LightGrams
July 23, 2026
Volume 30, Number 25
To say that Wim T. Schippers of Rotterdam, Netherlands was a non-conformist may be putting it mildly. An exhibit recently opened in an art museum in Rotterdam to honor Schippers, who passed away at the age of 83. Entitled “the Pindakaasvloer”, the exhibit is a section of floor that has been coated with an .8 inch layer of peanut butter. That’s it; that’s “art” to honor the late “artist”.
The exhibit is a recreation of one that Schippers first developed (spread?) in 1969. It must have been well received as the floor was put on display again in 1997 and in 2011. In the 2011 showing, the work was vandalized when a group of people placed 12 slices of bread and several bags of chocolate sprinkles on top of the peanut butter.
Prior to his passing, Schippers directed that future recreations of his work should use a specific brand of peanut butter, and that it must be smooth, not crunchy. The company he specified donated 40 buckets of the “art medium”. The Associated Press article noted that the amount used in the exhibit is enough to make 15,000 sandwiches.
“Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” we have often heard it said, but I wonder how many find beauty in this creation? There would be more beauty (in my opinion) to make those 15,000 sandwiches to give to the hungry in this world. The things some people do in the name of art!
Could we not also say that people often do strange things in the name of religion? Many have no problem with such an approach, saying that sincerity is all God expects. Is that really true?
The writer of the next-to-the-last book of the Bible is regarded by many to have been the half-brother of Jesus. Here’s what he wrote about the type of religion one should seek: “… I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3). “The faith” tells us that there is a body of teachings which we can identify from the pages of God’s word. That faith is what we must strive to defend and uphold.
Paul had something to say about non-conformist attitudes toward religion (and more specifically toward Christianity): “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ to a different gospel, which is not another, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ” (Galatians 1:6,7).
The Bible nowhere supports the idea of fashioning our own version of Christianity. What has been delivered to us by inspiration (2 Timothy 3:16,17) is what we must follow if we hope to please God. You may call a peanut butter-covered floor art, but by what authority can we call any variation of Christianity acceptable to God? It’s best that we stay with what the Lord has given us.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2026, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “Tim@GraceMine.org” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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