Christian Art = Oxymoron?
So I was cruising around Relevant’s website this morning and came across an article entitled Relevance, Faith, & Art by a singer/songwriter out of Chicago.
In it, she breaks down the major positions that Christians take on art, and critiques the problems that such positions create.
From the article:
Many contemporary Christians tend to make one of three errors when dealing with art: One, we declare anything that doesn’t explicitly proselytize, anything that depicts brokenness without redemption to be depraved or unworthy of Christian notice. Or two, we decide that the secular world really does have better art, so we copy it, boldly and without apology or thought into our own creativity. Or three, we try so hard to be relevant that we adopt the attitude and worldview of the culture that surrounds us—instead of being the proverbial salt and light, we end up as dust with nothing to offer in the way of hope, because there is only a perfunctory difference between those of us who claim to follow Christ and those who don’t.
She couldn’t be more right (righter? immersed in rightness?). In fact, I don’t even have anything to add (a first, right?) — the article speaks for itself.
Read it and let it speak to you.
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this is a scenario of what has happened in history as the “church” gave up being the leaders in art and now it hardly wants to associate with art or anything creative. a group that we associate with called http://www.viaaffirmativa.com has been very helpful in valuing art from a Christ centered prospective. looking at truth, beauty and goodness is a great way to start to approach art. it think that these statements can even be taken WAY out of context and made to try and fit in a “churchy” box that it doesn’t belong in. these dialogs are very important in helping the “church” come out of there self inflicted stupor as it relates to art, artists and how to relate to the world and be relevant without changing our belief in Christ. thanks for posting. darinwhite.wordpress.com or balmorg.wordpress.com (BEAUTY, ART & LIFE MOVEMENT)
I think there is a pretty strong movement against this antipathy toward art taking place now. I know of two churches in my area with powerful arts programs — including my own church, where the pastor used to be a sculptor and still works at his hart on the side. I think that a lot of Christians are waking up to this problem — and that’s why we’re seeing more and better Christian movies, Christian music, Christian arts conferences, Christian writers events, and so on. I see my own work (writing and photography) as a form of worship. So I do think the work is beginning. We just all need to keep praying and working hard to keep it art that we wouldn’t be afraid to show to Jesus!
i do agree that there is an awaking and movement taking place in the arts. this is exciting that there is something stiring! i do think that SOME of these programs want to make art fit in this neat little christian box which is culturally or historically imposed rather than bibilically. as quoted in the original text…
“One, we declare anything that doesn’t explicitly proselytize, anything that depicts brokenness without redemption to be depraved or unworthy of Christian notice.”
this is not biblical, and i pray part of this movement of art will be the movement of artists who follow Christ, but are not required to paint a cross, or depict in naturalistic images or biblical text to feel like they are speaking for the kingdom. i want to note that i am not against depicting religious symbols, text or proselytizing (or for that matter naturalism) in art. i am saying that to use your talents with excellence and not taking the credit for your talents is an example of pointing upwards to where it all comes from. if you are creating for the creator with all you have been given, however you are led then it is bringing it back to him. if you are doing this in your creativeness, whatever it is, then we don’t have to worry about who is looking, even if it is God’s son. in fact, not only do we not have to worry, but instead it is offered up as praise because we are reflecting his glory.
i will just briefly mention this, so i don’t write a book, but we should be the leaders of creativity and not the followers. if we know who we are in Christ then we will be salt, light and hope, because we are reflecting him and not ourself. we become the church, and bring the kingdom of God into the present. i think that I should note that God gives his talents to all, so we should not look at someone who is not yet convinced with eyes of scrutiny, but rather with eyes of truth, beauty and goodness. If there is some merit to their talents this is a way of looking to see how they do point to God whether they realize it or not. remember satan distorts, truth, beauty and goodness. he is the hack that copies what God has already done, but with his lies and partial truths. God is the creator, the essence of all things and the one who is the source of our creativity. it is good to remind myself who this is all for and about.
create well!
darin
Amen, brother. I couldn’t agree with you more. Doing whatever you do — art or digging ditches — do it as unto the Lord. Doing it well points to him. And that, so far, is the goal of most of the Christian artists (painters and writers, mostly) I know — though I realize this is not universal, as you point out. But we can pray that it keeps spreading and that the awakening makes Christians realize that all is worth doing to his glory — and all includes painting or writing, as well as going onto the mission field.
A great topic to explore.
As an artist and a follower of Christ, I’m both exploring and expressing my relationship with God through art. This is not alway an easy path to express and all I can do is be honest in this expression. I think this will help my work to be relevant to both Christians and those who are seaching.
I am not an artist. Not even close. But I do know art, and Christian art at that. I was recently in Mindanao, Philippines, where a tribe called the Tboli – converted years ago to Christ by the Santa Cruz Mission – weaves lovely panels, maintaining the sanctity of the materials by keeping husband and wife separate during the time of weaving, embedding Christian imagery, producing products for secular and religious purposes – all while trying to hold on to their traditional arts and crafts. They can use some help – visit the website tboli.globalmatters.com and see more.