Trying to Be Funny In Misunderstanding the Trinity

This picture, on the surface, may get some chuckles out of even the strictest Christians, simply for the fact at how ridiculous it is. Now, I say that in a pretty cynical fashion, as it is clearly made by someone who: 1) misunderstands the Trinity, and 2) desires to mock Christianity.

This picture essentially demonstrates a misunderstanding of how the Persons of the Trinity interact, and how exactly the Trinity exists, especially while Jesus was here on earth. Of course, the false premise of this picture, or as it's referred to on the internet, "meme," is that there is actually no distinction between the Persons of the Trinity, and therefore, communication is contradictory and utterly nonsensical. Of course, the Trinity is a great mystery and boggles the human mind tremendously as to how exactly God, maintains His unity while existing as three distinct Persons. Though, the maker of this meme has clearly not thought through nor really cared to understand the Christian perspective or understanding of the Triune God. Of course, while Christ and the Father share in the same substance, they are distinct Persons and therefore, communication between the Persons is not contradictory nor nonsensical.

The redemption of this image may only come about through thoughtful engagement on the issue of the Trinity. A proper understanding and demonstration of the Trinity, as described in the Athanasian Creed, would have to be defended and thoroughly explained, in order that the misconception and false representation of the confounding of the Person may be dealt with. Jesus, while being God, is not the Father, and therefore, His praying to the Father is not contradictory nor nonsensical, it is representative of Their eternal, intimate, and communal relationship.

Isa: When the Records of Jesus' Followers Just Won't Cut It

If you were to take a look at the picture on the right, you will notice that the man looks awfully familiar. You will also notice that there is Arabic writing as well as a turban on his head. Oddly enough, if you thought that picture resembled many images made of Jesus, you're actually not far off. This painting is the Muslim depiction of Jesus, or as they would call Him, Isa. One interesting trait that I noticed abotu this picture is how light Jesus' skin looks, He's pretty much white, which causes some concern. Islam originated in the Middle East, very close to where Jesus was born and lived. It is shocking that a faith which was literally birthed and propagated from the same region as Jesus would depict Him in such a way. But, I must digress.

It is also noticeable to see how the Muslims have put their Islamic twist on how Jesus would have looked and dressed. He is wearing a a turban and is standing in front of what looks to be a mosque. Written in the top right corner, is the name of Allah in Arabic.

Now, it is interesting because Jesus is revered in Islam as a mighty prophet, who is spoken of multiple times and in very powerful ways throughout the Qur'an. Many miracles are attested to Jesus in the Qur'an, and most Muslims would interpret the Qur'an as saying that Jesus never died. He is a great prophet, and delivered the words of Allah to his people. One major difference between Islam and Christianity is that Jesus did not die, especially not on the cross.

When it comes to redeeming Jesus, and more specifically the "image" or idea of Jesus in the minds of Muslims, we certainly have a solid basis to work from. They have the concept of Jesus in their minds, however false and misrepresented He may be. We should seek to understand how Jesus is depicted in the Qur'an and in Muslim thought, and work from there.

One interesting concept, which gives Christians the upper hand in our presentation of Christ, is that we have a representative for our sins, who has given Himself for our sins and has guaranteed salvation for us. In the Muslim view, they do not have a mediator, and therefore they live in a perpetual state of uncertainty about whether they have done enough righteousness to tip the scales and be saved, and even then, they do not have full assurance. It is with this thinking that we should strive at understanding their perception of Jesus, and work from there to present the Christian view of Jesus.

While not spoken of, but certainly one of the greatest stumbling blocks to Muslims is the idea of the Trinity, and how Jesus can be God. This is certainly a tremendous barrier that we will have to overcome, but I just wanted to make it clear that I understand this, and will only be mentioning it in passing.

Baby Jesus: It's Time to Grow Up!

As we are currently in the season of Advent, looking forward to the celebration of the Saviour's birth, it is only fitting to examine the imagery of the season--a baby Jesus. It is on December 25 that the Western world has decided to set a day aside in rememberance of the Messiah, the Son of God, who took on flesh and humbled Himself to being born of a woman, in a manger, totally dependent on human parents. This imagery comes to us as a double-edged sword. On the one hand, it is very positive, and on the other hand, it is very negative. Let me elaborate.

Baby Jesus: The Positive

You see, the imagery of baby Jesus brings to mind many positive ideas. The most prominent aspect of this is that it reminds us that the eternal Son of God, the Logos, took on human flesh and humbled Himself to being born as a baby. It reminds us that Jesus, as miraculous and divine as He is, was also at one time a baby; a creature totally dependent on His parents for sustenance and survival. This is good news indeed, for it reminds us that Christ indwelt human flesh and lived through the human experience. His becoming fully man and experiencing our humanity is vital to Him relating to us, thus qualifying Him as the perfect High Priest that we need (see my Major Paper!).

Baby Jesus: The Negative

Of course, there can be extremes adopted in the minds of people when it comes to viewing Jesus as a baby. First of all, it can instill in the minds of people this idea of a weak and frail Jesus. A Jesus who is merely human, and therefore only a "good man." Of course, it must be said that this reasoning is dependent on a lot more than simply the image of baby Jesus, but it certainly does not help to be reminded constantly (and almost singularly) that Jesus was a baby.

The images of Jesus, especially in Roman Catholicism (as is the one used for this blog) almost unanimously depict Jesus in two situations: 1) As a baby in His birth, or 2) as a suffering man in His death (crucifixion). It is for this reason that many Roman Catholics with whom I have interacted often have a very anemic view of Christ. They are so used to seeing Him in these two depictions, that He is either a helpless baby, or a helpless victim. Of course, a proper reading of Scripture will clarify this much more.

Redemption!

We must not retaliate to these negative perceptions by going to the other extreme and discounting the birth, humbling, and humanity of Christ. The birth of Christ is the moment (if we are going to include His conception) where the incarnation is realized. The fullness of redemption shone through when God the Son had finally taken on flesh. The glory of Almighty God, here, in flesh, "tabernacling" with fallen humanity. What a glorious thought... What a glorious moment! When Christ was born, He was also destined to die. That was it, no turning back! Redemption was going to run its full course and He was going to save His people!

It is for this reason that we must glory in the birth of our Saviour. Though, we must remind both ourselves and those around us that Christ is the eternal God, who existed in eternity past as Almighty God, and who exists now as the God-man in full glory and reign. He is no longer a baby, helpless and dependent on His earthly parents, but He has been given the highest place, seated at the right hand of God, where all authority and power has been given to Him! Let us redeem any view of a weak and frail Christ, and let us marvel at the wonder of God contained within the frame of a baby boy. What wonder, what magnificence!

A Statue of Jesus That Will Make You Laugh

This statue of Jesus has made its rounds on the internet in the last while, and I've seen some pretty funny jokes attached to it. This concept of attaching a sort-of "one-liner" to an image has become an internet phenomenon known as meming (the image is called a meme). There have been some funny pictures saying things like, "Need an ark? I Noah guy." When you attach a joke like that to a statue that looks like this, you can't help but laugh. I find this image very amusing, and it seems to lighten up the attitude we often have of Christ.

This statue gives us the perception of Jesus being laid back and easy going. It also shows us a possibility of Jesus having a sense of humor, which is actually healthy. Being someone who values good humor, I do appreciate the emotion evoked from this statue. While it could lead to a certain sense of irreverence, I do believe that when one has a balanced view of Christ, this is a great way to laugh.

Since these images have circulated the internet quite thoroughly, and I'm sure many people have been introduced to them in some way or another, it's a great conversation starter. Especially given the light-hearted nature of the image, it would be really easy to even begin a conversation based on a joke that someone has attached to the image. While this statue was perhaps made, and even adapted by the internet, with a sense of mockery, we can easily take it and use it to our benefit. After all, if we are made in God's image, and Jesus became man, would not humor be a valid and shared experience of us all?

Did You Know Jesus Was... American AND Republican?

American's have a long history of idolizing their nation, and as it turns out, they are even willing to go as far as making Jesus into their own image. Americans are a funny breed of people (of course, I am speaking in terms of a "sweeping statement"). They claim that their foundations are built upon the Bible, and therefore, everything American must be Christocentric... right? Well, as it turns out, a lot of what America prides itself on is actually the opposite of what Christ envisioned. A capitalist economy which prides itself on making the rich richer at the expense of the poor; a strange hunger for war; always going bigger, better, faster--leading to most Americans actually being obese; and of course, the abuse of freedoms which are actually leading to the degradation of human development. Now, of course, most conservatives do not side with things like same-sex marriage or abortion, but nonetheless, they are part of what is become the moral fabric of America.

Republicans, arguably more so than any other political party, pride themselves on their Republican economic structure. While Jesus Himself did not establish an economic system, I do believe that some principles were made quite clear. Things like: clothe the naked, feed the hungry, visit the jailed, take care of the widows and orphans, and so on. Now I understand that these things are ultimately the Church's mandate, and not the responsibility of the government (especially with all the corruption that has involved our tax dollars), but if a nation claims to be Christian, should not everything then flow from a Christian worldview? This leaves us with two options. 1) America's claim at being a "Christian" nation is actually a desperate attempt at justifying their actions, or 2) America is not actually a Christian nation. There is nothing wrong with the latter, just be honest with us. If you want to have an economic system that allows for the rich to get richer and the poor to get poorer, then fine. It is not the nation's mandate to follow biblical principles, especially when the church has done such a poor job at doing it herself. Here in a Socialist nation (Canada), we depend on the government to take our tax dollars and do those things for us, which those with a Capitalist mindset would call "theft." I do agree to a certain extent, but if you are allowed to keep your tax dollars (especially as a wealthy individual), as a Christian, you should fulfill your biblical mandate.

When it comes to war, I do respect America for fighting for human rights and freedoms worldwide. This a position they have been thrust into by the UN, but nonetheless, they are responsible for their actions. With that being said, there is an unhealthy pride that comes with their military endeavors, to the point of glorifying war. This, I believe, is not healthy. Again, if you choose this, just admit you are not a Christian nation, and all is well.

Finally, obesity. While this is a touchy subject, I will just address the issue of gluttony. America is known as gluttony-central. While I will admit that most people are obese due to poor eating habits (and really poor food quality), that does not negate the amount of food Americans have. Again, the gluttonous nature of America is actually condemned in the Bible, especially in light of not taking care of the poor. This argument is very basic, and would require a much more thorough fleshing out, but I will leave it at that.

The point is, Jesus is not American, and quite frankly, I do not believe that He agrees with much of America's values. I find it rather insulting, to be quite honest, to attach Jesus to a nation, especially one that is known for the things listed above. I do not believe that Jesus would identify proudly as an American, and I don't think He would identify as a Republican either.

When Ignorance Leads to Blasphemy

Recently, the Christian community has become the focal point of ridicule at the hands, or rather, the camera of a very presumptuous and outspoken vlogger named Joshua Feuerstein. Joshua, who is a Oneness Pentecostal, has become an internet sensation with his loud-mouthed, obnoxious and highly uninformed videos which have circulated over social media over the past few years. He has been the source of much ridicule and much annoyance on the part of Christians and unbelievers alike.

Recently, he has raised one of his most ridiculous controversies to date. He made a video ranting about how Starbucks has declared a war on Christmas by removing any graphics from their Christmas cups and left them only a plain red color. Honestly, you can't make this stuff up. He was invited onto CNN, and utterly embarrassed. Christians have been in an uproar, combating the nonsensical musings of Feuerstein and those who agree with him. All this, because he decided to make a video ranting about Starbucks' choice to make their Christmas cups plain red. Yes, this is the sad state of what we have become. We are bored, pitiful, and just downright stupid.

This is not what I want to focus on though. A comic artist, who also has a respectable following on social media, who goes by the name The Oatmeal, has come up with a graphical response to Feuerstein and the other anti-sensible Christians who have taken his side. In a very satirical manner, he has come up with a response to appease these "Christian bigots." His response? Photoshopping the Starbucks mermaid (or siren?) to be crucified on a cross with a look of horror on her face. This is a clear mockery of Christ, which is not surprising given that he is an avowed atheist who uses his platform to mock Christianity in toto. His response is offensive, graphical, and downright blasphemous, though I did not expect much else from his depravity. Feuerstein and his followers have set themselves up for ridicule, and those who are just waiting to jump on every opportunity have taken it.

Of course, redemption begins with opposing Feuerstein and actually being rational and sensible on dealing with this matter. First of all, the Church is the one who is supposed to "keep Christ in Christmas" and to promote the Gospel, not some secular (and very secular, might I add) corporation. Secondly, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Starbucks' choice of using a red cup, as red is one of the many colors of Christmas. Thirdly, Starbucks never had anything Christ-related on their products, so how on earth can removing reindeer and snowflakes from their cup design be the means for them "declaring war on Christ and Christmas." Honestly, it hurts to even have to argue these points. There is, in all honesty, no redeeming the graphic and blasphemous response from The Oatmeal, since it is just that. Though I must say, I am not called to judge those outside the church, but those inside. If Feuerstein is going to be speaking on behalf of Christians on the internet, I must judge him and oppose him. I personally do not consider him a brother in Christ (being a modalist, I side with the Athanasian Creed in denouncing those who deny the Trinity), but the world is viewing him as such, and so we must correct this false perception. He is a wack-job who feeds on sensationalism, who is untrained, illogical, and naive. He does not represent Christ, nor His Church, and therefore needs to be denounced. We will only achieve rightful dialogue when we first gain the respect of the world around us, and we do this by being respectful, logical and knowledgeable.

Dr. Carson's Jesus Among a Shrine to Himself?

Recently, some interest has been generated on the internet surrounding a shrine in the home of Republican candidate Dr. Ben Carson. Not only is there a shrine in his home demonstrating many of his portraits, awards, achievements, and life events, but there is one significant portrait which caught the attention of many, especially those from the evangelical camp.

This portrait of Dr. Ben Carson includes a figure who is meant to portray Jesus, with a hand on Carson's shoulder and the other hand reaching out. Jesus is a middle-aged white male, with a short beard and long hair. The Jesus of Carson's portrait resembles the many misinterpretations and caricatures that have been made of Him over history.

Carson, being a Seventh-Day Adventist, has caused many in the evangelical camp to question his interpretation of Christianity and theology. While Carson could be said to already be walking a "fine line" with many evangelicals, this surely does not help his case. He has been critiqued, perhaps unjustly, for his many awkward and unorthodox claims in the past, and this certainly piles on to that list. It is one thing to have a picture of Jesus (many evangelicals would say that is already too far and even unbiblical), but to have a picture of you and Jesus causes one to raise to some questions.

Perhaps the most shocking aspect of this portrait, is how it is embedded in a shrine that Carson has erected of himself in his home. Rather than Jesus being the "center" of Carson's life, it appears as though Carson is the center of his own life. Jesus is sort-of added into the mix.

Now I am willing to give Carson the benefit of the doubt, that he truly wants to demonstrate the importance of Christ in his life. That may be a fair assumption. Though, I do find it hard to believe. This portrait gives us the idea that Jesus is Carson's friend, a sort-of "Jesus is my homeboy" attitude. Carson's attitude towards Christ may be a little bit too relaxed and irreverent, which sheds some light on how we should view him in regards to his Christian values. This is a portrait, done by an artist, at the request of Carson, and seems to identify more with Carson than it does with Christ Himself. This is the Jesus of Carson's mind, or even of the artist's mind, and we should not expect much authority to be derived from such a painting.