Sunday, 25 December 2011
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An Out of This World Nativity
I live by Portland OR. People like to "keep Portland weird," and this Christmas carries on the tradition as a church in the northeast part of Portland has put together an alien nativity (source). As you walk into the church you are given 3D glasses that enhance the psychadelic multi-colored lighted hallway. At the end you reach the nativity scene which has four aliens replacing the expected three wise men, and a "shaman" Santa Claus is among the worshippers. The manger is illuminated, calling you towards it. As you you reach the manger and look inside you won't find a baby Jesus but a mirror reflecting your own image back to you. Why?
"You wind up seeing a reflection of yourself, and that's the symbolic message of nativity," Henderson said. "Recognizing divinity and potential in yourself. And at the same time perhaps recognizing the terrestrial nature of Christ."
It's definitely an interesting take on the nativity. Not everyone is a fan of the alien nativity. While some are saying that this is facilitating a profound religious experience others are saying it is irreverent and theologically irresponsible.
What do you think? Does this have more potential for steering people towards God or someone/something else? What's the good and what's the bad here? Would you consider going to this or perhaps putting on something like this?
Better yet, how are you encountering the incarnation in new and creative ways? What's teaching or reminding you of the unique beauty and theological truths of God becoming man this Christmas?
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Comments (2)
I'm not a Christian but I would love to go see that. If you have people there telling the story of Christ's birth, I could see it as a way to reach out to new audiences. It seems like it could be positive. I can see negative, but only if done wrong. If done right, it could be a positive way to reach people.
I do think this is doctrinally irresponsible (to say the least) and can do a great deal of damage to people, like my brother, who are already living in fantasy land and forming their doctrines and theologies on life from other sources aside from God's word. I also agree that it is irreverent and disrespectful (again, to say the least).
But something I also noticed; it contains doctrines that are not Christian in nature, but rather, Hindu in nature!
The phrase ""Recognizing divinity and potential in yourself. And at the same time perhaps recognizing the terrestrial nature of Christ."" appears at first to take its origins from the Bible when you try to cast it in the light of the Bibles teaching that we are made in God's image. However, the Bible NEVER says that we are to look inside ourselves and find the potential and divinity from within. Hindu and Buddhist philosophy teach that we must look inward to find our inner strength and peace that they claim is natural in man and should simply be brought out.
What does the Bible say about our flesh? That in our flesh, NOTHING good dwells. It is only when our flesh is put to death and we become a new creation, being given the Seed and life of Christ that we are now filled with the Spirit, and that does not come from ourselves.
So I would not only stay as far away from such a heretical undertaking as this, but I would also warn others not to indulge in such fruitless and heretical pursuits as these.... but then again, that's probably not a warning anyone is likely ever to take.