"Christian Art" website has... THIS... as its cover picture.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

No. Just. No. Somebody please tell me it's a spoof like landoverbaptist.

http://yfrog.com/4ojesusnazij

[ChicagoSuz219]

WTF!!??!?!?!? n/t

[WhiteTara]

1. wow that was stunning.

Jesus carrying the rifle? Is that supposed to be a take off on the 2 sets of footprints in the sand?

[immoderate]

2. I think that's an actual photograph.

--imm

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

4. Yes, and that makes it worse, since there are at least 3 people involved. -nt

[Tesha]

5. That picture was in the "See Dead" scrolls, wasn't it? (NT)

[hatrack]

3. Wow . . . that's . . . . either really disturbing or disturbingly satirical.

:wow:

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

9. If it's satire, it's awesome...

If it's serious. It's....well....interesting. Isn't it?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

14. I'd like somebody else to assess that, because I ain't clicking there anymore! -nt

[Bluerthanblue]

42. kind of disingenuous of you-

if you are going to condemn something, you might want to at least know what it is all about.

:shrug:

disappointing post, but an interesting lesson in prejudice.

[nyc 4 Biden]

6. disgusting. n/t

[donheld]

26. Misunderstood

[fascisthunter]

7. batshit crazy knuckledragging dopes

[Brickbat]

8. Having clicked around on his site,

I have to confess I find his work just a little bit awesome. I think it's because he's doing what he wants to do and knocking himself out to do it. If people want to buy it, more power to him.

[el_bryanto]

10. seems like more of a punk prank than actual Christian Art

But who knows.

Bryant

[nebenaube]

11. Well... that WAS their creedo. n/t

[mimitabby]

12. boy nasty

just got dinged for going to a bad website. ouch.
what sort of place IS that?

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

13. I say the dog whistle is mis-calibrated and inadvertently emitting sound in the audible range. -nt

[muriel_volestrangler]

15. There is an explanation, and it fits with a Christian message without being awful

The Second Mile
The Parable Collection
The joyful gift of forgiving.


Where does a mother garner the strength to stand in a courtroom and forgive the man who murdered her daughter? How do Jews ever forgive the Nazis for the Holocaust?

Jesus’ teachings on this subject were revolutionary: “Love your enemies as yourself. Pray for those who persecute you. Forgive people seventy times seven." Jesus reminds us that, just as God forgives us, we are expected to do the same for others.

Still, His teachings on forgiveness are more for our benefit because He wants us to let go of the bitterness and anger we hold on to. He knows that our feelings of anger, resentment and hatred will not hurt the other person to the degree they can destroy us, even to the point of making us sick.

Just saying, “I forgive you,” releases you from emotional, physical and spiritual bondage. It sets us free to move on with life and His glorious plan.

Forgive and let it go.

Matthew 5:38-48

http://www.thejourneysproject.com/image-detail.aspx?id=298

[rbixby]

18. I still don't get why Jesus is carrying the gun

[Contrary1]

20. My take was that the Nazi turned over his gun to Him. n/t

[muriel_volestrangler]

22. Yeah, I'd read it that way

The biblical reference is 'if someone forces you to walk a mile with them, go the second mile with them' - and this is saying that in the second mile you'll convince them to think again. Or Jesus would, anyway. I don't think there's anything weird or nasty about it.

[Bluerthanblue]

45. carrying one anothers burdens- if you look at the series

you'll see one where Jesus is depicted carrying the luggage of a traveling family.

It's actually a very thought provoking concept- one that might make MANY people stretch their attitudes and assumptions.

I was prepared to be angry about the twisting of what I believe to be Jesus' message- but in looking closer, and listening to what the artist was saying, I see how wrong my first reaction was.

:hi:

[Xithras]

23. Because he got the Nazi to give it up.

The name of the piece is a reference to "going the extra mile" to do the right thing. In this case, the work suggests that he embraced the unembraceable, and in doing so managed to turn him to a better path.

The world would be a far better place if more people thought this way.

[Political Heretic]

34. You have to read the bible to get that one

"if a centurion forces you to go with him one mile, go with him two instead..."

"if someone asks for your cloak, give him your tunic also..."

See he's not just carrying his gun, he's carrying everything for the nazi guy... that's the idea.

Take it or leave it, you don't have to like it - but the intent of the picture is being obviously and grotesquely distorted by people here.

[Indenturedebtor]

29. Myess if the Joos would just convert to Christianity it would all be ok

:eyes:

[muriel_volestrangler]

32. Huh? No, I think you're way out there

If you want a simplistic message from the picture it's "if the Nazis had taken the message of 'love your neighbour' seriously, it would all be OK".

[sinkingfeeling]

16. Wow, that's great!! You all need to see/hear the video on the real web site

called 'The Story' to listen to what the artist is attempting to do. I really like his take on Jesus.

http://www.thejourneysproject.com/The_Story/VideoId/170/Messiah_video.aspx

[Bluerthanblue]

40. THANK YOU! for digging deeper

than the surface- I clicked through your link and found this explanation for the picture which on it's surface is quite disturbing-

The Second Mile
The Parable Collection
The joyful gift of forgiving.

The Second Mile
Where does a mother garner the strength to stand in a courtroom and forgive the man who murdered her daughter? How do Jews ever forgive the Nazis for the Holocaust?

Jesus’ teachings on this subject were revolutionary: “Love your enemies as yourself. Pray for those who persecute you. Forgive people seventy times seven." Jesus reminds us that, just as God forgives us, we are expected to do the same for others.

Still, His teachings on forgiveness are more for our benefit because He wants us to let go of the bitterness and anger we hold on to. He knows that our feelings of anger, resentment and hatred will not hurt the other person to the degree they can destroy us, even to the point of making us sick.

Just saying, “I forgive you,” releases you from emotional, physical and spiritual bondage. It sets us free to move on with life and His glorious plan.

Forgive and let it go.

Matthew 5:38-48
http://www.thejourneysproject.com/image-detail.aspx?id=298

This is a very interesting concept- and this thread is a good example for jumping to conclusions

Wish I could rec your post.

:hi:

[DemoTex]

17. "Pardon me, is this the road to Damascus?"

I do love that Alice pack! I need me one bad. Maybe I should pray for it.

[madamesilverspurs]

19. What pic?

Followed the link, the page came up but there was no picture. ???


---

[davepc]

21. The people Jesus hung out with in the bible weren't held in much higher regard

in their day.

One of Jesus final acts was to forgive the Romans who put him to death.

I'd guess a Roman soldiers and prefects wouldn't look much different to an Israelite in 10BC then a Nazi would look to an Israeli today.

The Romans destroyed the temple and killed tens of thousands of Jews when they looted Jerusalem.

[RevCheesehead]

24. That's really powerful theology.

Good art should get us to think, as well as challenge our perspectives.
This "photo" succeeded in doing just that.

Bravo for their courage to post it.

[donheld]

25. It's actually beautiful it you look at the context - Thank you for posting

You meant it for ill. You missed the poing, but looking at it I find good stuff. I don't buy the Xtian line, but There's some good lessons there.

[Bluerthanblue]

43. +1

:hi:

[ChoppinBroccoli]

27. The Series Is Called "Jesus In The 21st Century"

Apparently Nazi Germany still exists in the 21st century. And I see that Jesus is sticking with the whole robe-and-sandals look despite his many fashion options in the 21st century.

[Political Heretic]

35. That's funny... I didn't even think of that. 21st century... lol.

[piedmont]

28. Lots of knee-jerkiness in this thread. This is a pretty cool project. nt

[canetoad]

30. Yep

Not necessarily my cup of tea, art-wise, but very interesting project.

The Blind Leading the Blind

[RevCheesehead]

36. I love that one!

The blind priest and preacher leading the Pharisee... and the blind man is looking at Jesus! :rofl:
Damn, I wish I was still in a church - I'd use this one on Sunday!

[dysfunctional press]

31. so...you don't think that jesus might try to reason with a nazi...?

and/or forgive his sins if he repents..?

why not?

[Bluerthanblue]

47. "Do good to those who hurt you"

one of Jesus' radical teachings-
What was it that the Romans supposedly called Christ at Golgotha? "King of the Jews"?

And His words about who did "God's" will? not the pious, the outwardly "righteous", or even the rule-followers, but the lowly Samaritan, the Jaded Woman at the Well, the Prostitute who washed his feet with her tears. Those who show kindness and concern for "the least of these".

Not a concept that would sit too well with some of the 'fundamentalist 'Christ'ian teachings' making the rounds these days.

:hi:

[Political Heretic]

33. I actually don't dislike it, unless I'm not getting something.

:shrug:

[Bluerthanblue]

44. I think what you aren't getting

is : caught up in a rush to judgement-

And that's a good thing.

:hi:

[Catshrink]

37. Onward Christian Soldiers

1. Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
forward into battle see his banners go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
with the cross of Jesus going on before.

2. At the sign of triumph Satan's host doth flee;
on then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell's foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise.
(Refrain)

3. Like a mighty army moves the church of God;
brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod.
We are not divided, all one body we,
one in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
(Refrain)

4. Crowns and thrones may perish, kingdoms rise and wane,
but the church of Jesus constant will remain.
Gates of hell can never gainst that church prevail;
we have Christ's own promise, and that cannot fail.
(Refrain)

5. Onward then, ye people, join our happy throng,
blend with ours your voices in the triumph song.
Glory, laud, and honor unto Christ the King,
this through countless ages men and angels sing.
(Refrain)

[fatbuckel]

38. Whats the link......

to the actual site?

[Bluerthanblue]

41. see post 16- very enlightening.

:hi:

(edited- I put the wrong post # :dunce:)

[onager]

39. I like Manuel Ocampo's Xian art...

http://artscenecal.com/ArticlesFile/Archive/Articles1997/Articles1097/MOcampoA.html

[City of Mills]

46. If he repented for his sins before his death, wouldn't he be in heaven right now?

Can someone clarify?