"Made In My Image"

In 1999, the National Catholic Reporter held a competition which sought to update the image of Christ for the new Millennium.  The competition drew nearly 1700 entries from around the world.  Judge, Sister Wendy Beckett, an art expert, author, and television personality, selected Janet McKenzie’s “Jesus of the People.”  In the words of Sister Wendy, “This is a haunting image of a peasant Jesus – dark, thick-lipped, looking out on us with ineffable dignity, with sadness but with confidence.  Over his white robe he draws the darkness of our lack of love, holding it to himself, prepared to transform all sorrows if we will let him.” 

Ms. McKenzie’s position as winner has been life-altering as well as humbling. Her goal was to create a work of art in keeping with her beliefs as a person, an artist, and inclusive of groups previously uncelebrated in his image especially African Americans and women. She hoped “Jesus of the People” might remind us that we all are created in God’s likeness. The worldwide welcoming celebration of this interpretation of Jesus and the gratitude expressed to her – as well as the onslaught of negative responses – affirm her belief that this work, this particular vision of Jesus, was meant to exist now.   

McKenzie describes her work thus; “Jesus of the People simply came through me, I feel as though I am only a vehicle for his existence.  Jesus stands holding his robes, one hand near his heart and looks at us – and to us.  He is flanked by three symbols.  The yin-yang symbol represents perfect harmony, the halo conveys Jesus’ holiness, and the feather symbolizes transcendent knowledge.  The feather also refers to the Native American and the Great Spirit.  The feminine aspect is served by the fact that although Jesus was designed as a man with a masculine presence, the model was a woman.  The essence of the work is simply that Jesus is all of us.”  - Janet McKenzie.   

The story broke more than 10 years ago and yet, I have not seen it anywhere else other than in the hallway of my home.  It is a thunderous reminder that we are not who we were!  It also reminds me of a 1941 song written by Billie Holiday and Arther Herzog, Jr.., "God Bless the Child."  We are not our parents or our parent's parents.  We are the children of the new millennium.  We have our own way of knowing, our own way of learning, our own way of being, our own way of believing and worshiping God - if we choose to.  Gone is the uncomfortable, and at times confining "hand-me-down" religion  that has for far too long held a "free" people captive by the invisible chains of religious dogma.  Gone is the cliche',  "The  bible said it and I believe it."  Gone is the idea that one group of people holds the patent to the imago dei.  And finally, gone is the white, blond haired, blue eyed Jesus!

"i found god in myself,

and i loved her,

i loved her fiercely."

                    Ntozake Shange

 © Dorinda G. Henry, 2010

THEOLOGIA HABITUS EST! 

"Who Do You Say That I Am?"

"Someone's knocking at the door.
Somebody's ringing the bell.
Someone's knocking at the door.
Somebody's ringing the bell.
Do me a favor.  Open the door
And let 'em in.  Let 'em in."

"Once when Jesus was praying alone, with only the disciples near him, he asked them 'Who do the crowds say that I am?'  They answered, 'John the Baptist; but others, Elijah; and still others, that one of the ancient prophets has arisen.'  He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?'  Peter answered, 'The Messiah of God'" (NRSV Luke 9:18-20).

As we enter into this next series exploring the question, "Who is Jesus?," I asked my class to share their earliest understanding of Jesus and how they came to know him.  Before I let you in on the particulars, I have to tell you that the class is primarily made up of African American women, and one man (God Bless his soul).  They range in age from their early 30s to late 50s, and I'm being a little cautious here. ;-)   They come from all walks of life and backgrounds, economic, social, educational levels and denominations.  Each of them have a mind of their own with the confidence that comes from living as an African Americans in a society that doesn't make it easy to get through an average day without wanting to reach out and touch somebody who has confused them with their great, great grandparents or worse, an enslaved ancestor. 

So, the answer to the question, "Who is Jesus?" varied.  "He IS my Lord and Saviour.  He came and died on the cross for my sins so that I could have everlasting life."  Praise God!  "He watches over me and protects me.  He supplies me with my every need."  Umph, Umph, Umph....  "He is the Son of God and I must believe in him and only him in order to be saved."  Halle-lu-yer!  "He was my secret friend that I always talked to and played with.  I don't know how I came to know him as Jesus, he just was."  Wow!  "He was a beautiful white man, with long luxurious blond hair, piercing blue eyes.  He wore a wonderfully brilliant white robe and was always in the middle of a bunch of sheep and kids, standing in a garden with no shoes on" - wonder who that was?  The next question I asked was, "Did you have the option to believe in him?"  With only one exception, (Jesus was my friend), the answer was an emphatic "No!"  The stories ran the gamut from getting terrifying looks from parents, to physical and verbal reprimands and admonishments, and even threats.  We learned early in our development, that if we didn't believe in Jesus, that is, that he was Lord and Saviour and that he died on the cross for our sins so that we could have everlasting life, that we were going to Hell!  Whoa Lawd!  And although we didn't know what or where Hell was either, it was made clear to us that it was not somewhere we wanted to go - EVER!

So, it seems that most of us have come to know or believe in Jesus out of fear and trepidation.  But it seems from the aforementioned scriptural passage, that this man called Jesus, wants to know what the disciples' personal experience is of him.  "Who do you say that I am?"  He appears to want to know what they think of him.  I hear him saying, "I don't want to hear what the gossip is.  I don't want to hear what others are saying about me, I want to know "Who do you say that I am?"  For me, the question is essentially, "Who am I to YOU?"  Next, how does a skinny, little, ugly, nappy-headed, black girl from "Podunk," Texas with a family history of picking and chopping cotton in desert like heat from sun up to sun down, white men and women, young and old, referring to her mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother as "girl or gal," come to know, love and have faith, not only in this Jewish Mediterranean peasant man who looks like the very people responsible for enslaving people who look like her, but who is also supposed to be Emmanuel - God with us?  This man, representing a faith that justified the perpetuation of slavery for hundreds of years was forced down the throats of our ancestors, and our parents through beatings, rape, murder, lynchings, spiritual and theological indoctrination.  But "US IS FREE NOW!"  We've heard all the stories, the half-truths, the flat out lies, and yes, even the fantasies.  We've heard who the crowds say that he is, so we know how we got here.  But in order to answer the secondary question, we've got to get to know this man on a personal level.  Can we?  Shall we?  What's that I hear?   

"Someone's knocking at the door.
Somebody's ringing the bell.
Someone's knocking at the door.
Somebody's ringing the bell.
Do me a favor.  Open the door
And let 'em in.  Let 'em in."
© Dorinda G. Henry, 2010

THEOLOGIA HABITUS EST!

"Who Is Jesus?"

I'm baaaaack.  Up to this point, our bible study class has negotiated a couple of amazing topics that have been as challenging as they have been liberating.  We started out with SEXUALITY AND THE BIBLE, then jumped right into RELATIONSHIPS IN THE BIBLE.  This next series will consist of an exploration of the canonical gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) to uncover the answer to the historical question, WHO IS JESUS?  Along with the reading of each of the aforementioned gospels, I've added two additional books; "Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time," by Marcus Borg; and "Who Is Jesus?," by John Dominic Crossan.

Have no doubt, some of my previous suppositions will find their way into this bible study series - I wouldn't be Rev. Dorinda G. Henry if they didn't.  But first, a word of caution; Although I am a Christian, I am also a woman of the world.  I have an appreciation, reverence and respect for all World Religions and enjoy the tasty treats each of them bring to the table of theological discourse.  I have engaged in various forms of prayer, meditation and ceremonial rituals that are not germane to our Western understanding of Christianity.  As we journey throughout this next adventure, you will find that the man they called "Jesus" did also.

So, get your books, do your reading, sit back and relax.  And while it might get a little bumpy - like Harriet Tubman, the "conductor" of the underground railroad, be encouraged, because I've never lost a passenger.  See ya next week.

Peace,

Rev. Dorinda G. Henry

© Dorinda G. Henry, 2010

THEOLOGIA HABITUS EST!

"Moments of Reflection"

We have taken a break from the usual bible study class.  We resume next week, July 11, 2010.  Same place, Tabernacle Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia; Same time, 9:30am.  In the meantime, however, I am enjoying a much welcomed and much needed break to reflect upon more personal matters.  June is a hard month for me.  Five years ago, at the age of 57, my father passed away three days after the Christmas holiday.  He was a revolutionary, literally and figuratively.  He was an artist whose quest for knowing and being true to the reality that there is no definite color, always finds rest in my soul.  The irony, is that for some reason, I have been called upon to preach every Father's Day service since his transition.  You'd think I would be used to it by now, but it never gets any easier.  I believe in some way, he has a hand in this, as I lift him up and share a funny story about him before I preach.  I don't think I'll ever run out of stories to share about him and that always makes me smile.  

June is also the month that I lost Mama.  Mama is my biological grandmother.  She legally adopted me at the age of 5.  As I think about, it seems a bit peculiar to me that life's happenstance, particularities and events would pull them so close together in memory and, as you'll find out in a moment, in life.  You see, my father was terrified of Mama - and Mama, not being too fond of him, certainly didn't do anything to ease his fears.  She certainly never lost any sleep over him.  After all, he had shown himself to be less than honorable when it came to me and my mother.  The truth of the matter is that neither he, nor my mother, deserve any praise concerning my early development.  I am grateful, however, that they were the two people through which I entered into this earthly realm.  They were and are very talented people, individually and collectively.  None of their talents have been lost on me.  Yet, that I am still standing today, with some semblance of sanity, really is a tribute to Mama.

But as life goes on, so too do the stories of the living and the dead.  On June 27, 2010, a week to the day after Father's Day, and the day before the one year anniversary of Mama's transition, the third brother of my father, proposed to my mother's younger sister and Mama's third daughter!  I CANNOT begin to tell you how we got here, but here we are!  I find it quite surprising, humorous and yet, rather exciting.  It appears that in the spirit world, there has been some reconciliation between my father and Mama.  I like to think they have even conspired with the heavenly host to bring this union into being.  Some would say the souls of our two families have been and are meant to travel together, for once again, we have joined, both in life, as in death, as one.

Amen - Ase', Ase', Ase'O.

© Dorinda G. Henry, 2010

THEOLOGIA HABITUS EST!

"The Naked Truth"

Jesus and the Beloved Disciple
John 13:23-25; 19:25-27; 20:2-8; 21:1, 7, 20-24.

Now, if I were motivated by my prejudices, as many preachers, teachers, lay-leaders, and politicians have been when it comes to ascribing a contemporary understanding of homosexuality onto ancient Near Eastern culture and texts, I'd have a field day with this one.  In fact, I think I will!  It's as easy as taking candy from a baby to ascribe a same-gender-loving relationship into this, one of the bible's most intriguing narratives and mysteries - "The disciple whom Jesus loved."  I mean really...  Who is this man that enjoys a special closeness to Jesus that appears to surpass his love and affection for the other disciples?  Who is he?  Where did he come from?  Exactly when did he and Jesus spend so much time together that the author of this gospel saw fit to emphasize the closeness of their "relationship?"   So much so that he identifies him in such a way that if they were with us today, we would say, without question or hesitation, that this man was Jesus' "boo!"  Who is this mysterious disciple - this man that doesn't seem to show up in any of the other three gospels?  Or does he?  Put a pin there.  Indulge me for a moment, while I do a few of my own hermeneutic gymnastics and tricks around the aforementioned verses.

Traditionally, John, the brother of James (the sons of Zebedee) is not only the author of this eye witness testimony, but he is also believed to be the "beloved disciple."  Honestly, I won't be here long because I find that line of reason to be a bit peculiar and frankly speaking, quite humorous.  Church tradition holds fast to the tenet, "Thy word is true from the beginning; and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever" (KJV Psalm 119: 160).  That is, everything therein is inerrant - totally and completely free from and without error.  Okay then, let's take a look at this "disciple whom Jesus loved" at face value.  In "truth," we really don't know who the author of the "Gospel of John" is - or do we?  The original title of it was, "The Fourth Gospel,"  But, could he, John, have been the "disciple whom Jesus loved?"  Maybe, but I doubt it.  Come, take a walk with me.

Arguably, the first time we hear of this mystery man is at the last supper, where Jesus is grieved in his spirit as he is about to announce to the disciples that one of them is going to betray him.  "Now there was leaning on Jesus' bosom, one of his disciples, whom Jesus loved.  Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be, of whom he [Jesus] spake.  He, then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it" (John 13:23-25)?  Now I don't know about you, but I'm wondering, "why is anybody, especially a man leaning on Jesus' breast?"  Yes, it was customary to lounge while eating, as they often sat on the floor or on the ground, but was it customary to lounge upon one another while eating?  While I can't say for sure, someone I know would probably say, "I don't think so.  Homey don't play dat."

The next time we see this special someone, is at the cross.  "Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas and Mary Magdalene.  When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman behold thy son!  Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!  And from that hour that disciple took her unto his own home (19:25-27).  Slow down, you're moving too fast.  Jesus, the eldest of his mother's children, we know had other brothers and sisters.  Yet, he usurps his brother's role, responsibility and honor of caring for his mother by trusting her into the care of this "beloved disciple?"  Whom, as far as we know, is not a member of the immediate family.  Okay, keep walking with me.  I said slow down, not stop...  After Jesus has been crucified, on "The first day of the week," after Mary Magdalene braved the dark to find the stone at the entrance of Jesus' tomb rolled away, she runs away and "cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith, 'they have taken away the Lord...'"  The two men get into a testosterone measuring exercise by racing to the tomb.  Interestingly, but not surprisingly, the "beloved disciple" out ran Peter (20:2-8).  Didn't you just know that was going to happen?

Oddly, there is much ado about the identity of the "beloved disciple."  A whole host of candidates have emerged, ranging from John and James (Jesus' brother), to Lazarus and even Thomas.  In some circles, Mary Magdalene has also emerged as a possible candidate.  While the latter is tantalizingly intriguing, it is not nearly as plausible, nor as mouth watering as the other male possibilities - especially those who are not considered to be a part of Jesus' immediate family.  Why?  Because, the mere thought of Jesus having a special affinity toward one of his disciples would turn this whole thing completely topsy turvy.  But, as I stated earlier, it's an easy argument to make if one so dared.  And dare, I do.  I mean seriously, we have a man - "Jesus Christ [the] Superstar," of questionable birth, who begins a ministry that challenges his own religious traditions and practices of his day.  He's not married (supposedly), he hangs out with a rag-tag gang of men and women of ill repute - tax collectors, fishermen and if I may correct the record, MARY MAGDALENE WAS NOT A PROSTITUTE - but a woman cured of several illnesses!  And then, on the eve of his death, he has the nerve to lay up with some mysterious man at supper that we have come to know as, "the disciple whom [he] loved."  So, if "The Word is true," then it is true entirely!  I didn't make this up.  Again, it's in the book - the same book that lazy and prejudicially motivated folks like those I mentioned to you earlier, will turn flips and do somersaults around to point out verses within its pages that supposedly condemn homosexuality - but who will read/walk right over verses such as these, that not only speak of same-gender-love, but emphasizes it as radically different, radically special, and radically sacred.  I know somebody out there is cussing me out about this, but hey... I give as good as I get.  So let the cussing begin!

Oh, I almost forgot, where is that pin?  Take it out.  In the book of Mark, Jesus goes off and prays for his life in a place called Gethsemane.  Okay, most people say the garden of Gethsemane, so I'll let you have that.  After he prays for his life, he is seized, "by a multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priest and the scribes and the elders."  Judas betrays him with a kiss, one of the disciples cuts off the ear of one of the servants of the high priest and all the disciples leave him and take off running.  As they were carrying Jesus away, "there followed a certain young man, having a linen cloth cast about his naked body; and the young men laid hold on him; and he left the linen cloth, and fled from them naked" (Mark 14:42-52).  Pay close attention as I wrap this up.  "The Fourth Gospel," stands out in three ways; 1) It contains the shortest verse in the King James Version of the bible, "Jesus wept" (John 11:35).  2) Jesus' greatest miracle - raising Lazarus from the dead - which by the way is also why "Jesus wept."  And, prior to that, when Mary first summoned Jesus to come to the aid of her ailing brother, she called out to him saying, "Lord he whom thou lovest is sick" (John 11:3).  Finally, 3) the mysterious, "Disciple whom Jesus loved."  Uh oh, wait a minute now....  I think we  just stepped on something.  Hmmm...  I wonder if....  Could it be?  "LAZARUS COME FORTH" (11:43)!

I feel another bible study coming on...  Caller you say what?

One final note; If we take love along on our faith  walk, and approach the sacred texts with respect, honor and an open mind without conforming to the rigidity of tradition, we may all be changed.

© Dorinda G. Henry, 2010

THEOLOGIA HABITUS EST!

"What's It All About?"

Jesus and Mary Magdelene

As I mentioned last week, we had a movie night where the participants of my bible study class watched and discussed Martin Scorsese's, "The Last Temptation of Christ." Needless to say, we had a riotous good time! As you may or may not know, this man called Jesus, after being baptized by John the baptist, was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness/desert to be tempted by the boogeyman, Satan - that anthropomorphic "embodiment of terror." In the scriptures, he was tempted only three times; 1) Jesus is told to change the stones around him into loaves of bread. For which, he responded, "It is written, 'One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" 2) He's taken to the holy city (Jerusalem), and placed at the highest point of the Temple. He's then told to throw himself down, as angels would come and bear him up so "you will not dash your foot against a stone." The response to that was, "Again it is written, 'Do not put the Lord your God to the test.'" Finally, 3) He's taken to the pinnacle of the highest mountain and shown all the kingdoms of the world. "All these I will give you if you fall down and worship me." And Jesus said, "For it is written, 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.'" Defeated, Satan moves on and angels show up to minister to Jesus (NRSV Matthew 3: 13-17; 4: 1-11). Well, in the movie, Jesus' "last temptation," was to live a regular life, with a regular family, having regular sex that lead to regular kids, doing regular things - that regular guys do. Ah, but WHAT IF?

For many years, some scholars have engaged in the theological discourse of exploring the possibility of there being a romantic and yes, intimate relationship between Jesus and Mary of Magdala, aka Mary Magdalene. While there is much speculation and arguably, even more exciting evidence out there surrounding this most titillating "WHAT IF," for me, the question is, "And so WHAT IF they were?" While I understand and respect the fact for many of you, the man called "Jesus of Nazareth," the man Christians have come to know, love, honor and yes, worship, must remain pure - untouched, wholly unscathed in any way - in order to be the Christ. He must be and remain henceforth and forevermore, as other worldly and miraculous - as they want us to believe his birth was. But WHAT IF he wasn't? WHAT IF, he enjoyed the romantic and intimate company of a woman? Would it diminish your faith in him - in God? Would he lose his appeal and power as Lord and Saviour? For me, he would not lose anything in the way of my faith. Quite the contrary, I almost need him to have experienced that aspect of what it means to be wholly human.

I need him to experience and feel the heat of a love in full bloom. I need him to feel the sting and the pain of a love withering away at the end of its season. Without it, like the Mary Magdalene character in "Jesus Christ Superstar," I'm left, wondering, just exactly, "What IS it all about?" C'mo, sing it with Mary;

I DON'T KNOW HOW TO LOVE HIM

(Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice)

I don't know how to love him.

What to do, how to move him.

I've been changed, yes really changed.

In these past few days, when I've seen myself,

I seem like someone else.

I don't know how to take this.

I don't see why he moves me.

He's a man. He's just a man.

And I've had so many men before,

In very many ways,

He's just one more.

Should I bring him down?

Should I scream and shout?

Should I speak of love,

Let my feelings out?

I never thought I'd come to this.

What's it all about?

Don't you think it's rather funny,

I should be in this position.

I'm the one who's always been

So calm, so cool, no lover's fool,

Running every show.

He scares me so.

I never thought I'd come to this.

What's it all about?

Yet, if he said he loved me,

I'd be lost. I'd be frightened.

I couldn't cope. Just couldn't cope.

I'd turn my head. I'd back away.

I wouldn't want to know.

He scares me so.

I want him so.

I love him so.

© Dorinda G. Henry, 2010

THEOLOGIA HABITUS EST!

"A Man of Sorrows"

Jesus and Mary of Magdala

"For he grew up before him like an infant and like a root out of the dry ground; he had no form nor comeliness; and when we saw that he had no beauty, we denied him. He was despised and humbled of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and we turned our faces away from him; we despised him and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our sorrows and carried our griefs; but we considered him stricken smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was slain for our sins, he was afflicted for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have strayed; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the sins of us all. He drew near and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; he was led as a lamb to the slaughter; and as ewe before her shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth. He was taken from prison and from judgment; and who can describe his anguish? For he was cut off out of the land of the living; and some of the evil men of my people struck him. He made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, although he had done no iniquity, neither was there any deceit in his mouth. Yet it pleased the LORD to afflict him; he has put him to grief; he laid down his life as an offering for sin, that posterity may see, and his days shall be prolonged, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. He shall see the reward of the travail of his soul, and be satisfied with the knowledge; he shall justify the righteous; for he is a servant of many, and he shall bear their sins. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he has poured out his life to death; and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sins of many, and died the death of transgressors"

(Peshitta Isaiah 53: 2-13).

We're having movie night! This Saturday, we will be watching "The Last Temptation of Christ." Our class will be exploring the full humanity of Jesus as it relates to his personal struggles as one who was both wholly human and wholly divine. As I've previously stated, this bible study series is on "Relationships in the Bible." As such, we will explore the possibility that Jesus not only had a romantic relationship with Mary of Magdala, but may have even married her! While Martin Scorsese does take generous artistic license - as any artist does - this is a wonderfully daring and exceptional inquiry into the "what ifs" of the man we have come to know as Jesus the Christ. Although I wish you all could be there. I have no doubt it's going to be a deliciously delicate, yet delightful discourse. Can't wait to tell you all about it next week. Until then, Peace.

© Dorinda G. Henry, 2010

THEOLOGIA HABITUS EST!