The Manga Bible: From Genesis to Revelation

A Sunday School teacher last week applied Jesus' question to his disciples in Matthew 16 by asking "Who does OUR CULTURE say Jesus is?"

Ajinbayo Akinsiku wants to renew culture's thinking on Jesus by presenting him as "a hard guy, seeking revolution and revolt, a tough guy”... a samurai stranger ... even one likened to Clint Eastwood.

While one must ask first whether those who are unfamiliar with Jesus will possess the wisdom, ability, and discernment to distinguish the Jesus in Akinsiku's graphic novel from the Jesus found in Scripture... but beyond this, one must recognize that anytime one seeks to represent Jesus by something other than the way Jesus is presented in Scripture, one fails to present the real Jesus, and fashions a Jesus other that the true Jesus. For example, in portraying Jesus as a Clint Eastwood character, while it may present a picture of a more "active" Jesus who does more than just talking, it will certainly fail to present his divinity the way it really is and will leave out to various degrees his other attributes (such as meekness, patience, gentleness, etc.) which all consist and work together according to his perfections.

Who do YOU say the Son of Man is? ... just a good teacher, the gentle, blue-eyed Christ of old Hollywood movies and illustrated Bibles, a graphic action hero, one who secures and provides for your health and wealth, a universalist messiah, or "the Christ, the Son of the living God" who came and gave his life for those the Father gave to him that we may have forgiveness of sins in his name and life everlasting?