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Article Archive |
2008
Picasso Christianity
by Jim Morris
The label under the painting said, “The Three Musicians by Pablo Picasso.” I tilted my head this way, then that way. I stepped closer and then stepped back. The painting, if you could call it that, resembled a collage of distorted geometric shapes of autumn colors. They appeared to have been pieced together haphazardly to form objects that were supposed to be musicians. Having once played a saxophone in our school's stage band, I felt compelled to discover what instruments were being represented so grotesquely. I suppose that the first played a violin, the second a clarinet and the third a string bass. Who knows for sure? I left the exhibit discomforted by the distortions and the disunity.
Did you ever think that folks may be looking at the church as God's exhibit to the world? People pass through our town and see competing signs on various buildings designating each as a church. Maybe they venture to go inside to see more of “God's exhibits” or even try to compare them with each other. What do you think they will see? Will the viewers see the artistic handiwork of Jesus, or the scribbling of another? Will they see a unified composition of Christ's people? Will they see a realistic representation of Christ's church or some bizarre form of Picasso Christianity?
Jesus intended for the world to see an image of unity among his disciples. He prayed for unity for his apostles. Then he added: “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:20-23).
Interesting prayer, eh? “May they be brought to complete unity.” A casual look at today's Christendom shows anything but believers living in unity. Yet, Jesus' prayer for the unity among his believers is still valid and urgent today. Can we enjoy peace with God while being at war with our fellow believers?
So how do we create unity? Fortunately, we do not have to “create” the unity because the Spirit has already done it for us. Our task is only to “keep, nurture, and protect” the unity already given to us.
Don't believe me? Fair enough. Then ask the apostle Paul because he said, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:3). The unity is a gift from God. All Christians-past, present and future-share in a special oneness with each other and with God. Paul continues by describing this seven faceted unity that every Christian shares with one another: “There is one body and one Spirit-just as you were called to one hope when you were called-one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all” (Ephesians 4:4-6).
As visitors look us over in our assemblies can they easily recognize these common, divine truths being lifted up? Or will they leave the assemblies discomforted by the distortions and the disunity. Don't you think it is time we strip away the collage of traditions that hide the simple beauty of Christ? It's bad enough to have Picasso artwork. Oh my, let's not have Picasso Christianity, too.
02-13-08
# 7
