Is Your Jesus Homogenous?

Update: My AgapePress article here.

I remember taking a casket up some stairs at a black church and noticing that the scene painted on the wall - Jesus getting baptized by John the Baptist - had everyone in the picture looking pretty African. "How historically inaccurate," I thought to myself. Then...I had to wonder if the Jesus on my wall wasn't a bit more "white" and less ethnically Jewish than he probably was. Which is why this article caught my eye:

Depending on the culture, its distinctives, and its artists' leanings, Jesus is portrayed in various ways. Careful examination of the different representations of Jesus can be a catalyst to clarifying thinking about Jesus Christ and His mission in the world.

~~"By embracing many visual representations of Christ, we acknowledge that it is not just one era, one culture or certain socioeconomic classes or educational ranks that have meaningful connections with the divine."~~

Christians around the world differ in literacy, tradition, and station in life. Regardless, all Christians are capable of showing spiritual depth and wisdom. The Bible confirms that ethnic and cultural diversity is normative. Unfortunately, as noted by Sri Lankan theologian D. T. Niles, the imagery of Christ created and celebrated in the West would not be acceptable to the thinking in many nonwestern settings.

Christ was neither white European nor black African nor native North American, and it may be difficult for Christians who are North American or European to realize how Africans, Asians, Latin Americans, and Native North Americans portray Jesus' relationships with others--"His nonattachment to possessions and personal power and His utterly practical type of ministry."

• Latin American images of Christ range from "dark, earthy, and intensely engaged.... His cross is rough-hewn...." He is portrayed variously as "a peasant...homeless evangelist...and revolutionary warrior. But always, He is a man of the people...."

• African representations of Christ vary from one locale to another. Africans show Christ as sovereign ruler, calm and controlled in all circumstances. He is shown as black, and as the "source of safety, wellbeing, healing, provision, and knowledge" for all in the kingdom.

• Native Americans often show Christ as "suffering,,,defending...in spiritual distress or spiritual ecstacy."

• Asians may depict Christ as exemplary, dutiful, benevolent, obedient, and actively contributing to the good of His society. "He is the cosmic totality of all."

• Eastern Orthodox peoples show Christ as approachable, relational, and as the "mediator of God's Word to man."

It is a false assumption to suggest that a homogenous Christ is known throughout the world. "Will the Real Jesus Please Stand Up?" by Joanne Pepper. ChristianWeek, May 11, 2004 (Vol 18, No 4). Pages 6-7.