Last time I mentioned the pathetic depiction of Jesus in a pink dress I saw in an old church that's now a music venue/bar in St. Louis. The pink dressed raised many questions about the possible causes of the church's demise and the feminization of Christianity in general. I still haven't figured it out. For Easter I traveled back to my parent's 10,000 member all-black church in Atlanta and saw a different picture of Jesus in the Easter bulletin: Jesus was a dreadlocked black guy with a "I-don't-take-crap-from-anybody" look on his face. My Easter black Jesus was, in fact, the "Black Jesus Montage" by Vincent Barzoni except that someone at the church airbrushed a crucifixion tattoo onto Jesus' right arm. There was no gender confusion there. And, by the way, the pastor literally sounds more like James Earl Jones- unlike the Teletubby guy many of you have to listen to on Sunday. I wonder how the "Deadheads" would have responded to a black Jesus with dreadlocks and a tattoo?
I'm not certain, but I get the sense that the dreadlocked, black Jesus possibly could have been a more acceptable image for this crowd. So now I wonder why one community makes Jesus a blonde-haired, soft, pleasant looking dude in a pink dress hailing from Scandinavia, no doubt, while another community embraces a Jesus with a tattoo and thin dreadlocks, as if he's a big fan of the band Ten Foot Ganja Plant? Which is right?
The last time I checked (and I'm no expert) Jesus was a Jew from Palestine. This Jesus, the Alpha and the Omega, fully revealed plan of God, defeated Satan, liberated his people, gave them the Holy Spirit and continues to make intercession for them. The Jesus from Nazareth brings his people into his redemptive mission to redeem the whole creation. So are we to think of Jesus as the man that we want him to be or the man that he actually is?
While listening to the Grateful Dead cover band, no one in the place seemed to be openly bothered by the huge mural of a pink-dressed Jesus overlooking the crowd. Maybe they didn't care because many of them had been hanging out with "Mr. Ganja" before they arrived; or they were too distracted by the tastiness of the cheap beer they were drinking. I couldn't even look at the cheap beer. But, when one of my friends asked a head-boppin' partier next to him, ‘What do you think about the fact that this place is in an old church?' he could only respond, "It's weird man." Something about seeing Jesus didn't seem right and he seemed to know it in his soul.
Yeah, I'll admit it was weird. Why is Jesus hanging with a bunch of Deadheads? In retrospect though, was it really that weird? Jesus hung out with tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, and even sinners because he was on a mission: to atone for the death of his people and ignite a redemptive revolution.
It makes perfect sense that Jesus is overlooking a crowd listening to Grateful Dead music. He's been doing it all along. Those are the kinds of people Jesus spent lots of time with: people that need the gospel. Maybe one day Christians will spend lots of time with people who need to hear the gospel like Jesus did.
The Grateful Dead have this refrain in the song "Liberty:"
Ooo, freedom
Ooo, liberty
Ooo, leave me alone
To find my own way home
To find my own way home
Freedom, liberty, peace, home? Really? Is that it? Check this: Jesus said, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." Paul reminds us that "it is for freedom that Christ has set us free." Again, Jesus, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
Now, if we could actually get Jesus followers to hang out with Deadheads on occasion maybe they would hear that what they so long for is actually available to them in real ways here and now. Jesus may not be wearing a pink dress, or have a tattoo, but He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. The revolution continues. . .
He may have a tattoo, or at least a name written on his thigh (Rev 19:16) some interpret this as actually being on his thigh - some say on his warriors garment, or sword sheath or girdle...personally, I like the tattoo on the thigh theory out of all offered.
I was intrigued by the following comment (so did not make much further headway):
The pink dressed raised many questions about the possible causes of the church's demise and the feminization of Christianity in general.
After spending time reading church history, it appears the demise (so to speak, if it were possible) of "the church" happened long ago. I would suggest that the political legitimization of the church under Constantine had hideous effect that has resulted in, well, the Roman Catholic and so called Orthodox churches. Try attending one of their services and see if you can find any substance that is Biblical. However, the reality seems that all this demise started far prior to that and even was addressed in Paul's letters.
Having read complaints of the elders throughout history of the "demise" of the current generation, I am now quite leery when I hear this language. What I am gratified to know is that any man/woman can know the truth if they really wish to. God is still in heaven, Jesus is still on His throne. And the real church is alive and well for those who want to participate in it, in the heavenlies.
re: Feminization
I am uncertain that I see more or less feminization in the church - just expressed different ways. I understand the reaction to the elimination of male pronouns, etc. But, what is interesting to me with respect to your statement is that the church IS A "SHE". Ultimately, the Church is female (sorry, Mark....;-). That is just the way it is (whether I like it or not and, quite honestly, I don't really since I am a male!). She is the Bride! , etc. (you know the rest).
Your comments to the above would be interesting to me.
Last time I mentioned the pathetic depiction of Jesus in a pink dress I saw in an old church that's now a music venue/bar in St. Louis. The pink dressed raised many questions about the possible causes of the church's demise and the feminization of Christianity in general. I still haven't figured it out. For Easter I traveled back to my parent's 10,000 member all-black church in Atlanta and saw a different picture of Jesus in the Easter bulletin: Jesus was a dreadlocked black guy with a "I-don't-take-crap-from-anybody" look on his face. My Easter black Jesus was, in fact, the "Black Jesus Montage" by Vincent Barzoni except that someone at the church airbrushed a crucifixion tattoo onto Jesus' right arm. There was no gender confusion there. And, by the way, the pastor literally sounds more like James Earl Jones- unlike the Teletubby guy many of you have to listen to on Sunday. I wonder how the "Deadheads" would have responded to a black Jesus with dreadlocks and a tattoo?
He may have a tattoo, or at least a name written on his thigh (Rev 19:16) some interpret this as actually being on his thigh - some say on his warriors garment, or sword sheath or girdle...personally, I like the tattoo on the thigh theory out of all offered.
Reid Monaghan, Pastor, Inversion Fellowship
www.powerofchange.org
Anthony,
I was intrigued by the following comment (so did not make much further headway):
The pink dressed raised many questions about the possible causes of the church's demise and the feminization of Christianity in general.
After spending time reading church history, it appears the demise (so to speak, if it were possible) of "the church" happened long ago. I would suggest that the political legitimization of the church under Constantine had hideous effect that has resulted in, well, the Roman Catholic and so called Orthodox churches. Try attending one of their services and see if you can find any substance that is Biblical. However, the reality seems that all this demise started far prior to that and even was addressed in Paul's letters.
Having read complaints of the elders throughout history of the "demise" of the current generation, I am now quite leery when I hear this language. What I am gratified to know is that any man/woman can know the truth if they really wish to. God is still in heaven, Jesus is still on His throne. And the real church is alive and well for those who want to participate in it, in the heavenlies.
re: Feminization
I am uncertain that I see more or less feminization in the church - just expressed different ways. I understand the reaction to the elimination of male pronouns, etc. But, what is interesting to me with respect to your statement is that the church IS A "SHE". Ultimately, the Church is female (sorry, Mark....;-). That is just the way it is (whether I like it or not and, quite honestly, I don't really since I am a male!). She is the Bride! , etc. (you know the rest).
Your comments to the above would be interesting to me.
Thanks,
Greg