Striking Touchdown Jesus

For those who have traveled Interstate 75 in southern Ohio it would have been nearly impossible to miss Solid Rock Church located midway between Cincinnati and Dayton. If the building itself didn’t catch your eye then your attention would have been drawn to an enormous statue of Jesus rising out of the water with upraised arms.

It was a 62 foot tall statue next to the expressway bearing a striking resemblance to a football referee signaling a touchdown and that has led to the inevitable moniker among locals of “Touchdown Jesus.” The statue, consisting of a metal frame covered by Styrofoam and wood is reported to have cost over $300,000 to construct.

I say “was” because on Monday June 14, a severe thunderstorm passed through the area and the icon was struck by lightning and consumed by flames. The only thing left is a hollow metal frame standing empty and starkly eerie against the sky. Reporters from the local media have interviewed residents and the responses vary. Some deeply revered the statue while many viewed it as an object of ridicule. Still others saw it is a graven image that crossed the border of idolatry. “It’s just blasphemous” said one person, “because it elicits more ridicule than respect.”

Witnesses reported seeing lightening strike the right hand which caught fire spreading through the entire effigy. Several people have even speculated on the symbolism that this act of God, or at least nature was a manifest display of God’s judgment against idolatry. The church leaders on the other hand expect a full house this Sunday and are grateful for the free advertising.

While visiting with friends Tuesday evening the topic of conversation went to the burned out figure. I mentioned that I had driven by it earlier in the day. I also mentioned that I hoped the church would not rebuild it. One lady at the dinner party asked if I didn’t think the statue was beneficial. After all, some people may be drawn to Jesus by seeing the statue, she reasoned.

While I mean no disrespect to members of the church or those inspired by the sight of the statue, it exemplifies the weakness of 21^st century Christianity. That hollow empty shell may be a metaphor of the traditional church.

The message of the Bible is deep and profound. But the organized church is in a political mire that worships the structure more than the Master. As a result churches focus on numbers more than meaning. The gospel has become a shallow message that lacks a call to sincere repentance. In fact, it doesn’t require anything. As James said, “Faith without works is dead,” which caused Martin Luther to call this book “an epistle of straw.”

But Luther was wrong! His teaching has led to a “religion lite” that has become a church without substance. It decries murder but supports abortion; condemns infidelity but encourages cohabitation; talks about sin but can’t define what sin is; calls for freedom and creates dependency; speaks of justice but prevents consequences.

Churches seem to be populated by people who are too busy to read the Bible, too distracted to focus on the message, too occupied to worship God—too desirous of pleasure, hollow laughter and the next addiction to commit to a job, a spouse, or even God. How can such uncommitted, inconsistent and distracted people be a light to the world?

But inevitably trials find their way into the life of every person. At such a time shallow answers will not suffice and shallow religion will not endure. Fighting a battle to win takes serious commitment.

When God led the Israelites out of Egypt He brought them into the Promised Land. But there were enemies in the land. It meant a war to rid the nation of terrorists. Such enemies are not overcome by pious platitudes and acts of kindness. But Israel was too distracted with her new wealth to take time to listen to God’s warnings. The result was a loss of freedom and a return to slavery.

The solution is a complete commitment. When asked “What is the greatest commandment?” Jesus responded, “…you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' (Mark 12:30) Half hearted religion is like lukewarm water on a hot day. It’s not worth swallowing.

What Christianity needs now is not another statue. We can start by teaching the laws of God.

Until next time,