A person whom I met on Twitter has asked me to talk a little about the CCDOC and art. Art in the church building can be a tricky thing. For some reason we want to see stale pictures of a very white, almost blonde Jesus hanging on the walls and call that church art.
Now art doesn't have to accurately represent reality -- that's why it's art but, images teach. Images of a white, blonde Jesus train our brains to think he was a PLU (person like us). When Jesus looks like you then he probably thinks the same things you do, dislikes the things you dislike and so on.
Our view of the world has been undergoing radical change since the 1960's. Social scientists predict that a plurality of Americans will be non-caucasian in the not-too-distant future. The internet has us in touch with people around the world at all times of day and night, and it is so instantaneous that Twitterers often give us eyewitness news well before any news agency can report it.
Why then do we hold on to a stale image of Jesus?
Before we hang pictures that are faded, dated, and worn, let's loook for pieces that reflect the diversity and the beauty of God's creation, lest our faith, like our images get a little stale.
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