Secular Culture

I received a brochure in my mailbox at school advertising a free viewing for educators of the new Chicano Art & Soul Exhibit at the Muzeo Museum in Anaheim. They are promoting this new exhibit for elementary through high school students. I checked it out today and was disturbed by what I found there. The guide first took me to their art exhibit. The paintings I saw depicted graphic scenes of violence and sex. There was an abstract painting of the middle finger gesture. There were scenes of bloody fights and people hanging out smoking cigarettes. There were explicit paintings of nude women in provocative poses. There was a painting of a close-up of a couple making out. When I expressed my concern for young children seeing these things, the guide told me that if I wanted, they could escort the children away from these paintings. To the guide's defense, she did say that she wouldn't let her high school children view these images. However, she did try to justify the public viewing of these paintings by reminding me that it's art, not pornography. I don't know what the difference is. I refused to take pictures of these paintings to post in this blog. They are in no way beneficial for the soul.

After this, I checked out the interactive area of the museum, targeted mainly for children. Here is an example of one of the exhibits:

One could argue that this exhibit was purely informative. I would argue that an exhibit like this arouses fascination of death and the darkness in children. I also noticed that there is a figurine of Jesus in the shrine. Would Jesus approve of this? Is this the way Jesus would want to be known? Jesus is Light and Life, and here He is associated with darkness and death. I don't mean to offend the people of the Chicano heritage, but it's important to critically examine this culture in light of spiritual truth. I'm not ignorant of these traditions, as I even gave my final oral/visual presentation to a group of college students for a professional clear cultural diversity class on this very subject, Día de los Muertos. I'm aware of the reasons why this tradition has been passed down through the ages. However, tradition must be examined in the light of truth as revealed by God through the holy scriptures.

The rest of the museum showcased many worldly pursuits, all trying to define what it means to be Hispanic or Chicano. I suppose I can't expect a place like this to point children to the truth and to everlasting peace and joy. Why do people bring children here? To show them where not to find peace and joy? How many parents or teachers have the intention of exposing their children to the culture, which is a good thing, but then telling them the truth afterwards? If that's not the goal, why are millions of dollars being poured into venues like this? When will we stop rolling in mud and meddling in meaningless pursuits? When will we as a city and a nation start pursuing God and His righteousness?

And he said to me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the evildoer still do evil, and the filthy still be filthy, and the righteous still do right, and the holy still be holy." "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end." Blessed are those who wash their robes, so that they may have the right to the tree of life and that they may enter the city by the gates. Outside are the dogs and sorcerers and the sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices falsehood. He who testifies to these things says, "Surely I am coming soon." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!
(Revelation 22:10-15, 20 ESV)