Art And All That Part The Last

Yes, indeed, I think it's quite time we put this subject to bed.  More and more I am noticing that it is being dealt with on an extensive level in the blogosphere and in Christian circles:  smarter and more spiritually knowledgeable people than I are wrestling with it in a good manner, and I am confident that progress will begin to be made in putting the Arts in their proper place in our worship of God.  Yet there is one last caution that I'd like to leave my readers with--as I promised the last time I wrote here:

Coming up next:  the not-so-good attitude that is beginning to display itself among us...

By "us" I mean Christian artists. 

From last time you may remember that I referenced  the article (insert link) Artists Build The Church from (insert link)  The Gospel Coalition's blog.  Consider the following quotes from that article:

Though successful in his work, Youngren’s real desire was to plant a church in an urban hub that would cherish art as revelation and value artists as spiritual leaders.

Youngren hoped to plant a church that could specifically minister to artists and clear a place at their feet where the entire congregation could sit and learn from them.

In most evangelical churches, many view artistic expression as being merely supplemental to other forms of revelation and understanding. Its centrality to worship is muted.

God is in the sublime, but the sublime is often only accessed by artists. To inadvertently push artists into the margins, then, is to limit a congregation’s experience of God to the finite realm of mediocrity. Artists ought to be central to any church body, because they can reinforce these unseen truths in people’s souls. Guerra is well aware of his responsibilities as an artist and does not hold their power lightly. “It’s a gift to participate in the searing of truth in people’s lives,” he says.

See if you note an underlying message here, as I do:

"cherish art as revelation"

"clear a place at their feet"

"Its centrality to worship"

"sublime is often only accessed by artists"

"artists ought to be central"

"it's a gift to participate in the searing of truth in people's lives"

And hear these words from Mako Fujimura, in his  Letter To North American Churches:

"Instead of having quality artists at the core of your worship, we were forced to operate as extras; as in “if-we-can-afford-it-good-but-otherwise-please-volunteer”, Extras."

"Meanwhile, in the institutions called museums, concert halls and academia, we are asked to be gods."

"Artists have skills and power that a dictator is afraid of, or want to use; and you, the church, unwisely neglected them."

These quotes and many others have me quite concerned that the pendulum could easily swing too far in correcting the neglect of True Art in the church, and end up deifying Art and The Artist:  indeed, it seems that this is an underlying theme in the work of John Guerra and Mr. Fujimura's thoughts as expressed in the articles referenced.  Too easily are our hearts given to idols, and I sense a temptation toward a "priesthood" of artists in the church.

That would be a tragedy.  Art belongs in the church in a much more fundamental and acceptable way than it has had heretofore.  But to elevate it beyond a scriptural emphasis would only set up another idol for our hearts to gravitate toward.  Art is not revelation:  Art is based on revelation:  the revealed Word of God in Jesus Christ.  The only feet we should be sitting at to educate our spirituality are the feet at which Mary sat (Luke 10:39).  The sublime is accessible to us all through our relationship with the Father.  Artists are not central to our worship:  Art is a medium of worship and always will be because the Great Artist gave it as such--but it is the Great Artist Who should be central.

Mr. Fujimura asks the following in his letter:

"Do you not know that the first people known to be filled with the Holy Spirit were not priests, kings or generals, but artists named Bezalel and Oholiab, who built Moses’ Tabernacle?"

Yes, Mr. Fujimura, your facts are correct.  However, please note that it was not Bezalel and Oholiab (Exodus 36:1)who were ordained as priests.  In fact, after they built the Tabernacle, they are never mentioned again in scripture.  They fulfilled their callings and followed God's instructions to create an atmosphere that allowed people to be pointed toward the One True and Living God.

And that was all.  No tabernacle set apart for the worship only by artists.  No letters to the people requesting more respect and attention for artists.  No special classes taught by artists so that people could truly understand the art they used in the tabernacle.

They just fulfilled their callings faithfully and obediently.

May we all do the same.

Thinky Things

Here is a link to a more balanced Q & A session which, I think, puts Art in it's proper perspective.  The host is none other than Shai Lin, Christian rap artist.  I encourage you to listen.  And then, consider following the following good advice from the Gospel Coalition blog article:

"Anyone can submit to beauty and art by simply learning to appreciate it. Learn how to read a novel or a poem. Learn how to listen to music and experience a painting. Support the artists in your community not just spiritually but also financially. Seek out creative and unsolicited ways to do this. Attend a [Christian Musician] concert or buy their [album]. Purchase a painting or attend a friend’s show."

Follow this advice not because you want to support artists, even Christian artists...but in order to worship more fully The Greatest Artist. 

And Hold Fast...