Fearless Faith

Great art inspires. One need only look at works of the old Masters to confirm that aphorism. Art in the Christian Tradition is one example of public access to religious art. Sponsored by Vanderbilt University, the ACT database continues to grow in size and scope, exhibiting a remarkable body of work that is freely accessible. The images are sometimes narrow in their religious portrayals, and sometimes expansive, but together they challenge our notions about the cultural sway that religion holds. To wander through the database is an exercise in acceptance and casting aside barriers. What constitutes religious expression these days? We might be surprised.

A search for “Madonna” within ACT’s collection yields over 350 results. Included are Madonna’s of various race and color, haloed deputations as well as modernized minimalist renderings. Oils and carvings are included as well as wood cuts and statuary. Each work represents an authentic vision of the artist that cannot be disputed. A Jesus who is Black or Asian, Orthodox or Catholic leads us to conclude that Jesus is all of the above to everyone.

What a challenge that represents for the church! Jesus is no longer the blond-haired blue-eyed surfer. He is instead one who undoes our misplaced securities and need for iconic figureheads to define who we are. How curious to declare Jesus a particular form, especially one of our own making. If he is true for us, he is also true for the rest of humanity. It’s all or nothing.

Jesus is present in other depictions of art that are just as beautiful and just as inspiring as the ACT collection. While some may look down their nose at art that does not grow in stature with the endorsements of time, there are visages all around that remind us that religious art is human art is divine art. Some of the finest validations of that are humbly found beneath small magnets on the doors of our refrigerator. Can God’s glory shine just as brightly in the three by five index card that declares in Crayon, “I love my mom?” What about a rather artistic painting effort that resembles a sloth? I vote “yes.” What of a playful note to a spouse or partner reminding them of a particular appointment or meeting? Filled with love!

Like Jesus’ disciples, we want something clear cut and easy to grasp. Jesus confounds by asking “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter thinks it’s in the bag as he replies, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matt 16:15) It’s a nice answer but wholly inadequate. Jesus is asking what it is that he represents. His question to Simon Peter was to foster a little bit of theological reflection. Simon Peter responds with the safest bet he can muster based on his understandings and time spent with Jesus and the other disciples.

It would have been a lot easier if Jesus could have just given the correct answer from the start. But like religious art (even when we call it something else) there is seldom one interpretation, one artistic ethic, one favored format or style or dictum regarding its meaning. Wouldn’t it be refreshing to dispense with defining which art is acceptable and which is not? “Who do you say that I am?” Put to the test, we would come up with as many answers as there are people entertaining the question. For this week I’m sticking to refrigerator art for inspiration.