much that he took a cross made of 4X4s and penetrated the vital organs of a sheep-looking creature just for you, Baby. Doesn’t seeing it make you feel loved and hope-filled?”
“Mommy, is that the same sheep that Jesus left the other 99 to go find?”
“No, Baby, I’m sure that’s a different sheep.”
If we’re going to continue making banners like this and communicating rich theology and deep doctrine through mediums that contort the meaningful message of the Gospel, we’re going to keep having books written like this.
What say you?
Lawyer
March 27, 2009
Sometimes I see things like this and think about how sad it is that, rather than affect culture, some Christians instead choose to imitate culture.
It’s almost as if we don’t believe God can make His message relevant on His terms. We have to stoop to shock value to draw attention to the message. That just makes us look weird and out of touch.
Chris
March 27, 2009
I think there’s a fine line between self-criticism (of the body of Christ, by the body of Christ) and artistic snobbery … and this, in my opinion, is a little too close to the latter.
Pictorial metaphors have always been used to communicate great scriptural truths. Images like this one may not have the subtlety some desire, but they are, I would argue, at least thought- and conversation-provoking.
Aaron Jackson
March 27, 2009
Without over-analyzing the whole thing, that’s just plain creepy. ‘Nuf said.
Paul
March 28, 2009
the problem is that it is just terribly done.
Ted
March 30, 2009
Hoo boy. Totally tasteless AND tacky.
Michael Puhala
May 15, 2009
I couldn’t agree more. I would have liked you to actually list out the book “unChristian’! Both your site and your message is a clear call for Chritians to behave differently. Thank you for this message!
-michael
http://controversialchristian.net