I have been reading a lot about the “Chocolate Jesus” saga the last few days. As an artist and as a pastor I guess this hits on both sides of the coin for me.

“My Sweet Lord” a sculpture by Cosimo Cavallaro has caused quite the controversy. It is a nude sculpture of the crucifixion of Christ. A tenet of the Christian faith.

In recent years Easter has become commercialized about the candy, pink and yellow flowers, hiding eggs and colorful baskets. The fact that the sculpture has even been created is a slam on the so-called Christians of the our day who go through the motions little realizing the meaning behind the traditions. True Christians, I don’t honestly think should be offended by it. However the artist intended it, there is a value that in the perception can become clear.

We have forgotten what we are celebrating. Chocolate vs. the death and resurrection of Christ.

Crucifixion is a terrible death that has been glamorized (with the exception of Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”). It is a painful and excruciating death where one usually dies from asphyxiation being nailed to a wooden cross naked. Usually after death, even the corpse would be left attached and it would be eaten by the birds.

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” - Isaiah 53:3

I think it is only fitting that this sculpture meets the same fate. The religious leaders of our time are putting to death even a most prolific view on the culture of Christianity. This sculpture points our error in our ritualistic observances and asks us to be real, and asks us “what are you really worshiping?”

This is the way art should be used. To ask us the questions we don’t want to answer for fear of condemning ourselves. This is a challenge to Christians to not have a Milk Chocolate Faith that melts “in our mouth but not in our hands”. Let the show go on people.

Image Source

Lost the Plot (excerpts from lyrics by Christian recording group, Newsboys)

Headaches and bad faith
they’re all that I got
first I misplaced the ending
then I lost the plot

Out among the free-ranged sheep
where the big birds sharpen their claws
for the time we stuck with the shepherd
but you wouldn’t play Santa Claus

Once we could follow
now we cannot
You would not fit our image
so we lost the plot

Once we could hear you
now our senses are shut
We’ve forgotten our first love
we have lost the plot
lost the plot

Are you still listening?
‘Cause obviously we’re not
We’ve forgotten our first love
We have lost the plot

And why are you still calling?
You forgave, we forgot
We’re such experts at stalling
we have lost the plot