When George Floyd Becomes Jesus

A painting depicting George Floyd as Jesus Christ hangs in two locations at the Catholic University of America.

To be sure, the artist insists that his painting depicts "both" Jesus and Floyd--no discrimination.

The Catholic University appears to be shrugging it off as no big deal.

It is a big deal---bigger than any Catholic, Protestant, or whatever university.

It's a clear picture of what's wrong in our culture.

Be informed, not misled.

Artist Kelly Latimore's painting "Mama" depicts the historic Virgin Mary supporting the body of the dead Jesus Christ---who is George Floyd in the painting.

Defense of the paintings---there are two of them, one in the campus ministry office, the other in the law school, is tepid at best.

It's the faculty that's confused about who Jesus is and who Floyd was, not necessarily the students.

A junior at Catholic University says: "The icon has no place at the Catholic University; it is blasphemous and an offense to the Catholic faith, but it's not surprising at all that it was put there. It is just another symptom of the liberalization and secularization of our campus."

One student who asked to remain anonymous out of fear of reprisal from the administration said, "There are many students, faculty, and staff who are concerned about this, but there is nothing we can do. And if we sound the alarm, we will be labeled 'racist'."

The Catholic University chapter of Young Americans for Freedom, however, are not remaining anonymous. They have launched a petition to remove the painting from the two locations.

They say, "We believe that it is extremely grave that our university, the official university of the Catholic Church in North America, would cast another in the image of our Lord in this way, particularly for political purposes."

The petition adds, "No political or social cause ever justifies depicting another in the place of Jesus Christ."

The Catholic University also released a report Friday examining the university's culture practices on "matters of diversity and inclusion."

The painting "Mama" hangs just outside the Mary, Mirror of Justice Chapel in Catholic University's School of Law and emulates the renowned statue carved by Italian sculptor Michelangelo in 1499 depicting Jesus Christ's mother, Mary, holding Him in her arms after his crucifixion.

Junior politics major and former Catholic University College Republicans President Blayne Clegg said bluntly, "George Floyd is not Jesus Christ."

Clegg continued: 

"He is not a saint, nor a martyr, and to in any way compare him to the sinless son of Almighty God is to do a damning disservice to the vast majority of Catholics and Catholic theology." Clegg says, "It is damning anywhere but especially at *THE* Catholic University of America, where this painting was purchased, unveiled, and hung up without input from student leaders."

Jared Jagiello, a student senator representing the university's School of Architecture and Planning, says "nobody should be portrayed as Jesus except Jesus Himself."

He says someone else portrayed as Jesus is bad enough, but "being right at the doors of a chapel makes matters worse."

Another Jesus

Second Corinthians 11:3, 4 says: "For if he that cometh preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if  ye receive another spirit, which we have not received, or another gospel, which we have not accepted, ye might well bear with him."

The Greek word Paul used is "allos" which means "different."

The phrase "bear with him" actually means "to hold oneself up against." Don't buy it. Reject and expose false teaching.

It is not only a featured painting at American Catholic University that suggests another Jesus, but from pulpits across the country every Sunday morning "another Jesus" is presented in a way said to be "relevant" and "relational." 

The term "another gospel" means to pervert---to twist a thing around.

Does any of this sound familiar?

Jesus is not a way--He is "the only" way to God. He is not "a" truth, He is "the Truth" Jesus is more than just a good man, or a teacher, or a  prophet; He is the virgin-born, only begotten Son of God!

Christ is the second person of the trinity. God did not create Jesus as some teach, but He is the Creator of all. "All things were made by Him, and without Him was not anything made that was made" (John 1:3).

While the students are trying to convince the Catholic University to teach the biblical Jesus rather than a "secularized, politicized Jesus," the university administration, on Friday, published a yearlong examination of the university's culture and practices" on matters of diversity and inclusion.

Clegg says that report includes the "formal injection of critical race theory" into the Catholic University's staff, faculty and administration.

Paul wrote to the Galatians, "I marvel that ye so soon are removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel..."

Be Informed. Be Discerning. Be Faithful. Be Engaged. Be Prayerful.