HEAR THIS BROTHERS AND SISTERS
In my art I show where John the Baptist tells the Jews that being born a Jew is not good enough. He hits them in the center of who they are and what they believe. Bold. Direct. He was not racist, or anti-Semitic. John himself was born a Jew. But he wants them to know that it takes more than being born a Jew to please God. Idolatry involves the worship of something or someone other than God as if it were God. The Jews made their race into a type of idolatry and John called them out on it. He tells them this because it is the truth and he was being obedient to his purpose in life. There are more examples of John being direct and telling the unpopular truth to those that asked. Look at this from the Gospel of Luke, chapter 3:
Those tax collectors made their living collecting taxes for the Roman Empire and it was common for the tax collector to collect a little extra for himself. That's how they earned a living. Likewise, the soldiers used their positions to hustle money from the people. It's what the tax collectors and soldiers did. John called them out. He did not concern himself with political correctness. He did not concern himself with hurting their feelings. When they came to John and asked him what they should do he did not hold back the truth. He did not even spare King Herod. Look at this from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6:
So even the King listened to John the Baptist. The king would not have had John beheaded if it were not for his wife's actions. She did not want to hear John pointing out their sin. She was embarrassed and infuriated to the point that she even plotted John's death. Here is what I see in this: John was a fiery preacher that indeed called out sin in a direct way. However, he only did this to those that came to him and were interested in his message. It was people that were believers or those interested in becoming a believer that John preached to. The worldly people did not want to hear it. It seems that the king's unlawful wife, Herodias, was one of those worldly people and it was because of her that John was beheaded. As Christians, we should learn from this. When people come to us that are genuinely interested in the faith or we are talking to someone that is a fellow believer, tell the truth. Don't water it down out of concern for political correctness. However, if it is a worldly person that is just having a worldly conversation, it may not be a good idea to engage with them. One example of this would be on the LGBT issue. It's hot-button issue and worldly people do not really want to hear scriptural truth on this issue. It will only stir up an argument. However, when talking to other believers certainly speak the truth. Many Christians out there do not know the scriptures or have a faulty understanding of the Bible's teaching on this issue. Help them, even if it is difficult. Do not be like a "reed shaken by the wind" (see Matthew 11:7).
Think about this brothers and sisters: if a gay man went to John the Baptist and asked what he should do, what do you think John would have said? He would have told him to stop sinning in a very direct and understandable way, just like he did with the Jew, tax collector, soldier, and King Herod. And John would have baptized him if he were willing to repent. If he came to you and asked, what would you say?
Tax collectors also came to be baptized and said to him, “Teacher, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Collect no more than you are authorized to do.” Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what shall we do?” And he said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.”
Those tax collectors made their living collecting taxes for the Roman Empire and it was common for the tax collector to collect a little extra for himself. That's how they earned a living. Likewise, the soldiers used their positions to hustle money from the people. It's what the tax collectors and soldiers did. John called them out. He did not concern himself with political correctness. He did not concern himself with hurting their feelings. When they came to John and asked him what they should do he did not hold back the truth. He did not even spare King Herod. Look at this from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6:
For Herod himself had sent and laid hold of John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; for he had married her. Because John had said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife." Therefore Herodias held it against him and wanted to kill him, but she could not; for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a just and holy man, and he protected him. And when he heard him, he did many things, and heard him gladly.
So even the King listened to John the Baptist. The king would not have had John beheaded if it were not for his wife's actions. She did not want to hear John pointing out their sin. She was embarrassed and infuriated to the point that she even plotted John's death. Here is what I see in this: John was a fiery preacher that indeed called out sin in a direct way. However, he only did this to those that came to him and were interested in his message. It was people that were believers or those interested in becoming a believer that John preached to. The worldly people did not want to hear it. It seems that the king's unlawful wife, Herodias, was one of those worldly people and it was because of her that John was beheaded. As Christians, we should learn from this. When people come to us that are genuinely interested in the faith or we are talking to someone that is a fellow believer, tell the truth. Don't water it down out of concern for political correctness. However, if it is a worldly person that is just having a worldly conversation, it may not be a good idea to engage with them. One example of this would be on the LGBT issue. It's hot-button issue and worldly people do not really want to hear scriptural truth on this issue. It will only stir up an argument. However, when talking to other believers certainly speak the truth. Many Christians out there do not know the scriptures or have a faulty understanding of the Bible's teaching on this issue. Help them, even if it is difficult. Do not be like a "reed shaken by the wind" (see Matthew 11:7).
Think about this brothers and sisters: if a gay man went to John the Baptist and asked what he should do, what do you think John would have said? He would have told him to stop sinning in a very direct and understandable way, just like he did with the Jew, tax collector, soldier, and King Herod. And John would have baptized him if he were willing to repent. If he came to you and asked, what would you say?
John echoed the words of the Prophet Elijah, written in the Book of Isaiah. He was fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy. It was foretold that a messenger would prepare the way for the Messiah.
The voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.— Isaiah 40:3
Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.— Malachi 3:1
Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD:.... — Malachi 4:5
DO NOT OFFEND ME.
The boundaries of what is appropriate or offensive have dramatically changed. Because the western world has stepped away from the traditional Judaeo-Christian worldview, we no longer have a unanimous, cohesive reference point for what is right or wrong, or for even what is funny or offensive. The sins explained in the Bible have mostly been replaced with new sins that have been invented within radical liberalism: misogyny, homophobia, racism (now re-defined), hate speech (almost anything that does not agree with liberalism), climate change denial, and on and on, making it up as they go.
Recognizing that the ungodly NOW determine what is offensive or not, at least in the worldly system, should Christians care? Should Christians concern themselves with political-correctness?
Most Christians, hopefully, still look to the Bible for guidance and its instruction is clear to those that honestly listen. Clearly, John the Baptist was not concerned about political-correctness or being offensive. He called them a "brood of vipers". He insulted the Jews by telling them that being born a Jew is NOT good enough. John criticized them all and gave them instruction on what is right and wrong, every class, even the Roman soldier occupying their land. He even went so far as to call out the King for his sin of divorce and unlawful re-marriage. John was not concerned about offending people. He was living out his purpose. He came to preach against sin and introduce the world to the Messiah. For telling the truth, he was beheaded. Why did he put his life on the line like that? Why would he die for the truth? Is it that important?
Apparently, it is not important enough to Christians today. We have lost our fire, our boldness. Where are our Christians like John? Maybe there aren't any around anymore. Spiritually speaking: maybe they all have been beheaded; or they are still in the desert, eating locusts and wild honey.
THE ART
I drew these drawings of John the Baptist with pencil and did some gray-scale digital painting. I did more digital painting in pages 3 and 4. I always prefer the simplicity of the black and white. So I doubt I will paint it in color. The words of the sequential art are taken from the Gospels. Included here are recent observations about what I see around me and these things were my inspiration for the artwork. The sad state of the world shows me how we need a savior. We need a savior to cover our sins, heal us, and make us worthy to be with a holy God. The story of John the Baptist is not the beginning. The beginning is in Genesis, the time of our creation and our falling away from God. John the Baptist announced that it is time to receive God and God's plan to restore humanity.
In the sequential art, the only person you see directly is John. When he preaches to the people, you see their shadows. And, you see the many footprints of the people in the mud. This shows that he had previously baptized many people and they left the scene. You also see the shadows of the old covenant officials. This is symbolic of how the old covenant is to be a shadow of the new. John washing his robe in the river is symbolic of baptism. He only wears a loin cloth. He is physically exposed, just as he exposes himself with his words by revealing to the officials that he is nothing and Christ is the light.
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