Biblical interpretations: The beauty of "Bikini" diversity
SOUTH WEST VIRGINA
March 6, 2011
WEST VIRGINIA--In a Letter to the Editor, Dr. Mark Ross, pastor of Marion Baptist Church explains how he came face-to-face with the embrace of artistic diversity within his church (excerpts): Last week, I saw something in the main hall of our church which I thought I would never see. On a bulletin board, beside a list of opportunities for Christian service, was a bikini! There it was, a life-sized sketch of a girl wearing a striped string-bikini top. The art group leader explained to me that the painting was “biblical art.” She calmly said, “It is in Ephesians six.” In Paul’s letter to Ephesus he wrote, “Therefore, take up the whole armor of God…” The girl in the sketch had on stylish sandals with small colorful beads, “As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.” The artist had drawn a bejeweled belt around the girl’s waist. Paul wrote, “And fasten the belt of truth around your waist.” Then, I saw what I was looking for and finally understood. He wrote, “And put on the breastplate of righteousness.” There it was in living color, the breastplate of righteousness, a bikini! My picture of a breastplate of righteousness is fairly open, but it does not include a bikini. Yet, obviously the artist thought of material, not metal, and she thought of beauty, not utility. As badly as I want to correct her theology, I have to leave as much room for her interpretation as my own. I have decided that I can live with a bikini for a breastplate of righteousness. The Kingdom has more troubles than a swimsuit. My only concern is explaining it to Saint Paul someday. I think I will simply say, “It is in Ephesians six.” [link]
March 6, 2011
WEST VIRGINIA--In a Letter to the Editor, Dr. Mark Ross, pastor of Marion Baptist Church explains how he came face-to-face with the embrace of artistic diversity within his church (excerpts): Last week, I saw something in the main hall of our church which I thought I would never see. On a bulletin board, beside a list of opportunities for Christian service, was a bikini! There it was, a life-sized sketch of a girl wearing a striped string-bikini top. The art group leader explained to me that the painting was “biblical art.” She calmly said, “It is in Ephesians six.” In Paul’s letter to Ephesus he wrote, “Therefore, take up the whole armor of God…” The girl in the sketch had on stylish sandals with small colorful beads, “As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace.” The artist had drawn a bejeweled belt around the girl’s waist. Paul wrote, “And fasten the belt of truth around your waist.” Then, I saw what I was looking for and finally understood. He wrote, “And put on the breastplate of righteousness.” There it was in living color, the breastplate of righteousness, a bikini! My picture of a breastplate of righteousness is fairly open, but it does not include a bikini. Yet, obviously the artist thought of material, not metal, and she thought of beauty, not utility. As badly as I want to correct her theology, I have to leave as much room for her interpretation as my own. I have decided that I can live with a bikini for a breastplate of righteousness. The Kingdom has more troubles than a swimsuit. My only concern is explaining it to Saint Paul someday. I think I will simply say, “It is in Ephesians six.” [link]
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