(no subject)
"Since high school I've been hearing about how Christians need to start making exceptional art that will show the world the glory of The Almighty...But then I started noticing that God never says people will be brought to Him by really great art."
I think this is really insightful. I think it shows that we've confused vocation with evangelism. Vocation is doing what God's called you to do, and doing it well, whether that be plumber, preacher, mom, dad, doctor, painter, whatever. So artists that are Christians can and should make great art, as part of their vocation.
But like you said, Melody, the point of great art is not evangelism. The point of great art is...gasp...great art. It can be done in response to and appreciation for God's gifting of that artist. And it would be great if that artist was open about the fact that he/she is a Christian. But art is not an evangelism strategy in and of itself. Faith has nothing to do with the quality of a piece of art in and of itself, as if Christians should be able to make better art than non-Christians. (Now, I think an argument can be made about Christians engaging more meaningful subject matter like forgiveness and redemption over against things like celebrating debauchery, or whatever. But a meaningful message doesn't cancel out the responsibility to craft good art.)
Romans 10 tells us that faith comes from hearing the Word, not looking at a great piece of art. Now, maybe that art will lead someone to a place where they can hear the Word. But I think too often we think that it is the art itself that will lead someone to faith without actually ever hearing the Word. We confuse vocation and evangelism.
~response from "Michael Schultz" to another commenter on "Hate the Christian Art...Love the Artist?"
We worship a God who specializes in resurrections. He specializes in hopeless situations. After all, at Easter, we celebrate that He conquered death-the ultimate hopeless situation-so you could have life.
Jesus’ followers were dejected and dismal-then Jesus rose from the dead. God did the impossible and in a matter of hours the disciples journeyed from hopeless to hope-filled; from powerless to powerful. Everything changed when they saw Him risen. The story of our salvation was born out of extraordinary uncertainty. But that’s the way hope works.
And no, that doesn’t take away your mom’s cancer. That doesn’t erase the bankruptcy you’re in the midst of. That doesn’t heal your broken relationship. That doesn’t replace your shattered dream.
But it can remind you that while life is uncertain, God is not. While your power is limited, God is limitless. While your hope is fragile, God Himself is hope.
Your world may feel chaotic, especially when you’re stuck in a Saturday, struggling hopelessly and waiting desperately.
But no doubt about it, God is still in control. And one way or another, Sunday will dawn.
~from "Stuck in Saturday"
...Also keeping another reminder to forgive. Still not great at that.
I think this is really insightful. I think it shows that we've confused vocation with evangelism. Vocation is doing what God's called you to do, and doing it well, whether that be plumber, preacher, mom, dad, doctor, painter, whatever. So artists that are Christians can and should make great art, as part of their vocation.
But like you said, Melody, the point of great art is not evangelism. The point of great art is...gasp...great art. It can be done in response to and appreciation for God's gifting of that artist. And it would be great if that artist was open about the fact that he/she is a Christian. But art is not an evangelism strategy in and of itself. Faith has nothing to do with the quality of a piece of art in and of itself, as if Christians should be able to make better art than non-Christians. (Now, I think an argument can be made about Christians engaging more meaningful subject matter like forgiveness and redemption over against things like celebrating debauchery, or whatever. But a meaningful message doesn't cancel out the responsibility to craft good art.)
Romans 10 tells us that faith comes from hearing the Word, not looking at a great piece of art. Now, maybe that art will lead someone to a place where they can hear the Word. But I think too often we think that it is the art itself that will lead someone to faith without actually ever hearing the Word. We confuse vocation and evangelism.
~response from "Michael Schultz" to another commenter on "Hate the Christian Art...Love the Artist?"
We worship a God who specializes in resurrections. He specializes in hopeless situations. After all, at Easter, we celebrate that He conquered death-the ultimate hopeless situation-so you could have life.
Jesus’ followers were dejected and dismal-then Jesus rose from the dead. God did the impossible and in a matter of hours the disciples journeyed from hopeless to hope-filled; from powerless to powerful. Everything changed when they saw Him risen. The story of our salvation was born out of extraordinary uncertainty. But that’s the way hope works.
And no, that doesn’t take away your mom’s cancer. That doesn’t erase the bankruptcy you’re in the midst of. That doesn’t heal your broken relationship. That doesn’t replace your shattered dream.
But it can remind you that while life is uncertain, God is not. While your power is limited, God is limitless. While your hope is fragile, God Himself is hope.
Your world may feel chaotic, especially when you’re stuck in a Saturday, struggling hopelessly and waiting desperately.
But no doubt about it, God is still in control. And one way or another, Sunday will dawn.
~from "Stuck in Saturday"
...Also keeping another reminder to forgive. Still not great at that.