Jesus is not blonde haired and blue eyed

[Christian]

Very interesting responses

I laughed a little when I read it (no offense blackjesus), because I guess I never really thought about what Jesus looked like.

Yes, I've seen "pictures" and paintings of our Savior, but always took them to be "placekeepers" if you will.

Obviously Jesus never sat for any portraits so how can anyone have an accurate representation of Him?

Ironically, if He were to come incognito (sans Glory), none of us would know him by His face

Images assigned to His beauty only serve to distract and distort believers view

(...i.e. Who really wants to picture Jim Caveziel (Passion of the Christ) every time they think of Jesus.)

-C-

[sweetycakes]

Interesting topic. I agree with those that have said that Jesus was not white with long, flowing hair. This is one of the main reasons I use when trying to combat the 'white supremacy' thing. How can we whites be 'supreme' when Jesus was a Jew?

Even from an evolutionary standpoint, which I don't agree with, by the way, life originated somewhere in the middle east. So how can ANYBODY claim that whites are 'superior'?

But why the username of 'black Jesus'?

Jesus was not black either.

Ok, I admit, I have not read all the posts in this thread, due to lack of time, but I hope you are not siding with those who claim that Mary was the 'black Madonna'?

Apologies if I got your intentions wrong. Please correct me if they are.

Edited August 9, 2006 by stephenhwrth

[Smalcald]

It is kind of interesting though how when blacks say that Christ may be black or at least dark skinned, all of a sudden whites say it does not matter and we should not even think of such things. Yet for centuries whites portrayed an intentionally white Jesus and it was all okay then to think about Jesus and what He looked like, as long as He was white. As soon as we know He was NOT white, well then it does not matter what Jesus looked like, and we shouldn't even speculate.

I find that interesting.

I have no problem with looking at the physical representation of our Lord and Savior when He was in human form in a realistic fashion, which would be a dark curly haired guy who probably looks like Osama Bin Laden, or maybe had some Ethiopian blood and was indeed very dark. Look at some people living in Egypt today, they have what we would call black skin.

Now this does not matter, our Lord is Lord of all, we are all one in Him, but if we are white we should know that Jesus does not look like us, and I think that it is a good thing, particularly given our racist past and the material benefits that has brought whites. Also it is good ammunition against white racists today who use Christianity, and of course claim that Jesus was white. I think it is better this way, it can help us not feel like we are the center of the universe, which we are not, but usually think we are.

[Giaour]

God made man in His image.

God made man with all different skin colors.

Maybe God shows Himself to each race as their own color?

Or maybe God is a combination of all colors?

Or maybe God is lack of any color which would make him pure light?

Regardless, it is a parents responsibility to teach their children that Jesus looked like a Jew and that we should look at His Glory and not his color.

[kittylover0991]

okay okay, I am probably opening my big mouth when I should keep it shut but... why on earth must we once again turn this into a topic on racism... Jesus was not blond haired and blue eyed.. he wasn't "white" with long flowing hair.. He was black... He wasn't Mexico... Mary was not the black Madonna....

The picture of Jesus has been used to oppress but now we are turning it around to oppress people for today for the people IN TIMES PAST who have used the "white jesus" against others.... With those that used it for such, however, they probably did almost worship it.... and put themselves above others by saying that Jesus looked just like them, but not others. This may be true, I don't know for sure... nor do I truly wish to know.

However... look what people have done!!! When they have an imaginary image of what Jesus looked like!!! I mean.. not just "whites"... the Catholics took Mary, put her on pedistools.. they also(in Mexico) took another goddess of a sort and worship her... People today take what they think Jesus looked like, and put him up on a cross in churches or wear it around their necks.. Jesus is risen by the way, no longer on the cross... and I know so many people who ACTUALLY bow down and worship those stupid man made crosses ... as though it were Jesus... don't forget the wonderful artifacts.. that claim to be peices of the cross that people worship too... although the peices dont' add up to the normal size of a cross... but rather more... Look what man has been doing When man gets even an image in his head.. in our case, a wonderful universal one... man puts this image up on a pedastol as though it were actually Jesus himself... I feel that that is why God never gave us all the wonderful specifics of what Jesus looked like.. because man would make a whole other doctrine out of it... and worship that image as they already have with substitutes for the real thing..

*by the way.. I am sorry if it seems like I am bashing Catholics, that is not what I am doing.. I said "in churches' because there are so many others, other than the Catholic church that do so with crosses*

As for "black jesus"... and I don't mean the person on here... I am not sure why that name irritates me so much... This whole thing with slavery has gone way out of hand... what my ancestors did, I had no control over and I am tired of people I know being oppressed by affirmative action.. so this idea of a black jesus ONLY because of the fact of slavery, irritates me. And what makes it worse... there is a lost person around my school.. his name around all the drugies is "black jesus" .. I have tried to witness to him, but the smell of smoke on him leaves me gagging... people have used that for many other ways... and for someone to take my Lord's name like that... for the purpose of slavery, fun, and argument(normally with Christians)... it puts fire in me.

*steps off soap box again*

Look... We dont' knwo what Jesus looks like... slavery is done and overwith although we live in a racist society because whites and blacks alike will not let it go and move on.. because they are stuck in the past... why dont' we just move on.... and the reason I say, "Let's move on", is not because I am white(actually, part Indian and Hungarian), but because this topic is discussed in so much detail, and now we have moved to racism.

Must everything be lowered to the cowardly state of racism? Yes.. cowardly state of racism.

Crystal

[kittylover0991]

God made man in His image.

God made man with all different skin colors.

Maybe God shows Himself to each race as their own color?

Or maybe God is a combination of all colors?

Or maybe God is lack of any color which would make him pure light?

Regardless, it is a parents responsibility to teach their children that Jesus looked like a Jew and that we should look at His Glory and not his color.

Amen Giour,

Turns out we were typing at the same time Amen

[sweetycakes]

okay okay, I am probably opening my big mouth when I should keep it shut but... why on earth must we once again turn this into a topic on racism... Jesus was not blond haired and blue eyed.. he wasn't "white" with long flowing hair.. He was black... He wasn't Mexico... Mary was not the black Madonna....

The picture of Jesus has been used to oppress but now we are turning it around to oppress people for today for the people IN TIMES PAST who have used the "white jesus" against others.... With those that used it for such, however, they probably did almost worship it.... and put themselves above others by saying that Jesus looked just like them, but not others. This may be true, I don't know for sure... nor do I truly wish to know.

However... look what people have done!!! When they have an imaginary image of what Jesus looked like!!! I mean.. not just "whites"... the Catholics took Mary, put her on pedistools.. they also(in Mexico) took another goddess of a sort and worship her... People today take what they think Jesus looked like, and put him up on a cross in churches or wear it around their necks.. Jesus is risen by the way, no longer on the cross... and I know so many people who ACTUALLY bow down and worship those stupid man made crosses ... as though it were Jesus... don't forget the wonderful artifacts.. that claim to be peices of the cross that people worship too... although the peices dont' add up to the normal size of a cross... but rather more... Look what man has been doing When man gets even an image in his head.. in our case, a wonderful universal one... man puts this image up on a pedastol as though it were actually Jesus himself... I feel that that is why God never gave us all the wonderful specifics of what Jesus looked like.. because man would make a whole other doctrine out of it... and worship that image as they already have with substitutes for the real thing..

*by the way.. I am sorry if it seems like I am bashing Catholics, that is not what I am doing.. I said "in churches' because there are so many others, other than the Catholic church that do so with crosses*

As for "black jesus"... and I don't mean the person on here... I am not sure why that name irritates me so much... This whole thing with slavery has gone way out of hand... what my ancestors did, I had no control over and I am tired of people I know being oppressed by affirmative action.. so this idea of a black jesus ONLY because of the fact of slavery, irritates me. And what makes it worse... there is a lost person around my school.. his name around all the drugies is "black jesus" .. I have tried to witness to him, but the smell of smoke on him leaves me gagging... people have used that for many other ways... and for someone to take my Lord's name like that... for the purpose of slavery, fun, and argument(normally with Christians)... it puts fire in me.

*steps off soap box again*

Look... We dont' knwo what Jesus looks like... slavery is done and overwith although we live in a racist society because whites and blacks alike will not let it go and move on.. because they are stuck in the past... why dont' we just move on.... and the reason I say, "Let's move on", is not because I am white(actually, part Indian and Hungarian), but because this topic is discussed in so much detail, and now we have moved to racism.

Must everything be lowered to the cowardly state of racism? Yes.. cowardly state of racism.

Crystal

here, here

If you read my post correctly, that is exactly what I was alluding to. There is no place for racism in Christianity, but there is certainly a difference of opinion regarding true doctrine, which sets Christians apart from all other belief systems of the world, regardless of colour, creed, etc.

The real issue is not one of colour, race or anything else related to ethnicity, but of who possesses the true and living gospel.

This has been put forth by Jesus. His is the final word. We can't get behind that.

[cjrose]

I am posting this because it is hard to believe that in a multicultural "civilized" world, we are still unable to rid ourselves of racial discrimination. The image of Christ is a good start. Yes it is true that the Christ could have been purple and he would still have been the son of god, but the truth is our unwillingness to present a more realistic image of Jesus can be attributed to constant racial socialization which prevents us from viewing the light and the way as anything but "pure" aka white anglo saxon. Jesus was an israelite which means he could have been a number of shades or complexions none of which are similar to the kurt cobain image we see presented everyday. I am African-American and this erroneous image bothers me. The truth is an offense but not a sin. Let us strive for a more accurate image of christ or represent him as what he truly was a glorious light.

I am personally of the opinion that any representation of Jesus can lead to idolatry. This is my preference only, and I do not criticize or condemn any believer that keeps images of this kind, however. I also don't think that "black Jesus" verses "white Jesus" is anything to quibble senselessly about. Remember what the Lord said to Thomas refarding faith: "Blessed are they who have not seen and believe."

I couldn't agree with you more Ovedya and never really thought of it that way, as idolitry. I wear a cross around my neck, do you consider that idolitry? Just curious.

<3

[Ovedya]

It is kind of interesting though how when blacks say that Christ may be black or at least dark skinned, all of a sudden whites say it does not matter and we should not even think of such things. Yet for centuries whites portrayed an intentionally white Jesus and it was all okay then to think about Jesus and what He looked like, as long as He was white. As soon as we know He was NOT white, well then it does not matter what Jesus looked like, and we shouldn't even speculate.

I find that interesting.

I have no problem with looking at the physical representation of our Lord and Savior when He was in human form in a realistic fashion, which would be a dark curly haired guy who probably looks like Osama Bin Laden, or maybe had some Ethiopian blood and was indeed very dark. Look at some people living in Egypt today, they have what we would call black skin.

Now this does not matter, our Lord is Lord of all, we are all one in Him, but if we are white we should know that Jesus does not look like us, and I think that it is a good thing, particularly given our racist past and the material benefits that has brought whites. Also it is good ammunition against white racists today who use Christianity, and of course claim that Jesus was white. I think it is better this way, it can help us not feel like we are the center of the universe, which we are not, but usually think we are.

I more or less see this as an issue of "enlightenment." It's not that white Christians suddenly decide that it's no big deal because they don't want to break the "status quo." It's probably more that they have understood for some time now that it doesn't really matter, and so they haven't bothered to comment on it.

Granted, racism has only been recently addressed in terms of history. But I think that, generally speaking, most folks are too "touchy" about the subject, and feel that if they are not themselves being preferential than why bother stirring the pot. Why bother commenting at all on a subject that might cause embarassment.

I personally don't think that some subjects that have been generally resolved in society need to be constantly dredged up and gone over again for the sake of "closure." Yes, racism is a constant battle. But we need to take the victories that have already been won and move on in the larger battle, rather than always going back to those areas which have already been conquored and re-examining them.

[RustyAngeL]

While I"m sure your right about Him not being blonde haired and blue eyed it's more important what He did and continues to do rather then what He looked like.