This put everything I feel about Christian arts into beautifully organized words. Im tired of redundant themes and barely-scratching-the-surface stories. We need to challenge each other to reach a deeper level of intimacy. If you dont ask questions, if you keep hearing the same thing, wheres the progression? Ask questions. Seek answers. Challenge yourself. Be creative. Try something new. Make art that you love, love the art that you make. Be real. 1) We need to permit our artists (writers, actors, musicians, filmmakers) to take more risks. And artists, whether you are permitted or not, take more risks. Did you really get into your artistic field because you liked playing it safe? Why play it safe with the most important thing you have to say? 2) We need to encourage our artists to challenge rather than stroke our sensibilities. A pearl is made when dirt is irritated inside the oyster, after all. And so artists, don’t wait for permission. Start challenging your audience. They will undoubtedly resist you, but we need to be challenged or we’ll stagnate and fade away into irrelevance. 3) We need to recognize that art is art, the pulpit is the pulpit, and while the two might cross paths from time to time, they are completely different animals. This goes for everyone. Does everyone truly understand this? With all the recent criticisms of Noah because it “is unbiblical”, I have to think that lots of people don’t. 4) We need to be okay with movies that don’t give all the answers. If they succeed in asking some good, deep questions, they might actually open the doors to conversations where answers can be explored. Artists, isn’t part of our job to provoke questions? Don’t feel you have to end every sentence with a period 5) And most importantly: tell good stories. As Frank Capra famously said, “If you want to send a message, try Western Union.” If you are an artist, the quality of your work should be at the top of your list of considerations. Jesus wasn’t known for telling mediocre stories that ticked off all the correct religious boxes. He was known for telling compelling stories that challenged his listeners while communicating God’s truth. Aren’t we supposed to be like Jesus?
Posted on: Thu, 27 Mar 2014 01:33:05 +0000
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