Why does our Creator not appreciate good taste?
Two stories today reveal the continuing intractability of the common man and woman--and the continuing mysterious ways of our Creator.
In the first, another story about the surprising success of The Shack, we read that various evangelical leaders consider the book "heretical." All the same, the book is being devoured by millions, many of whom say it has helped them deal with deep hurts and evils in their life.
In the second, we read about the archbishop of Mumbai (India) declaring that a painting of Jesus that looks like it's bleeding is not the miracle that pilgrims to the church have believed it to. Instead the painting has "blushed" probably because of the humidity. And yet, as one churchgoer put it, "It's a miracle.... What else can it be?"
While church leaders are called to teach and guide people in lasting truth, I also detect in their reactions to such religious phenomenon a touch of embarrassment--that people on the street are moved and changed by kitsch! God, it seems, is not only not a respecter of persons, but neither is he a respecter of fine taste.
Posted by Mark Galli on September 3, 2008 11:22AM
Comments
Just for the record, there are also "various evangelical leaders" who do NOT consider The Shack heretical. Why is it only the noisy negativistas seem to be noted when The Shack is mentioned? How about mentioning that the book has also had positive reviewers and supporters among "evangelical leaders." Dr. Ben Witherington III (Asbury College), Dr. John Stackhouse (Regent College), and Dr.Eugene Peterson (Regent College), among others, certainly fit that description. I know you didn't intend the oversight, but just a reminder to keep the editorial fair and balanced. Thanks.
Posted by: Clay at September 3, 2008
Regarding the painting of Jesus, I think there's a much better analysis than what Galli has offered here. God didn't use the painting as it was (kitsch) but - perhaps in a display of how much he really hates kitsch - used a little humidity to change it into something much more interesting. What would we say about an artwork that changed over time from a standard Christ image to something no one's ever seen before? Sounds like the height of avant-garde to me. There's another great artist (besides God) who took ubiquitous images and portrayed them in a new light: Andy Warhol.
Posted by: Chris at September 4, 2008
The Shack is gettin panned by the conservative right "evangelicals"?? I'll move it up on my reading list!
Posted by: christine at September 5, 2008
Just a correction to the comment from Clay... Dr. Ben Witherington III is a faculty member at Asbury Theological Seminary NOT Asbury College. They are separate institutions with separate faculty. I am a graduate of both.
Posted by: Joel at September 6, 2008
The fact that people are 'changed' and emotionally 'healed'by a hretical book like The Shack does not speak of its veracity. Psychology could do the same with the same results.
The Shack should be measured against the clear teachings of the Bible, and in this regard, it fails miserably!
What the church attracts people with, will be the very thing people are saved to.If people are drawn in by a book like The Shack, they will be saved by the message (and heretical 'god') of The Shack. That leaves them unsaved and still in their sins.
Posted by: William at September 10, 2008
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