Robert Johnson, noted radio preacher...
Illustration
Robert Johnson, noted radio preacher of The Protestant Hour, in one sermon reflected on the current "makeover" craze, celebrating a transformed physical appearance.
He describes the Transfiguration of Christ as sort of the original "makeover." For during it, "the figure, the image, the look that he had, the face that showed to others was changed over. The appearance of his face changed. Jesus had a different look."
Using modern celebrities, he calls transfigurations today a "big business."
Many celebrities have had makeovers including their names. Larushka Shikne became Laurence Harvey; Issur Danielovitch Densky became Kirk Douglas; Frances Gum transfigured became Judy Garland; Archibald Leach became Cary Grant; and Aaron Schwalt became Red Buttons.
"And would you have paid money to see Marion Morrison in the movies?" Johnson asks. "Maybe, but Marion didn't take that chance, he became John Wayne."
Johnson reminds us that name changing isn't anything new. When we turn to scripture, several people "got new names to go with a new life and a new image. Abram became Abraham. Sarai became Sarah. Jacob became Israel. Saul became Paul. Simon became Peter, the 'Rock.' "
He says that, "Transfigurations are not the exception. They are the rule. We are all being altered in the appearance of our face, our countenance. We are all changing."
If we are living, we are constantly being transfigured. The question is: "Who are we becoming?" Just like Jesus, who did not transform himself, we are being transformed, transfigured if you will, by our Father in heaven.
(From The Protestant Hour, February 14, 1999.)
He describes the Transfiguration of Christ as sort of the original "makeover." For during it, "the figure, the image, the look that he had, the face that showed to others was changed over. The appearance of his face changed. Jesus had a different look."
Using modern celebrities, he calls transfigurations today a "big business."
Many celebrities have had makeovers including their names. Larushka Shikne became Laurence Harvey; Issur Danielovitch Densky became Kirk Douglas; Frances Gum transfigured became Judy Garland; Archibald Leach became Cary Grant; and Aaron Schwalt became Red Buttons.
"And would you have paid money to see Marion Morrison in the movies?" Johnson asks. "Maybe, but Marion didn't take that chance, he became John Wayne."
Johnson reminds us that name changing isn't anything new. When we turn to scripture, several people "got new names to go with a new life and a new image. Abram became Abraham. Sarai became Sarah. Jacob became Israel. Saul became Paul. Simon became Peter, the 'Rock.' "
He says that, "Transfigurations are not the exception. They are the rule. We are all being altered in the appearance of our face, our countenance. We are all changing."
If we are living, we are constantly being transfigured. The question is: "Who are we becoming?" Just like Jesus, who did not transform himself, we are being transformed, transfigured if you will, by our Father in heaven.
(From The Protestant Hour, February 14, 1999.)
