Glocal Christianity

Palm Sunday: India

"In Ranchi, India, Christian devotees waved palm fronds, which represent the palm leaves people laid at Jesus' feet as he entered Jerusalem in his final week of life."

Source: BBC

Witnessing without the Word

This image, from the book "China's Millions" (1892), shows open air preaching in China using "The Wordless Book".

The Wordless Book consists of several blocks of pure color that, in sequence, represent a nonverbal introduction to basic Christian teachings about sin (black), Christ's death (red), justification by faith (white) and heaven (gold). 

Now, ignoring for one moment that this summary completely bypasses the resurrection, and by implication, the really good news, its worth considering if we can learn anything from this as we engage our own post-literate, multi-media culture. If Spurgeon, with his impecabble Evangelical credentials, saw the limitations of text-based evangelism, why can't contemporary Evangelicalism?

Can you help with this Chinese Crucifixion Scroll?

Yesterday I received an email from a Dutch reader seeking some background on a "Japanese or Chinese scroll" featuring the crucifixion of Christ. To me it seems Chinese, rather than Japanese, and it obviously post-dates European contact, but beyond that I can't place it. Can anybody help out? You can view a few of the close ups here.

Chinese Christian Nativity

Like this? I found this Chinese Christian Nativity scene via Adam Williams. I have no idea who the artist is unfortunately. It's an interesting blend of Eastern and Western styles.

Aboriginal Art: Jesus and Adam

This example of Aboriginal Christian art is something I ripped out of a magazine eight or more years ago, or thereabouts, only to gather dust in my old art folders for years, largely forgotten. I suspect it may be the first piece of Aboriginal Christian art I ever collected.

Unfortunately, as it was way before I ever heard of blogging, I lacked the foresight to write down the artist details. I think it is however reasonably easy to interpret. It features Jesus and Adam under the Trinity. Those who live under Adam are in disharmony and darkness, facing different directions. Those who live under Jesus, the second Adam, are in harmonyand light. This harmony is entered through the waters of baptism. I hope you find it interesting.

Steampunk Jesus [Art]

Jesus: a mascot for every movement?

Christ on a Train [Art]

"When Love Comes to Town" by an unknown artist

Many Cultures, One Messiah

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll 
   and to open its seals, 
because you were slain, 
   and with your blood you purchased for God 
   persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. 
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, 
   and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:1-10)

The gospel has always been multicultural, it's just not multireligious.

More posts on Revelation:

Revelations
Understanding Revelation
The Ophite Diagrams
Chakras in the book of Revelation?
Revelation in Art
Is Incense Ok for Christians?
Apocalypse of Peace
Gemstones in the New Jerusalem

World Wide Witnessing

"You must be on your guard. You will be handed over to the local councils and flogged in the synagogues. On account of me you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. And the gospel must first be preached to all nations. Whenever you are arrested and brought to trial, do not worry beforehand about what to say. Just say whatever is given you at the time, for it is not you speaking, but the Holy Spirit." (Mark 13: 9-11)

In this prophecy to his disciples, Jesus makes it clear that Christianity (that is, the way of Christ) isn't just for people like them, it's for everybody, even for people who are very different, even for people who are very hostile towards them. Witnessing is not about entertainment or marketing, it's about endurance. It's not about pre-emptive attack or personal protection, it's about endurance. It's not about oratorical sophistication or religious techniques, it's about Spiritual receptivity. What does this suggest for the way we Christians should conduct ourselves on the world wide web, when we get flogged on blogs and flamed on Facebook? What does this suggest our response should be in the face of web balkanisation and tribal fragmentation?

The Physique of the Christ?

This is just bizarre.

Of course, it came from Tasmania so what do you expect.