Art & Culture
- May 6, 2007
Art & Culture
PCA Artists: Pointing to the Creator, Shaping the Culture
Christians have understandably been skittish about "the arts" in recent years. Hollywood churns out movies that advance an anti-Christian perspective. The theater tends to oppose a biblical view of family. Painting, sculpture, and other visual arts seem elitist and confusing; they frequently lack quantifiable virtue. "Artists" are given prestigious prizes for arrangements of mutilated animals, rotten fruit, or an unmade bed.
It has been said that artists are the makers of culture. Yet such distortions of God's creation and gifts have driven believers out of the mainstream culture and into their own communities for any artistic expression. Just about every art form, be it music, literature, or visual art, has a Christian alternative. And this has often led Christians to seek out "Christian" art, to the detriment of Christians who see all of art as a way to bring glory to God. Others in the church view art purely as a way to evangelize, ignoring the fact that art is a gift from God that serves many purposes and dimensions.
God's Character Exposed
Scriptures reveal that art is important to the Lord. In describing the process by which the Children of Israel were to build their tabernacle to the Lord, Exodus has this to say: Then Moses said to the people of Israel, "See, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft. And he has inspired him to teach, both him and Oholiab the son of Ahisamach of the tribe of Dan. He has filled them with skill to do every sort of work done by an engraver or by a designer or by an embroiderer in blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen, or by a weaver--by any sort of workman or skilled designer.. . . . And Moses called Bezalel and Oholiab and every craftsman in whose mind the LORD had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him up to come to do the work. (Exodus 35:30-36:2, ESV).
The next few chapters go on to describe the beauty of the tabernacle and the craftsmanship that goes into building it. Such detail shows us a tangible example of God's people using God's gifts to bring adoration to Him. Such detail also reveals the great love the people have for their God, who delivered them from Egypt.
"Within the Scriptures, evidence that the arts matter to God is overwhelming," according to Dr. Tom Jennings, Director of Worship and Arts at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City. "Frequent instructions in the Bible to sing, dance, and play instruments show that God expects all people to express their relationship to Him in creative ways. God's calling on specific individuals to serve as temple musicians and craftsmen shows that many are to dedicate themselves to understanding and mastering their art form."
But beyond finding examples in the Bible for God's approval of the artist's life, the Scriptures themselves are inherent evidence of artistic expression. "With all due respect to preachers who deliver organized three-point sermons (and I get to work with an exceptional "three-point preacher" at Redeemer), God chose to reveal Himself primarily through narrative, parable, poetry, proverb, and song," says Mr. Jennings.
As God's image bearers, artists create as God created. Art is a gift from the Lord, and part of our nature is likeness to Him; creating something beautiful is our way of imitating God, thinking God's thoughts after Him. "Great art unveils the human condition. It speaks to corners of our being we didn't know existed," says Mr. Jennings. "Since God made us artistic creatures, we should take seriously the nurture of our artistic lives."
"Every act of creativity is directly or indirectly an intuitive response to offer back to God what has been given to us," writes Makoto Fujimura, a painter and elder of the Village (PCA) Church in New York City's Greenwich Village. "We can twist this intuition and may create something transgressive . . . and injurious, but the source of this creative impulse comes from the Creator."
The Arts Cry Out for the Influence of God's People
"A Christian view of the arts," says Scotty Smith, Pastor of Christ Community Church of Franklin, Tenn., "starts with a proper view of creation. Many Christians focus on [themes of] redemption when considering the arts, but they should start with creation. When God created the world, and Adam and Eve as His image bearers, He called them to subdue the earth . . . art is designed to be an amazing responsibility from the Lord taking the raw stuff of creation and molding it into something beautiful."
But when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, humanity and all of creation were tainted by sin. Human perceptions were distorted, and the ability to perceive beauty was distorted as well. We have a new orientation as to what art is all about. Says Mr. Smith, "Art becomes the revelation of man's glory and not God's, the goal and the means are corrupted, we are no longer the stewards of art and have lost the ability to let it serve a grander purpose." Thus, art becomes something that is used to serve ourselves and not God, the original artist.
Of course, God has restrained the effects of the fall; mankind is not as evil as he could be. Sin does not reign as an unchecked disease, says Mr. Smith; it is up to believers involved in the arts to answer the call to excellence, to be the best they can be for the glory of God. "Not in terms of cultural elitism, but something that we give to others in a tangible way to show thanks to God and stewardship of His gift to us."
Christian believers involved in the arts can and should focus on art that brings back to a beautiful and perfect creator, and not art that brings glory only to sinful man. "Because God has brought salvation in Christ and is redeeming the world, we should be of all people most joyful and hopeful," says Redeemer's Jennings. "We should create new works of art, spread beauty to the poorest of our neighbors, and reach out to all who feel alienated from the church, including the artists who are instrumental in the formation of our culture."
Art and Truth
Christians are often fond of saying "all truth is God's truth." But in a postmodern age that disputes the very existence of truth, engaging unbelievers in discussions of truth can be difficult. Christian artists must lead such discussions in the world of the arts.
"[Christians] have to be seen as leaders in these discussions, not only in academic and philosophical circles, but in popular culture as well," says Mr. Fujimura. "We can provide a grasp and confidence in the nature of beauty, we can point not to superficial beauty, but ultimate beauty."
Curt Cloninger, Artist in Residence at Perimeter (PCA) Church, and an actor whose one-man show is well known in both Christian and non-Christian circles, agrees. "Artists are lightning rods; they have a great responsibility to put what is true out there in the world."
Cloninger believes our culture is less and less interested in real truth, and more often than not holds an attitude shaped by that which is entertaining. "The arts are the pulse of the culture," he tells byFaith. "People today have less real discourse about truth; they listen to fewer lectures about theology; the masses only read sound bites."
But Christians in the arts are "the great disseminators of what is true," Mr. Cloninger continues. Unbelievers who would walk by a street preacher or ignore church services are often more willing to go to a dramatic performance or an art gallery. Christian artists "have a wonderful opportunity to influence the culture by what we write, perform, draw, or paint." Thus, not only are people who engage our art entertained and enlightened, but they are exposed to truth and beauty by those who believe those things reveal the character of the Creator.
Subduing the Earth with Good
As noted in the Exodus passage above, God has filled many with great artistic skill. More and more people from the PCA are seeking to use those skills in the Christian community and beyond. Growing numbers of believers are searching for ways to express themselves artistically in ways that both honor God and share the light of Christ with an unredeemed world.
"The mindset of many Christians is that Christian musicians play only in church," says Vera Parkin, a collaborative pianist who performs with the St. Louis Symphony. But Ms. Parkin, a member of New City Fellowship, believes that Christian artists should apply their faith to their work much like Christians in any other vocation. "God gives his children a vast array of gifts that can be used everywhere." Ms. Parkin believes that her Christian worldview shines through her music and has a positive influence on those she encounters in her work. "I don't want my faith to hit people over the head," says Ms. Parkin, "but I would like to think that everyone I work with knows I am a Christian." Quoting Eric Liddell's famous line from the movie Chariots of Fire, "When I run, I feel [God's] pleasure." Ms. Parkin says she feels exactly the same way about her music: Performing beautiful music with excellence brings glory to God.
"Classical music communicates warmth and humanity," says Ms. Parkin. "Everyone should have the shared experience of created beauty. . . . The arts nourish and feed people in their place of need . . . [and] art brings people into community."
Curt Cloninger hopes the material of his performances will spur people to think about life's big questions and true answers. "As an actor and a writer who is also a Christian, I want to get people thinking about God," he says. "I hope to perform stories that people hold on to, [stories] that serve as a coat rack to hang some theology on that will stick with them."
Makoto Fujimura hopes that his art will help open people's eyes to God's creation. "All art forms come from creator God, and the way we see things, the way we take in the world, is directly tied to how God created us," says Mr. Fujimura. He doesn't like to use the term "Christian art" or a "Christian way of seeing." Rather, Christianity is his identity. "I don't use the term ‘Christian' as an adjective but as a noun. Biblical faith helps to open eyes, and my art is in service of that process."
What Should PCA Churches Do?
In a booklet titled Art and the Bible, Francis Schaeffer 30 years ago pointed to a big problem with the utilitarian way the Christians of his day viewed the arts: "[I]t is part of lostness of modern man that they no longer see value in the work of art as a work of art. I am afraid, however, that as evangelicals we have largely made the same mistake. Too often we think that a work of art has value only if we reduce it to a tract. This too is to view art solely as a message for the intellect."
And while the modernism of our culture has given way to postmodernism, many artists feel that the church today still holds to the idea that for art to be of value, it must serve some utilitarian purpose such as to introduce sermon topics or to evangelize. Many believers appear to forget that true art, in and of itself, can bring people closer to God.
"We must be aware of artists already in the church who struggle because they can't express themselves fully in the church culture," says Mr. Fujimura. "I've met many people who come to New York [City] with incredible giftedness, but struggle with their faith because they were once alienated by the church." In his own church, Mr. Fujimura facilitates a small-group Bible study that specifically seeks to address the spiritual needs of artists.
Tom Jennings offers some practical tips for PCA pastors and elders who want to do more to build a bridge between their church and the artistic community.
First, pastors from the pulpit can draw positive illustrations from "secular" art. "Often, the only references to secular literature, movies, or music from our pulpits are condemnations," says Mr. Jennings, "but there is great benefit to showing how art often contains glimpses of gospel truth."
Second, allow artists to use their gifts fully. They should be allowed to perform at appropriate times and places. "We should avoid the dualism of sacred versus secular, and celebrate beauty wherever God ‘causes the rain to fall.'"
Third, church leaders can be proactive in reaching out to artists. Too often, we wait for them to come to us. "As a whole, the arts community feels quite removed from the church . . . but my experience is that if you go to them, you will fine a receptive audience."
Also, Jennings believes churches should consider giving an honorarium to professional artists who participate in the worship, or who otherwise contribute to the ministry. "This is not for the purpose of ‘buying' excellence or to devalue volunteerism, but it is a way of showing love and care to a group of individuals who have chosen a career with very limited financial gain."
Schaeffer also contends in Art and the Bible that the Christian faith is more than just the doctrine of salvation. "Christian art is by no means always religious art, that is, which deals with religious themes. . . . This whole notion is rooted in the realization that Christianity is not just involved with "salvation" but with the total man in a total world."
Scotty Smith believes the PCA has a theology that, applied properly, gives a higher view of beauty in the arts. "Art is such an important part of our created experience," he says. "Christians called to various parts of the arts, from Broadway to the local kazoo band, are called to excellence. Doing what we do well is to God's glory. . . . We need to continue to recognize great art and show genuine appreciation for art making itself."
Article written by Stephen McGarvey and originally published at www.byfaithonline.com.
Stephen McGarvey is the Editor of Interactive Media for BreakPoint with Chuck Colson (www.breakpoint.org) and the Wilberforce Forum. He is also a freelance writer, and a board member of a Washington D.C. area theater group, Journeyman Theater Ensemble (www.journeymentheater.org).
