The church in Auvers sur Oise, by Vincent Van Gogh.
Whenever I teach my Art students about Van Gogh, part of his biography includes that his father was a Reformed minister and he too wanted to become a pastor in the Church of the Netherlands. Even though he knew several language and was this total genius, I guess between having a temper and being a scatter brain they'd only let him be a vicar-level missionary to a coal mining town. Well, he was passionate about helping the poor and gave everything away and lived and worked with his parishioners more than he gave orthodox sermons, and he got fired- basically for living like Jesus did. He bared the scar for life. He embraced Buddhism instead of Christianity. Like many atheists and agnostics, he wasn't so much angry at God as wounded by Christians. The hidden secret about this beautiful painting is that we're looking at the back side of the church, as if it has turned it's back on us and is giving us the cold shoulder. The viewer is an outsider, alienated by the smug hypocrisy inside. Notice that there is no door.
We Christians need to make sure that we don't get between people and Christ.
Here are some lyrics from a kickass Christian/Lutheran "Speed-Wood" band called "Lost & Found:"
"THE KINGDOM'S BIG ENOUGH FOR YOU YOU WERE MADE TO BE HERE TOO THE KINGDOM'S BIG ENOUGH FOR YOU WHERE YOU ARE AS YOU ARE
So many people pushed away Ones that are loved told they can't stay The question is what would Jesus say?
God's own people close the door The loud and the angry take the floor We know what you fear But what are you for? Furthermore . . ."
Here is the actual church in Auvers sur Oise
And here is the back of our church in Charter Oak. Let's make sure we offer Jesus' love with OPEN arms and invite people INSIDE, through the front door.
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