Homeless Jesus Sculpture Causes Controversy

Luke 17:28-30 “Likewise as it was also in the days of Lot: They ate, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built” but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Even so will it be in the day when the Son of Man is revealed.

A piece of artwork called Homeless Jesus that features an image of Jesus lying on a park bench covered in a blanket is drawing outrage from some residents in Davidson, North Carolina.

The sculpture in front of St. Alban’s Episcopal Church was created by the artist as “a representation that suggests Christ is with the most marginalized in our society.”  The artwork shows a part of Christ’s face but shows his entire nail-scarred feet.

The sculpture is a duplicate of a piece on display in Vatican City that was blessed by Pope Francis.  Reverend Dr. David Buck, rector of St. Alban’s, said the artwork is beautiful and reminds Christians their ultimate calling is to do what they can individually to take care of those in need of shelter, food and clothing.

However, some residents of the area are upset with the Sculpture.

One woman, Cindy Castano Swannack, called police when she drove past it the first time thinking a homeless person was lying on a bench in her neighborhood.

“My complaint is not about the art-worthiness of meaning behind the sculpture,” Davidson resident Jerry Dawson wrote in a letter to the editor.  “It is about people driving into our beautiful, reasonably upscale neighborhood and seeing an ugly homeless person sleeping on a park bench.”

The church says they will not remove the sculpture.

One thought on “Homeless Jesus Sculpture Causes Controversy

  1. The problem is the sculpture makes the people that want it removed, is feeling guilty about the kind of life they are living, I don’t think it would bother a Christian to see it at all. I know it would remind me of the suffering that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ did at the cross for all who will except and believe in him, I would love to see it.

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