Everything’s Alright

Earlier this month, news of the destruction of the King of Kings statue at Solid Rock Church in Monroe, Ohio hit the national airwaves.  This statue, over 62 feet tall made of flammable fiberglass and Styrofoam was struck by lightning on the night of June 14, 2010 and burned to ashes, leaving nothing but the steel girder framework.  The cost of the statue’s erection was $250,000 and the estimated monetary damages resulting from the recent fire are in the range of $700,000.  This statue, in addition to its official name of King of Kings was also known by several nicknames including “Big Butter Jesus” in reflection of its buttery appearance and “Touchdown Jesus” referring to a football referee’s upraised arms when a touchdown is scored.

When I learned of the destruction of this statue, something about its very existence was troubling to me.  Don’t get me wrong, I think that it is a very worthy goal to make a public declaration of Christ’s victory over death and the cross, but is this the best way to spread the Good News to a modern populace?  How many people did this statue bring to salvation?  This statue required an incredible expenditure of church resources, manpower, talent, and treasure.  Can one honestly declare that the construction of this large statue was the best way to spend God’s $250,000?  A quarter of a million dollars can go an awful long way to print copies of the Holy Bible for missions work, provide food and shelter for those in need, and to support local and international missions work.  Yet, despite this, a massive (and as it turns out, massively flammable) statue was erected by the church.

To make matters worse, an even greater expenditure of capital is about to take place in the reconstruction and replacement of this statue. The pastor of the congregation in question has dismissed arguments that the lightning strike which resulted in the destruction of the statue was a sign from God, but perhaps she has spoken far too soon.  Christ did not come to earth to be memorialized in statues for the world to see; rather, He came for the purpose of reconciling God and man that death and sin may be conquered.  Would Christ, if he was given $250,000 have made the same decision to build a statue of Himself?  Or, would He have used it in another fashion?

I want to make it very clear that I am not questioning the intentions of the Solid Rock Church.  Aside from this statue, I know absolutely nothing about the church, nor its congregation.  Additionally, I could be completely off in my analysis.  Perhaps that statue has done more to further the Kingdom of God than I think.  I am also reminded of the anointing of Jesus in John 12 and Judas’ complaints about whether the money for the perfume would be better spent elsewhere.  Yet, keeping all of this in mind, I still am forced to question the wisdom of such an expenditure of resources when there is such suffering and darkness in this world that might be better addressed in a different manner.

Bonus points for those who can decipher the meaning of the title.  Hint: it isn’t directly related to the statue, but something else mentioned in this post.