The Face That's Everywhere

Indeed it is! Even here. We live in a culture where faith and religion are express in icons and images. There are few Christians here but it is not unusual to find this lone image of Jesus Christ hanging on the wall of their churches and homes. In fact it is unusual if you don't this image displayed somewhere at all. Besides the cross this is another image that best identified Christians here. For me, I feel some kind of comfort and easiness when I enter a place and see this image.

In the Philippines, we always have negative response when we see images of Jesus because we tend to see it as idolatry. I think it is because of our reactions to Roman Catholics excessive use of images in their worship. But here there is no such tendency to identify it with idolatry at all. In the world where in the images of the Buddha abound everywhere, to find an image of Jesus gives Christians a strong sense of faith and togetherness.

If you want to know the history of this image of Jesus, you can read it here. The image is actually called by many as a Protestant "Icon." Below is the last part of the article.

While Protestants have historically resisted using pictures in their worship, they often do, in fact, rely on Sallman's images and others in teaching children, in evangelism, and in decorating their homes. For many of them, these activities are as important for everyday life as public worship, especially in forming the early faith of children in ways that will continue to shape their piety for the rest of their lives. This is why even a glimpse of Sallman's pictures can open a deluge of memories. The picture hangs around.