Burning Church, Deconstruction - Printed Canvas

I painted the first part of this painting the January before the world shut down for quarantine. I felt strongly that it was a word for the western church. It wasn’t about us burning with passion or the Holy Spirit igniting His saints. It was about endings and about rummaging through the rubble to see if there was anything left. What was left? People. People burnt from trying to stop the fire, people ashamed for not stopping the fire, people who watched it burned with satisfaction. In some places, a foundation was left. Foundations of stones that can be used to build again. It offers hope for something new. Maybe not better but something different. On a personal note..I’ve looked at, contemplated, grieved over this painting for the past few years (it was hard to let go)…It holds my disappointment, my hurt, my tears and my travailing prayers. I was surprised to paint this scene, at the violence of it. I didn’t want the church to fail, to burn. Especially after years of working for churc