Hacking Church Art: Add more of the story this Lent

By making subtle changes to traditional worship imagery, you can tell more of the story of Jesus this Lent.

Tell the Lenten story. Use words if necessary.

Lent is the period of 40 days leading up to Easter Sunday. In the Christian tradition, it is a time of reflection, restriction, and participation in intentional acts of mercy and missions. As a pastor, I want to tell the story of Lent and invite people on this journey via spoken word, yes, but also through artwork that draws people in.

Just like stained glass and Renaissance artwork in days of old, every church community has to figure out how to tell this journey visually: today it is often in altar paraments, bulletin covers, social media graphics, and worship banners. Probably every church has some version of the “Path to the Three Crosses” banners or artwork during Lent. This visually depicts the crucifixion and death of Jesus alongside two robbers on Calvary Hill.

The problem is that particular art only tells one story: the story that Jesus dying on the cross is the moment of atonement, meaning Jesus died for our sins so that we might obtain eternal life. That’s a classic theology, of course…but it isn’t the only one.

What if we could tell more than one theology in a single image? What would that look like to evoke more reflection than a single theological claim?

Quick Primer on Atonement Theologies

Hacking Christianity is known worldwide for the above 2013 graphic and accompanying blog post: “A Primer on Atonement Theologies.” It’s easy and accessible to teach on a complicated topic of atonement: the process of reconciliation between God and human beings (either on a communal or individual basis) with the goal of righting a wrong or injury, i.e. sin.

As the post outlines, Christians contend that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth is intimately related to this process of atonement. But not all agree on when this act of atonement happened.

To you, what part of Jesus’ life was most important in redeeming humanity? Of course, each moment is necessary for the full life of Jesus, but each theological claim focuses on a particular moment as the moment of reconciliation and atonement.

• Birth of Jesus (the incarnation of God becoming human as the moment when reconciliation happened)
• Life & Teaching of Jesus (the words and actions of Jesus provide the avenue to eternal life)
• Death of Jesus (the crucifixion and death of a sinless Jesus reconciles the sins of humanity)
• Resurrection of Jesus (the act of resurrecting Jesus nullifies the weight of sin and reconciles humanity to God).

Wow, that’s a lot more variety than we could put on a single image, right? Right?

Turns out, you totally can!

Hacking the Lenten Banner

A few years ago, First Church Seattle, a United Methodist church where I am the pastor, took a traditional image and made a true work of art that also tells more of the Lenten story, incorporating more ideas of God’s saving graces in atonement and reconciliation.

First Church Seattle has a 29-foot-tall blank wall at the front of the sanctuary; it’s such a blessing to have, but figuring out how to fill the space takes a lot of intentionality! For the past several years, we’ve been blessed by having a church member who is a digital artist who has commissioned three printed banners for us (and is completing a fourth as I write this).

For Lent, we asked the artist Isaac Pruden to create a traditional Lenten image but expand its theology. He delivered brilliantly. This piece has three “hacks” that make it into a rich theological work of art that I believe tells more of the story.

1 – The Bethlehem Star

Yes, that’s a star subtly shining in the upper right corner! That symbol is a traditional image of the Bethlehem star that guided the Magi in the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 2) to Jesus’ birthplace in the classic Christmas story.

It reminds us that God’s saving work of grace is found in the birth of Jesus (Incarnation) as well as the Crucifixion. When you make the connection between Christmas and Easter, you get a better sense that God’s acts of salvation go beyond glorifying violence on the cross.

2 – The Road Beyond

I will egotistically claim that this was my request. Lent is a journey, and traditionally the road is depicted as ending at the crosses on Calvary Hill. I requested that the road continue beyond the crosses, and Isaac delivered brilliantly.

This signifies that the Cross is one moment on the journey of salvation God offers us. The locus of salvation in the life and teachings of Jesus reminds us that actively walking the journey with Christ is our salvation. Truly in the words of J.R.R. Tolkien “the road goes ever on…”

3 – The Sunrise

Finally, the sunrise (the artist was clear it is a sunrise not a sunset) beyond the empty crosses reminds us of the rest of the story is just over them there hills: the empty tomb and resurrection, not depicted but foretold, imagined just beyond the horizon.

This artwork reminds us that putting the locus of salvation at the Resurrection is one part of the story (indeed, a classic atonement theology of “Ransom Captive” places more atonement power at the resurrection than crucifixion). The gift God gives humanity by reversing death’s hold is a powerful moment indeed to be reminded of.

More of the Story

There you go: four parts of the story in a single cohesive image. Huzzah!

This is important because we need more stories because we all bring our whole selves when we reflect on art. It may be that the pain and suffering of the crucifixion gives you the most spiritual reflection during Lent, and that’s great. For this very reason, the classic artwork and depictions of Jesus have endured in our imagination and churches for centuries.

Art can also expand our perspective, and art like this banner subtly expands our theologies to include more of Jesus’ life. This kind of Lenten art is a win for everyone, no matter what atonement theology speaks most to you now.

Thank you for celebrating the artist’s creation with me, and for reflecting on how you might transform your church artwork to evoke more of the story this Lent. Let us know in the comments!

Your Turn

Thoughts?

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