A Christian magazine faces criticisms after claiming that Jesus Christ was Asian. This issue started when Christianity Today-an Evangelical media magazine based in Carol Stream, Illinois-posted an article on Monday, Dec. 25.
The article that the religious news outlet posted is about how Asian artists portray Jesus' birth from 1240 until modern times. If you read the article, there's already something wrong in the first sentence.
If you're a Christian who religiously reads the Bible, here are the major details you need to know about the latest issue of Christianity Today.
Christian Magazine Faces Criticisms After Claiming Jesus Christ is Asian
An actor playing Jesus carries a cross surrounded by actors dressed like soldiers as they take part in the Way of the cross during the Good Friday celebrations on April 15, 2022 in Kalwaria Zebrzydowska , Poland.
According to Fox News' latest report, Christianity Today's controversial article was written by Victoria Emily Jones, A Christian writer. In her article, she claimed that Jesus was born in Asia; arguing that the son of God was Asian.
"Jesus was born in Asia. He was Asian," said Jones in her official Christianity Today article.
"Yet the preponderance of Christian art that shows him at home in Europe has meant that he is embedded deeply in the popular imagination as Western," she added.
Aside from these controversial statements, Victoria also included nine pieces of artwork from Asian cultures, which depict the Nativity of Christ. The Christian author explained religious artists could portray a deeper theological meaning of the universality of Jesus Christ's birth.
Emily Jones further stated that Christians who portray Jesus Christ as other than a Jewish man by tackling the subject of incarnation aim to achieve theological meaning and not historical realism.
"By representing Jesus as Japanese, Indonesian, or Indian, they convey a sense of God's immanence, his 'with-us-ness,' for their own communities-and for everyone else, the universality of Christ's birth," she further explained.
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Netizens Bash Christianity Today
Hyderabad, INDIA: A sillouette of a depiction of the crucifixtion of Jesus Christ is seen at Wesley Church on the outskirts of Hyderabad, early 08 April 2007. Easter is an important celebration of the Christian faith commemorating the resurrection of Jesus Christ, three days after his death by crucifixion.
Via its official X account, Christianity Today even posted its controversial article. Because of this, many netizens were able to share their disappointments in the comment section.
Most of them are accusing the religious magazine of blasphemy, questioning the author if she even read the Bible.
An X user said that based on the Gospels, Jesus Christ wasn't Asian, Palestinian, Black, or even European. He said that Jesus was a Jew since it was necessary for humanity's salvation that he become a son of David.
The netizen further stated that Jesus Christ is the King of Jews and the one and only savior of the world. Meanwhile, others said that Christianity Today should change its name to "Heresy Today" since the magazine is writing nonsense things about Christianity.
These are just some of the opinions shared by disappointed netizens. You can click here to see more.
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