Controversy ignited after the magazine ‘Christianity Today’ published an article that asserted that Jesus was born in Asia and was Asian.

The article titled “How Asian Artists Picture Jesus’ Birth From 1240 to Today,” emphasized that Jesus was Asian.

The story, penned by Victoria Emily Jones, featured a photo essay showcasing nine artworks from Asian cultures depicting the origin of Jesus being in Asia.

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Jones argued that presenting Jesus as Asian allowed for a deeper theological interpretation.

This view in Jones’s analysis emphasized the universality of Christ’s birth.

Nevertheless, she acknowledged potential objections to deviating from the historical depiction of Jesus as a brown male born in Bethlehem.

However, she contended that artists aimed for theological meaning rather than historical accuracy.

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Bring back Jesus to Asia, not Israel

The article gained attention over the Christmas period when the outlet shared it prompting questions about its take on Jesus.

On a social media post, they shared, “Jesus was born in Asia. He was Asian. The artists in this photo essay bring him back to Asia—but not to ancient Israel.

The caption went on “These nine artworks ‘proclaim the expansiveness of Christ’s kingdom,” sparking a wave of criticism.

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Commentators rejected the premise and ridiculed the evangelical outlet for promoting it on such a day.

Some questioned the biblical accuracy, while others expressed discomfort with deviating from the traditional portrayal of Jesus as a Jew.

The controversy surrounding Christianity Today’s article was part of a broader backlash against media commentary on Jesus during the holiday season.

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