10/12/17 NOT INTENDED TO AGITATE

10/12/17 NOT INTENDED TO AGITATE

After posting this picture in December of 2012, I used it as a tool to share Christ. However I got a very different response than I had expected. Here is that post.

FROM 02/15/13
As I was showing someone pics from my photo gallery, I came across this one, which is supposed to represent the image of Christ.

As soon as I said that it was a picture of Jesus, my friend became physically resistant and even a little distant. I know that he is not a believer, but I was not even addressing any theological or spiritual issues when I showed him the picture. I stated that the picture was not supposed to be an artists rendition, but rather a photograph taken from a train, of the snowy landscape along the train route, which resembles the image of Christ, when seen properly.

The image of Christ is created by the shadowy terrain. My friend grimaced and then stared at the picture for a moment squinting briefly, trying to bring the image into focus, but then looked away. I asked if he could see the image of Jesus. Again my friend appeared repulsed by what I was saying, becoming fidgety and agitated. As I continued to talk, my friend would take short glances at the picture and then look away, as if hoping the conversation would end.

I tried to keep the moment light, but he was becoming less receptive. He eventually said that he does not believe in the stories people tell of finding images of Jesus in cookies or tacos or whatever. I pointed out that I do not believe in that either and that this was not the same thing. I pointed out that this has to do with visual perception not faith or spiritual perception. I pointed out that it could just as easily be a picture of anything else, but it just happens that it is a recognized likeness to our general impression of Jesus, as portrayed in historical art work.

My friend doubted and denied that it was just a matter of visual perception and said he probably could not see it and would probably never see it because he is an agnostic. I assured him this was not a question of faith, but simply a function of the human mind. Someone called my friend away from our conversation, much to his relief.

While this is a more extreme case, it is noteworthy that sometimes the unbelieving person cannot even converse about Jesus or God or the Bible without becoming defensive. Although the perception of the "Jesus picture" is not a question of spiritual faith, the rejection of all light is an indicator that a life and mind is being held captive by Satan in the chains of darkness. As long as there is no openness to the idea of Christ, there can be no faith in Christ. The rejection of Biblical standards and revelation is hardening the hearts of people.