Why I’d Follow a Purple Polka Dot Jesus
By Brian Jakowski
Sorry to burst your bubble but, Jesus wasn’t a white guy, an Anglo-Saxon, protestant, or Christian. These truths have no effect on why I believe in Jesus, or why I try to live for Him!
So, what did He look like, and why do I believe? Let’s begin with the question that has no impact on my life, Jesus’ color or race.
We all bring predisposed beliefs to the table when talking about Jesus and Christianity. Watch this short video and see if it trips a few of your triggers:
You’re not alone if you can relate to any of that.
A Framework for Racism
Since the renaissance, Jesus has been portrayed as a white guy in paintings and more recently, in films. This lie has fueled delusional white supremacist beliefs for decades. It has no truth but goes something like this.
The Bible says, I’m created in God’s image and I’m white, so God must be white. Since God's white, I must be superior.
With hate, Satan
The sad thing is, Satan has twisted God’s word into a tool for his hatred when it is meant to feed our spirits. Genesis 1:26–28MSG says, “God spoke: “Let us make human beings in our image, make them reflecting our nature…”
It’s critically important to note that the entire phrase is in the plural form and it never mentions color.
So yes, you’re made in God’s image, but so is whoever you're currently hating on, or angry with.
We’re all in God’s image and equal. But that’s still not why I believe.
A Foundation of Faith
Faith is the essence of believing in things unseen. But I have seen His hand in my life. He healed me of drugs and alcohol with one word. When no one else accepted me, He did.
When I found my seven-year-old son dead in bed, He carried me through my grief.
I cling to His words and His teaching, not the color of their speaker. He changed my heart and helped me love those I once thought unlovable. His words taught me to put you, and others ahead of myself.
I believe this because when we were still His enemies, He suffered the agonizing death of the cross, so we wouldn’t have to.
Not once did Jesus say he loved a person because of their skin, He loves them because He is love.
The Most Expensive, Free Gift Of All Time
His love and Salvation are free gifts, never earned, deserved, or merited but given by grace.
At the cross, Jesus died and took on the sins of every person for all time. His sinless life, He was the perfect sacrifice and paid for every sin ever committed, past, present, and future.
Jesus’ death paid the price of your forgiveness. His physical resurrection set you free from sin and death.
The Instant you accept Jesus as Savior all sins, past, present, and future are forgiven, forever. You stand as Righteous, justified, and sanctified in Jesus for eternity.
That’s what I believe and why I believe it. It has nothing to do with color and everything to do with what Jesus did for me, and you. If that makes me weak then I’m weak. I’ll take Jesus as a crutch every day.
An Unavoidable Verdict
After looking at the historical records of the region, considering biology and genetics the inescapable conclusion is Jesus wasn’t white.
In truth, Jesus Christ was a first-century jew, born in middle-east to a people group who were brown-skinned. His being black can’t be ruled out.
None of that matters though, because I follow Jesus’ teachings and His word. Jesus’ teachings continue to change my life today. Most importantly, because He is color blind, Jesus Saves, whatever color you are.
