In this 2007 file photo, Bert Baker, an amateur artist, had recently finished a 7-foot-tall sculpture of Christ at Red Bank Baptist Church. Credit: Gerry Melendez/The State Newspaper, Columbia, SC
Posted on 05/30/2018 4:56:29 PM PDT by marshmallow
In this 2007 file photo, Bert Baker, an amateur artist, had recently finished a 7-foot-tall sculpture of Christ at Red Bank Baptist Church. Credit: Gerry Melendez/The State Newspaper, Columbia, SC
Charleston, S.C., May 30, 2018 / 04:01 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Jesus is being evicted from a South Carolina church, and he must be out by the end of the month.
Red Bank Baptist Church in Lexington, about 120 miles northeast of Charleston, has voted to remove a statue of Christ and its accompanying reliefs after 11 years, because they are believed to be too “Catholic in nature”.
The white, hand-carved statue in question shows Christ with his outstretched and stepping out of the wall, while the reliefs depict images from Christ's life, death and resurrection.
Red Bank Baptist Church leaders sent a letter to the artist, Bert Baker Jr., earlier this month, informing him that the congregation had voted to remove the statue because it was being perceived as a Catholic icon and was causing confusion among churchgoers.
“We understand that this is not a Catholic icon, however, people perceive it in these terms. As a result, it is bringing into question the theology and core values of Red Bank Baptist Church," church leaders Jeff Wright and Mike Dennis said in the letter.
Baker, a former member of the church’s congregation himself, was commissioned to make the statue for Red Bank in 2007.
In a response letter, Baker told the church leaders that he wanted the Christ statue to appear to be stepping out in a symbol of the Lord’s commission, and that the other images in the reliefs were based on basic facts about Christ's life which can be found in the Bible.
“Under each arm the reliefs depict scriptural and historical events that we as Christians........
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicnewsagency.com ...
I guess that they would be happier with a statue of John the Baptist, since they are Baptists. To me, this move is total idiocy on the part of the congregation.
It does resemble Christ the Redeemer statue from Brazil....
Sometimes, leaving earth to go live on another planet sounds like a pretty good idea.
Why is it idiocy?
I’m baptist. We don’t have any statues in the church. There is one painting of Jesus, but it is off to one side. I doubt many know it is there, and those who know don’t pay it any attention.
I’d have argued against the statue based on lack of artistic merit, but saying baptist churches don’t do statues is pretty accurate - based on having moved around the country a lot and having been in many baptist churches. Off the top of my head, I can’t remember ONE statue in any of them.
You want statues? Have a nut! Wanting a baptist church to look like a baptist church is hardly strange!
Look more like the Burger King King to me...
But maybe they'll sell it and use the $$ for the missions. That would be a positive and large-hearted response.
Is there some reason why there would not be a statue in a Baptist Church? I’m not familiar with the various Baptist denominations, much less all.of the other various Christian denominations. Does the theology discourage or prohibit such displays?
I can see how many would be confused by this as Christ obviously was never in the building to start with.
What is it about the Commandment prohibiting graven images you not understand?
I have been a Southern Baptist all my life.
I can’t recall there being a strict ban on statues but I know they are not encouraged. I do know that Southern Baptists prefer plain crosses rather than ones with Jesus on them.
I believe it has something to do with Christ resurrected. Also a bit about graven images.
bump
There is no “look”. Many evangelicals consider a likeness of Jesus to be a “graven image”. That’s why they use a cross rather than a crucifix
It’s not because its a Jesus statute, it’s because baptist’’s wouldn’t have any systue around. It’s idolatry no matter who or what it is
Is it a statue or a graven image?
Retards. Jesus is “too Catholic”. Well just why the hell are they going to “church”? For the pot lucks and cake walks?
“It’s idolatry no matter who or what it is...”
Really? Is your year book picture “idolatry”? The photo of your parents you have on your desk/wall/end table?
Is the statue of Abe Lincoln in the Lincoln Memorial “idolatry”?
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