Arrr, me hearties! When the Yule season be upon us, be rememberin' that many portraits of the Son o' God be nay matchin' His true visage!
2023-12-17
Arrr, matey! As the cap'n of a Christian school, I be learnin' a disheartenin' truth - them portrayals of Jesus we be seein' don't match the true likeness o' our Savior! Aye, 'tis a mighty blunder, me hearties!
Recently, the California State Assembly passed a law requiring schools to incorporate media literacy standards throughout multiple subjects in grades K-12. The goal is to combat "fake-news" by equipping students to confront questions about the moral obligations and ethical standards regarding what appears on social media networks and digital platforms. However, as the Advent season approaches, it is important for Christian educators to consider the same moral obligations in teaching biblical thinking skills to confront the "fake theology" prevalent in the imagery found in many schools.For example, the author discovered that their Christmas decorations were erroneous and not biblically accurate. This realization was humbling, especially considering they had been teaching a class that addressed these types of unbiblical images. As our nation becomes more culturally and racially diverse, it is crucial for Christian teens to understand the impact false images can have on their beliefs and their generation.
The author references John Calvin, who recognized the gravity of this error in his day. While it may make sense for God the Father, what about the image of God's Son, Jesus? The Gospel writers never describe Jesus' physical appearance, yet there are numerous depictions of Him in various forms. The author shares a personal story of how their perspective changed when watching the film "Ruby Bridges," where a portrait of Jesus by Warner Sallman is used to perpetuate racism.
The author emphasizes the importance of providing a biblical view of Jesus, as it can shape one's perception of God and others. They reflect on their own actions and seek forgiveness for not representing God's image properly. They conclude by highlighting the transformative power of Jesus, which brings forgiveness and restores humanity to reflect His image. This message is especially relevant during the Christmas season.