Jesus Talking to the Nazis ( Jesus Photos for the Modern Age)

The Deacon Bench has a very interesting article here Jesus in 2009?. I find the photoscompelling. Be sure to read the whole article. Here is the web site for the exhibition.

I love them. That being said let me get a little negative here.

I suppose the only disagreement with him a tad is his view on "religion". See for example his commentary to this picture.

By the time Jesus began His ministry in the early days of the First Century, the Pharisees, who were the religious elite of that time, had interpreted the Jewish law by adding many of their own rules. There were so many do’s and don’ts that religious life had become a burden to the Jewish people.There are many in our religious communities, like the Pharisees of old, who have allowed the process of religion to overcome the purpose of Christ.

Jesus referred to these people as the “blind leading the blind” and said they would “fall into a ditch.”In all aspects of life, but especially in knowing the truth of God, it is our responsibility to sift through the clutter of religious practices that may be getting in the way of seeking a relationship with Christ. After all, Jesus did not come to start a religion; He came to testify to the truth of God and offer a revolutionary new way of living out God’s plan.

In article this linked he says:

"One of the aims of the photo collection, the 61-year-old photographer said, was to strip away the “religion” part of Christianity that has turned so many people away, and share the core message of who Jesus was and what He taught."

In some ways he is right. But I hear this mantra from all sort of people and this seems to be taken to extremes. "Religion" in other words gets a bad rap and I am not sure at all that Christ would be agreeing with what they think he meant.

Some Evangelicals and even liberal Christians repeat this same mantra. For Protestants soemtimes thiswas used to get rid of such things as Church Authority, the Mass, fast days etc etc. You don't need to go to a Preist for Confession that is just "religion". The Campus Crusade for Christ comes to mind that in some areas takes this to a extreme. An irony is that many of their founding members later became Orthodox. In more liberal circles It 's the relationship not the religion has been used to justify all sort of heresy and false teaching. I have a relationship with Christ that is what what important. and these rules of religion saying I can't marry a same sex partner is just balderdash.

I guess what I am getting at is this false either / or that is presented. I am not saying that is the artist intention at all but I do think this phrase is used a a tad too much without putting it inot the proper context .

I sort of went a little more into this than I planned and so I might do a further post on this to clarify good religion and bad religion

Anyway great pictures and a great way to spread the message of Christ

Update I find this one very compelling. I think I think I ill to use it as the banner for my blog!!!