Jon McNaughton is a highly controversial artist -- to say the least. His paintings range from landscapes of the Italian countryside, to images of Jesus holding the Constitution or a nuclear bomb detonating behind President Obama while he plays golf.
But Jon McNaughton may have just released his most popular (and, perhaps, most controversial) image yet: his symbolic interpretation of the separation of church and state.
In a Facebook post to his fans, Jon wrote this:
I envisioned Jesus speaking to this joint session where all the leaders of our country are gathered. He looks at them from the pulpit; He pauses, and then begins to address the assembly.
He reminds them of the covenant which was made with the Founders of our Nation that He would protect and bless us if we would remember Him; and then Jesus opens the Holy Bible to Psalms 33: 12, and reads the verse:
'Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.'
At this moment the Chamber erupts into shouts of anger and disgust, as the body of the joint session turns into a hostile mob -- reminiscent of the mob that shouted out to Pilate, 'Crucify him!'
...As Jesus exits this unholy chamber he turns to gaze at you, the viewer of this painting, and asks the question, 'What will YOU do now?'
The painting is meant to be a symbol of our government's abandonment of God and His Covenant; for surely, He has not abandoned us, but we have abandoned Him.
For the most part, Mr. McNaughton has received very positive responses. He also released a video that describes some of the details of his painting.