From the Moderator
Orlando Redekopp – Chicago First Church
Last month I said had received three invitations to district churches. Well, I still have received only three invitations and have thus far visited two. Maybe there will be more.
I am still looking forward to the district potluck, May 1, at the Peoria Church of the Brethren. I volunteered to lead in some capacity and, lo and behold, I am leading a workshop on the cultural diversity inherent in the Christian faith, built into the church’s very fabric from the very beginning.
I write this column during Holy Week. While reading the Lukan resurrection story (24.1-12), Good Morning America had a report on the Shroud of Turin. Good Morning America included the following:
The History Channel revealed for the first time Tuesday night a new 3-D image that many believe to be the face of Christ, causing mixed reaction around the globe.
Artists and scientists studied the Shroud of Turin, a cloth that some say was wrapped around Jesus' face when he died, to develop the image.
"If you want to re-create the face of Jesus and you want to get the actual face of Jesus, you have only one object and that's the shroud," said computer artist Ray Downing of Studio Macbeth in New York City, which specializes in digital illustration and animation.
While some people said the image was "realistic" and what they imagined Christ looked like, others were not as certain.
"I find it questionable," one man told ABC News.
"I don't think there should be any one face," a woman said
Another man questioned whether the Shroud of Turin was real.
"I believe it is an accurate image of whoever the shroud belongs to, but it's unclear if that shroud belongs to Jesus Christ," he said.
I prefer the last comment. To me, it makes the most sense. The Shroud of Turin discussion strikes me as irrelevant to the Christian life. It may make for an interesting Religious Trivial Pursuit activity but what else? I also wondered about Good Morning America’s assertion of global repercussions. Global struck me as slightly presumptuous—unless Good Morning America really is that influential. Did I miss something?
The four gospels depict numerous experiences of the resurrection—not all of which even demand an image of the risen Christ. John concludes chapter twenty with Jesus words to doubting Thomas:
May we experience for ourselves the power of God, absent the mass media’s generous assistance.
Last month I said had received three invitations to district churches. Well, I still have received only three invitations and have thus far visited two. Maybe there will be more. I am still looking forward to the district potluck, May 1, at the Peoria Church of the Brethren. I volunteered to lead in some capacity and, lo and behold, I am leading a workshop on the cultural diversity inherent in the Christian faith, built into the church’s very fabric from the very beginning.
I write this column during Holy Week. While reading the Lukan resurrection story (24.1-12), Good Morning America had a report on the Shroud of Turin. Good Morning America included the following:
The History Channel revealed for the first time Tuesday night a new 3-D image that many believe to be the face of Christ, causing mixed reaction around the globe.
Artists and scientists studied the Shroud of Turin, a cloth that some say was wrapped around Jesus' face when he died, to develop the image.
"If you want to re-create the face of Jesus and you want to get the actual face of Jesus, you have only one object and that's the shroud," said computer artist Ray Downing of Studio Macbeth in New York City, which specializes in digital illustration and animation.
While some people said the image was "realistic" and what they imagined Christ looked like, others were not as certain.
"I find it questionable," one man told ABC News.
"I don't think there should be any one face," a woman said
Another man questioned whether the Shroud of Turin was real.
"I believe it is an accurate image of whoever the shroud belongs to, but it's unclear if that shroud belongs to Jesus Christ," he said.
I prefer the last comment. To me, it makes the most sense. The Shroud of Turin discussion strikes me as irrelevant to the Christian life. It may make for an interesting Religious Trivial Pursuit activity but what else? I also wondered about Good Morning America’s assertion of global repercussions. Global struck me as slightly presumptuous—unless Good Morning America really is that influential. Did I miss something?
The four gospels depict numerous experiences of the resurrection—not all of which even demand an image of the risen Christ. John concludes chapter twenty with Jesus words to doubting Thomas:
"Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." (20.29)There is much more to the resurrection than what the History Channel or Good Morning America offer. Next thing we know George Stephanopolus will be editing our faith journey—informing us what our faith is really all about.
May we experience for ourselves the power of God, absent the mass media’s generous assistance.
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