Images of Devotion

As a good Baptist, I didn’t have anything to do with religious images growing up. We had no images in our place of worship, not even a cross. I think we were afraid that we might violate the “graven image” commandment (Exodus 20:4, KJV).

When I was a student at Southwestern Seminary, I had missions class in a large, ornate room next to the Chapel. During our time in Fort Worth, we would take visitors downtown to a storefront building to see a display of wax figures depicting DaVinci’s Last Supper. Only later was I told that a wealthy benefactor had commissioned this as a gift to the seminary to be displayed in that large room adjacent to the Chapel. It was meant to attract visitors to the seminary; however, the more conservative brethren in Texas objected to these “graven images” so they went into the exile downtown. (If this story is apocryphal, someone please correct me.) I think Jesus and the disciples eventually ended up at the (now defunct) Radio and Television Commission building. I have wondered from time to time where the next stop was for this migrating group.

I believe that it was Molly Marshall who helped me to understand the value of religious imagery. She was very taken with an icon referred to as the Old Testament Trinity. Painted by Russian artist Andrei Rublev in the 15^th Century, the image depicts the three angels who visited Abraham (Genesis 18:1-8) and to whom he showed hospitality. Many interpret it as an icon depicting the Holy Trinity. Molly used the image in her annual Christmas publication from Central Seminary and commented on its symbolism often.

To those not familiar with the term, an icon is a religious work of art, most commonly a painting, used in Orthodox and Catholic churches as a focus for prayer and devotion. Those who use them are not worshipping the images but using them to facilitate worship, much as one might meditate on a verse of scripture.

I now have three icons in my office. The “Old Testament Trinity” was the first icon that I purchased while on a visit to the bookstore at Conception Abbey in Missouri while on a seminary retreat. Since then, I have acquired two more.

One is of Barnabas, one of my favorite people in the New Testament, who was generous, encouraging, and responsive to the Spirit of God. My appreciation of him is expressed in the use of his name in the title of this blog.

Another is of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. George Hunter’s The Celtic Way of Evangelism helped me to understand the missional impact of Patrick (or at least of those who were his spiritual descendants). For me, he symbolizes creativity and innovation on behalf of the Reign of God.

Do I worship these icons? No. Does their presence in my office remind me that we celebrate the work of God with our eyes as well as our ears and mouths? Yes. I am grateful for the skilled artisans who provided these images, for the heritage that provides them for us, and for the richness of our Christian tradition.

Comments

Check these out

Confessions of a Recovering Southern Baptist

I am grateful for my heritage as a Southern Baptist. I was exposed to the Bible and worship from a very young age. I grew up in a church in south Alabama that supported the Cooperative Program of missions giving. This meant that our church had the benefit of being part of a supportive group of local churches and the educational opportunities that afforded. Our state convention provided varied and effective ministries with groups like orphans, ethnic groups, and college students. We supported missionaries at home and abroad. We had good Bible study and training literature (which we paid for, of course). I went to an accredited seminary and paid a remarkably low tuition. Wherever you went on a Sunday morning (in the Southeast and Southwest, at least), you could find a church that sang the familiar hymns and studied the same Bible lesson. In hindsight, I realize that this Southern Baptist utopia was imperfect. There were significant theological differences, often geograp

The Bible Tells Me So

As I read the story of the Good Samaritan during my devotional today, I was reminded of the times that I have heard the story in the Christian education setting of the local church--as a youngster in primary and intermediate classes (old terminology), as a young adult in college classes, and then as an adult, often teaching the passage myself. The characters and story line are very familiar due to these experiences of Christian education. These are challenging times for Christian education in the church. Like so much of what is happening in the church today, the old forms do not seem to support present needs. What once worked no longer seems to be effective. Christian education or the formation of believers is in a state of flux. In an article on ethicsdaily.com , retired professor Colin Harris addresses this issue. He points out that the period of the 60’s and 70’s “saw the beginnings of a loss of vitality within the educational dimension of church ministry, as the

Metaphors of the Kingdom of God

In a recent blog , consultant Seth Godin addresses the power of metaphor. He points out, “The best way to learn a complex idea is to find it living inside something else you already understand.” In other words, “this” is like “that.” “When you see a story, an example, a wonderment,” says Godin, “take a moment to look for the metaphor inside.” Jesus turned this around. In the use of parables, he told a story or provided a metaphor and challenged his hearers to see the truth within. For example, in his teaching on the Kingdom (or Reign) of God in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus compares the Kingdom to such things as a mustard seed, yeast, a hidden treasure, a net, a king, and a landowner. His hearers are encouraged to use their imaginations to understand something that they had never experienced. He also attempted to shift their perspective so that they might see signs of the Kingdom breaking into their present reality. These are metaphors for the Kingdom. Where do w

The Tragedy of Willow Creek Community Church

File photo of Steve Carter, Heather Larson, and Bill Hybels As Christian brothers and sisters, we need to pray for Willow Creek Community Church. On the eve of the Global Leadership Summit, a worldwide conference sponsored by the church in cooperation with the Willow Creek Association, church leadership imploded as a result of further allegations against former pastor Bill Hybels. Last year, Hybels introduced the team who would assume church leadership upon his retirement--lead pastor Heather Larson and teaching pastor Steve Carter. Although the founding pastor planned to stay on to assist in a time of transition, reports of sexual impropriety involving Hybels surfaced early this year. He accelerated his departure from the church and left the board of the Willow Creek Association. When other charges emerged last week, teaching pastor Carter resigned. On Wednesday evening, Larson and the entire elder board--lay leaders who provide accountability on behalf of the congreg

A Future for the Global Leadership Summit?

Craig Groeschel, the founder and senior pastor of Life.Church. The Global Leadership Summit which began as a project of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, and its founding pastor, Bill Hybels, over 25 years ago was held this week without Hybels. For several years, the GLS has been now produced by the Willow Creek Association, a spin-off organization and a loose network of churches but Hybels has been its driving force. Attended by thousands at the church facility in South Barrington and broadcast to thousands more at satellite locations, the annual meeting brings together not only evangelical leaders but outstanding speakers from business, charitable organizations, politics, and business. For the first time, Hybels did not appear due to allegations of sexual impropriety brought against him over the past year by former employees, staff members, and business associates. He has already left the church and resigned from the board of the association.

Barnabas File

Search This Blog