Steve VanDyke Director, Community Servants Missions Training School, TN

The spread of Christianity through Europe happened with the spread of the Roman Empire. During the time of Christ, Romans were more polytheistic- worshiping many gods, and persecuted Christians because it challenged their polytheistic views. 

At one point during the Roman reign, Emperor Constantine, had visions of Christ the night before battles, and had Christian symbols put on the flags and shields of his soldiers. He did not make Christianity a state religion, however, within the Roman Empire, but he did put a stop to Christian persecution. From that point, the Romans, who were elitists and very much into art, began to fashion their art- sculptures and frescos, depicting biblical stories and Saints with white Roman features. Constantine even had churches built in Rome. (This is a really brief overview of Constantine) I believe Theodosius (sic?) was the emperor who made Christianity a state religion within the empire. 

As the Roman Empire spread into Europe and domesticated the barbarians, they also converted them, and so the belief in Christianity followed the Romans as they went through Europe. As Europe grew and became more industrialized and populated, it naturally adopted Roman Catholicism. So, any art continued to show Jesus and any other persons represented in the Bible with European features. This trend continues today. So, since the people of that day became Christian, they naturally pictured Jesus looking as they looked- blue eyes, tall, thin and sometimes with lighter colored skin and hair!

Being a Missionary living overseas, these types of images of Christ being European or even American, has had a negative impact on the spread of Christianity. Thai people, who are mostly Buddhist, if they hear the gospel and even want to follow Jesus, they see Jesus as a white person and do not think they can become Christian. It is one of the stumbling blocks that, with time, can be overcome. However, the identity of Christians today, in the eyes of the East Asian person, is that only white people are Christian.

I constantly tell Thai people, with whom I am sharing the Gospel, that Jesus was much more closer in looks to someone from Asia than he was to me. Jesus walked on earth much closer to people in Asia than he did to anyone in America. 

Whether you picture Jesus as European or white, or black or asian does not matter. That you confess with your mouth that He is your Lord and that you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead is what is really most important. It means the difference between eternal salvation and eternal punishment. 

I hope you don't mind the short history lesson!

September 18 2014 • 2 responses • Vote Up • Share • Report