Why is this even notable? The portrayal of Jesus has changed numerous times throughout history to match the audience that was being shown. He did not even get a beard until the 6th century.
It matters a great deal whether or not Jesus is an Indian peasant or a Jew. All of the prophecies of Christ, God's plan to send Christ as a sacrifice for the nation of Israel, and even Christ's worthiness as the sacrificial lamb are all contingent upon His being a Jew.
Too many people ignore the Old Testament, but it's there for a reason.
And, for the record, Isaiah 50:6 describes the soldiers as pulling Jesus' beard out, so your statement that the description of His beard not appearing until the sixth centurry is not true.
Last edited by PastorJim; 13th October 2008 at 12:20 PM.
Each culture has a different messiah pointing to the true messiah though. C.S. Lewis describes these signs to God as happy dreams, parts of a persons culture that mesh with God's story and plan for the world.
While Jesus is undoubtedly Jewish, because the Indian culture is shy, and slightly prejudiced against Jews it would be difficult for them to understand, or comprehend a Jewish messiah. Since this Bible is meant to reach the lost, then it would probably be best to reach them on a cultural level first
Each culture has a different messiah pointing to the true messiah though. C.S. Lewis describes these signs to God as happy dreams, parts of a persons culture that mesh with God's story and plan for the world.
While Jesus is undoubtedly Jewish, because the Indian culture is shy, and slightly prejudiced against Jews it would be difficult for them to understand, or comprehend a Jewish messiah. Since this Bible is meant to reach the lost, then it would probably be best to reach them on a cultural level first
Reach them with what? An Indian peasant who no longer fulfills the Messianic prophecies, no longer is sent for the lost sheep of Israel, and is no longer an acceptable sacrifice?
What happens when you convince the Indians that Jesus was really an Indian peasant, and then they read about the Biblical prophecies that say that the Messiah would be a Jew and would come from the line of David? How do you plan to explain that little descrepancy to them?
So how do people who are raised with pictures of a white Jesus cope with the idea that he was a Jewish carpenter in Israel? There are so many pictures of Jesus in the media that are OBVIOUSLY Caucasian (going so far as to draw him with blonde hair), and yet anyone who knows him knows he was a Jewish carpenter. If it's easy for those in the west to see a blonde/brown haired Jesus consistently in the media, and yet know he probably looked different, it shouldn't be that difficult for an Indian convert to see pictures of an Indian Jesus, and realize he wasn't Indian. They're not five year olds who find out Santa Clause isn't real.
So how do people who are raised with pictures of a white Jesus cope with the idea that he was a Jewish carpenter in Israel? There are so many pictures of Jesus in the media that are OBVIOUSLY Caucasian (going so far as to draw him with blonde hair), and yet anyone who knows him knows he was a Jewish carpenter. If it's easy for those in the west to see a blonde/brown haired Jesus consistently in the media, and yet know he probably looked different, it shouldn't be that difficult for an Indian convert to see pictures of an Indian Jesus, and realize he wasn't Indian. They're not five year olds who find out Santa Clause isn't real.
Excellent post. I don't really see a serious problem with any of this either.
__________________ "Controversy is only dreaded by the advocates of error.”
Benjamin Rush
A flower in the barrel of a gun, come on, how do you change the teachings of Christ is this way?
Read carefully over the New Testament and listen to Jesus Christ with prayer. It will be hard for you to hear him, but you can, even the most theological based Orthodox Christian or worldly man or Muslim can hear Christ, if they try and pray until it happens.
Last edited by Stephen Kendall; 19th October 2008 at 03:31 PM.
So how do people who are raised with pictures of a white Jesus cope with the idea that he was a Jewish carpenter in Israel? There are so many pictures of Jesus in the media that are OBVIOUSLY Caucasian (going so far as to draw him with blonde hair), and yet anyone who knows him knows he was a Jewish carpenter. If it's easy for those in the west to see a blonde/brown haired Jesus consistently in the media, and yet know he probably looked different, it shouldn't be that difficult for an Indian convert to see pictures of an Indian Jesus, and realize he wasn't Indian. They're not five year olds who find out Santa Clause isn't real.
It isn't about what Jesus looks like. It's about changing the word of God.
Again, how do you explain a false Christ who no longer fulfills the Messianic prophecies, no longer is sent for the lost sheep of Israel, and is no longer an acceptable sacrifice?
What happens when you convince the Indians that Jesus was really an Indian peasant, and then they read about the Biblical prophecies that say that the Messiah would be a Jew and would come from the line of David? How do you plan to explain that little descrepancy to them?
[quote=PastorJim;49079126]So then, you're OK with removing the Messianic prophecies and the Biblical teachings about who Jesus was and what His mission was?
I don't recall reading anything in the article that mentioned the removal of messianic prophecies in the edition of the Bible under discussion. There is no mention of the removal of Genesis 49:10, Deuteronomy 18:15-18, 2 Samuel 7:16, Psalm 41:9, Isaiah 7:14, 9:6-7, 35:4-6, 40:1-5,9, 49:6, 50:6, 53:1-3, 53:4-6, 53:7, 53:9, 53:12, Jeremiah 23:5, Daniel 9:24-26, Micah 5:1-2, Zechariah 9:9, 11:12-13, 12:10, Matthew 20:17-19, John 3:16, and John 4:19-26.
Honestly, I must confess that I am uncomfortable with references to Bhagavad Gita and related works though.
Originally Posted by PastorJim
How do you tell somebody that Jesus was an Indian peasant, but was, at the same time, a Jew?
I would not actually tell anyone that Jesus was a blond or light brown haired, blue eyed Northern European as he is often portrayed in the West. Anyone who would read and seriously study the Bible would be able to correctly identify the ethnic lineage of Jesus.
__________________ "Controversy is only dreaded by the advocates of error.”
Benjamin Rush
It isn't about what Jesus looks like. It's about changing the word of God.
Again, how do you explain a false Christ who no longer fulfills the Messianic prophecies, no longer is sent for the lost sheep of Israel, and is no longer an acceptable sacrifice?
What happens when you convince the Indians that Jesus was really an Indian peasant, and then they read about the Biblical prophecies that say that the Messiah would be a Jew and would come from the line of David? How do you plan to explain that little descrepancy to them?
It was a PICTURE of Jesus! By this logic it is changing the Bible to draw Jesus as a white man because it might convince someone that Jesus wasn't Jewish. I had a Bible with pictures of Jesus as a Caucasian, and I realize that he was Jewish. A picture is a picture. The article says nothing about saying Jesus was Indian, it just has a picture of him as an Indian Peasant.
Linear Mode
