Ecclesia Church in Houston declines to use pic…
It’s disturbing and could frighten children, argue church elders, who declined to display it in the church’s art gallery alongside the work of other artists depicting the remaining 14 stations (the 15th depicts Christ’s resurrection).
There is a fine line between the sacred and profane.
In my opinion, even the most profane piece of art is by it’s very nature showcasing the creative nature of God. We are created in God’s image – as creative beings. So any creative output (even the most blasphemous) is reflective of the creative nature of God.
I understand the leadership’s decision: they placed the children’s mental safety and ability to process art over the artistic expression. It was an editorial decision. But is that decision reflective of the Gospel and the Kingdom of God? Is being a disciple and citizen of the Kingdom always easy and safe?
Is child abuse horrendous? Yes.
Was Christ’s brutal death (sacrifice) any less horrendous? No.
Is there room for “art for art’s sake” in the church?
ClaytonFaulkner.com 
A valid point to make, I think, is that this particular picture may evoke unnecessary fear of public servants into the vulnerable minds of children. This would be the reason I might take umbrage at displaying such a work in a family setting.
Thanks for the comment Liz. There was a flurry of discussion on this post over at my facebook page. I added there:
“I would say that any creative/artistic action is, by it’s very nature, pointing to who God is. If you can segregate the content from the creative action, this makes sense. Sometimes we get hung up on the “disturbing” things in the content. But, what do you … See Moredo with Psalm 137? Verses 8-9 say “O Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is he who repays you for what you have done to us- he who seizes your infants and dashes them against the rocks.”
Pretty disturbing huh? We have sanitized the crucifixion. We don’t think of it as disturbing. But if we were to witness one, we would be horrified. And yet, such an act is the hinge of our faith.”
A valid point to make, I think, is that this particular picture may evoke unnecessary fear of public servants into the vulnerable minds of children. This would be the reason I might take umbrage at displaying such a work in a family setting.