Jesus the comic book hero

I have an enduring interest in the contextualisation of Scripture. I firmly believe the message must not change – however the way it is delivered must continue to evolve. I have become interested from afar in the Mars Hill church in Seattle. Their pastor, Mark Driscoll, has been variously described as a “cool Calvinist” and as “Theologically conservative but culturally liberal.”

What caught my attention recently was a quote from Mark which appeals to me…..

“Jesus was not a limp-wrist hippie in a dress with a lot of product in His hair, who drank decaf and made pithy Zen statements about life while shopping for the perfect pair of shoes…….In Revelation, Jesus is a prize fighter with a tattoo down His leg, a sword in His hand and the commitment to make someone bleed.”

Another thing that I have just discovered is the “Manga Bible.” Manga, loosely translated, is the Japanese word for “comic.” The Bible has been translated from Genesis to Revelation in cartoons.The Manga Bible’s author, Ajinbayo Akinsiku wants the world to know Jesus Christ, just not the gentle, blue-eyed Christ of old Hollywood movies and illustrated Bibles.

“For the unchurched, the book is to show that this thing, the Bible, is still relevant,”

“Jesus is a samurai stranger who’s come to town, in silhouette,”

“We present things in a very brazen way....Christ is a hard
guy, seeking revolution and revolt, a tough guy.”

I must admit to thinking the whole thing is a little light-weight at first until I read a quote from the Archbishop of Canterbury – the Most Reverend Dr Rowan Williams…“It will convey the shock and freshness of the Bible in a unique way.”

Samurai....Prize Fighter....Revolutionary……Maybe we really need to rethink Jesus.