To the editor:
I disagree with Your View, “Area resident promotes support for the NEA.” The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) was created in 1965 by President Johnson. The arts existed before 1965 and were more decent and less offensive. Years ago the NEA funded and the art establishment defended art that offended Christians, like the picture of the Virgin Mary covered with elephant dung and the artist who put the cross in urine. One woman smeared chocolate over her naked body and said she was art and wanted government funding. It isn’t the function of government to force people to pay for indecent or offensive art. The government not paying for indecent art isn’t the same as censorship. Art that would be wanted and asked for in New Orleans or San Francisco would be offensive in Elizabethton. I agree with the writer that art is important and needed. Some people get painful artwork (tattoos) on themselves making their skin into a canvas. Having created everything from nothing, Jesus is the ultimate artist and the universe is His canvas. Jesus created the beauty of nature and millions go to the beaches or mountains to see it and experience it. Some even worship nature. You won’t get eternal life by feeling God in nature or helping the environment, but only through a relationship with Jesus the artist and creator of nature who will change your nature. At the cross Jesus did to the highest degree what the classical artist said is required for great art which is to show truth, goodness and beauty with love, tying the three together. At the cross, Jesus gave us a portrait of his great love with his arms open wide to receive us if we put our trust in him only and turn from sin. On Good Friday, a day of creative brilliance surpassing all others, Jesus the ultimate artist, completed on the cross his most priceless, blood masterpiece for you!
On Resurrection Day better known as Easter Sunday more people attend church than any other day. People want to celebrate because Easter commemorates the greatest event in the history of the world — Jesus lives! Dr. Josh McDowell was asked why he couldn’t refute Christianity. He said, “for a very simple reason, I am unable to explain away an event in history — the resurrection of Jesus.” We are confronted with these historical facts: (1) The giant stone was moved and the tomb was really empty; (2) After rising from the dead, Jesus appeared to and spoke with individuals and groups including one group of over 500 people; (3) The Jewish leaders and Romans couldn’t disprove the disciples’ claim that Jesus had risen from the dead; (4) Many gave their lives because they wouldn’t deny Jesus had risen from the dead. You may not believe these facts but that doesn’t change the facts or the eternal consequences of your not believing the facts. Knowing our Christian faith is based on solid historical facts of the empty tomb and the risen Jesus, we can celebrate the most glorious, important and life changing morning in world history – Easter!

D.D. Nave
Elizabethton