As Managing editor Tim Basselin transitions his work and family to Dallas and his new role in Dallas Seminary’s Department of Media Arts and Worship and Senior Editor Gary David Stratton continues in his summer writing projects we thought we’d invest the summer in passing along some of the best things we’ve read over the past few months. Enjoy!
Artists already know that as Christians they’ll never be fully at home in the world of art, so why should we add the crushing burden of not allowing them to be ever feel fully at home in the church as well?
by Philip G. Ryken • President, Wheaton College
Many Christian artists live between two strange worlds. Their faith in Christ seems odd to many of their friends in the artistic community—almost as odd as their calling as artists seems to some of their friends at church. Yet Christians called to draw, paint, sculpt, sing, act, dance, and play music have extraordinary opportunities to honor God in their daily work and to bear witness to the grace, beauty, and truth of the gospel. How can pastors (and churches) encourage Christians with artistic gifts in their dual calling as Christian artists?
As a pastor and college president, I have made a sad discovery: the arts are not always affirmed in the life of the local church. We need a general rediscovery of the arts in the context of the church. This is badly needed because the arts are the leading edge of culture.
A recovery of the arts is also needed because the arts are a vital sign for the church. Francis Schaeffer once said:
For a Christian, redeemed by the work of Christ and living within the norms of Scripture and under the leadership of the Holy Spirit, the lordship of Christ should include an interest in the arts. A Christian should use these arts to the glory of God—not just as tracts, but as things of beauty to the praise of God.
In this article, I am taking a fresh and somewhat contrarian approach by seeking to answer the question, “How do you discourage artists in the church?” In preparation, I asked some friends for their answers to my question: an actor, a sculptor, a jazz singer, a photographer. They are not whiners, but they gave me an earful (and said that it was kind of fun).
Here is my non-exhaustive list of ways that churches can discourage their artists (and some quotes from my friends)…
Pingback: There are Artists in the Church??! - Faith on View