16 April 2012

Who wants to spread Gangrene?!?

There is this painting by Peter Paul Rubens called the Lamentation of Christ that sticks engraved in my mind whenever I hear the word gangrene.  Granted, I don't hear of gangrene that often, but seeing this painting shown on a 40 foot projection sticks in your mind. Seven years later and it's still embedded! (I'll spare posting the image on here, but you can click here if you really want to see it, it's not that bad in retrospect.)

My professor stood at the front of the classroom going in detail of the disease and how Rubens, and a myriad of other artists at the time, chose to depict Christ in this way fully representing his picture of a disease in which massive amount of body tissue die and fall off the flesh after turning this sickly greenish/grey color.  There was one picture where the foot seemed to be rotting away!  Gross!

2 Timothy 2:14-16 says, "Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.  Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly." 

I like that it doesn't say those who indulge are ungodly, but paints this picture: that we are all becoming, and we can choose to be transformed into Christ, or away from Him.

Continuing onto verse 17, "Their teaching will spread like gangrene..."  The teaching of those who do not correctly handle the Word of truth and choose speaking against others in passing blame, doesn't just stay stagnant!  It spreads.  Teaching flooded with godlessness spreads like gangrene.  It rots our flesh and heart and organs until life is removed completely from our breath.  

What are you spreading?  The words of truth, life, and joy?  Or are you spreading like gangrene?