Previous Challenge Entry (Level 2 – Intermediate)
Topic: CLOWN (02/13/20)
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TITLE: "Pray for Him..." | Previous Challenge Entry
By Rene Kirstein
02/20/20 -
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The boy's caused a furor
His art considered Blasphemy!
"Not blasphemy, reality," says he.
The battle is fierce
Swords dash and pierce
Demands, derision, and damnation abound
While Love lies bleeding on the ground.
"Pray for him, don't judge," say some
Others cry, "Stand up for Father and Son!"
But are we called to only pray?
Is it not to intrigue and display?
Though I've faith to move mountains
Give possessions to thousands
Though my arguments are touching
Without love, I am nothing.
Love is patient, Love is kind
Love some common ground will find
Shame will drive to run and hide
Only Love can bridge the divide.
Love's slow to speak and quick to listen
Seeking anything the gap to lessen
Dismissing offense, Love shifts her frame
And finds her message glorifying His name.
A clown on a cross…
A handle? Or dross?
Offensive, perhaps
Yet a merging of maps…
Jesus our Lord, was here on a mission
Teaching His love and changing cognition
He brought changes revolutionary
Gave His life substitutionally…
It's no longer Christ on the cross!
The clown is my dross
The dross of my sin, which He became
That I may go free as He took my shame.
The clown is only a moment in time
When Christ took the suit that once was mine
In its place, as He rose, He gave me a crown
And resumed His position on His throne of renown.
The clown's but a chrysalis
Empty and purposeless;
A symbol of ablation
Through grace, to transformation.
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This poem is inspired by an event that took place in South Africa in October 2019. A Christian school had exhibited the art of a senior student which caused a public outcry when pictures were posted on social media without the artist's nor the school's permission, and without the explanatory notes that accompanied the art.
This art was indirectly linked to the "McJesus" controversy in Israel earlier, in January 2019, as both artists used the Ronald McDonald clown.
The purpose of the poem is not to agree nor disagree with the messages of the artists, but to use the controversies as a springboard to call God's people back to basics: Our symbols are not holy, Jesus is.
It's a call to create distance between us and our precious graphic images; they are nothing but artifacts, while each person, saved or unsaved, is created in the real image of God. The poem is a call to take care not to defame Jesus as we defend our images and desiccate His image in the one in front of us, marred as it may seem.
Let's rather allow our perspective to change, as we listen to the heart of the one who offends us; perhaps we will find that they speak a hard, but relevant truth? Or perhaps, as we hear their heart, we are able to lead them closer to truth, even if it be but one step. We cannot do this in anger, nor through shame. We can only do it through love.
Mike Burnard covers this story from a godly perspective, adding his wise counsel: https://joynews.co.za/demonic-artwork-in-schools-a-christian-response/
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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Unique approach to the topic.
Well written piece.
Blessings~
Blessings~