What Is The Point?

[David Gorgone]

I have to admit that there are times I struggle with whether or not artistic expression is of any value in the church. As much as I love all forms of culture in one shape or another I always ask myself as I put pen to paper, "What's the point of all this?" Is artistic expression at all important when we consider there are a lot of people starving to death next door? I find myself struggling with it. Even in a recent conversation I was having with a friend of mine about the last great indie concert he went to I wanted to blurt out, "Does any of this stuff matter?"

[Heather Goodman]

I have two thoughts:
1. Why does it have to be either/or? In fact, it seems to me that a lot of artists I know are very involved in feeding the hungry, clothing the poor, caring for the orphan and the widow, etc. In fact, I believe our art depends on us loving people the way Christ loves them (um, us).
2. We are creative people--not just artists, but everyone. God created us that way. He delights in beauty--which is why he created a beautiful earth, which is why he's re-creating a beautiful earth. He's given us a vision of the culmination of beauty in (1) Christ's death and resurrection and (2) in the glimpse we have into our (and indeed the whole earth's) physical resurrection. Our art participates in that work of re-creating, not in the same way of God's creation and re-creation, of course, just as all of our work in participating in his redemption work is different than his redemption work. Still, it's an important part of God's kingdom work. Look at the time and resources used in building the Temple. God was communicating to the people--look! I love beauty! Beauty is important! Even the early Christians, running from their lives, meeting secretly in catacombs, created beautiful art. This artwork, a display of beauty and life, fills catacombs (places of death).
God's redeeming beauty, and by the Holy Spirit, we participate in his work.
I don't think you need me to say any of this, really. I suspect you're throwing the question out there because of some frustration. Of course, I can't say whether or not you personally need to continue doing what you're doing or do something new. That's between you, God, and your local community. But I do think that just as we're all called to free the oppressed and take care of the orphan, just as we're all called to go into the nations, baptizing and discipling, I believe we're all called to also live creatively as God, in whose image we are, created us to live.

[Heather Goodman]

You know, I was thinking, you should read My Name Is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok. This book deals with what is worthwhile in a world of cold and darkness. A young Jewish artist struggles with his drawings and paintings because in his community, it's considered foolishness compared to things like rescuing persecuted Jews from Russia (which his father does). He asks, "What was a pen and paper, what were pastels, in the face of the evil of the shell?" and "If [the gift of art] is from the Ribbono Shel Olom [Master of the Universe], why is it less important than what Papa is doing?"
I think it would be a good one for you to read, really for any artist who struggles with how art and his faith (whatever faith that may be) relate.

[David Gorgone]

I have to admit I do see it as an either/or. The whole idea of faith and art has started to trouble me. The desire to be honest while at the same time wanting to share my faith. To not be seen as a Christian author, but as a Christian who just so happens to write. Etc. I give someone like Johnny Cash credit for he believed he must sing about the darkness in order to share the light and he made it look so easy. And it is all this struggle which has given me a nice case of the writers block. And I hate to say it, but right now I am ok with it and don't really care. Sorry be such a downer and don't take my lead on this. In about a month a friend and I are heading to the Dodge poetry fest for a few days. Hopefully this'll spark some desire and interest again. If it is God's will to do so. And I will read that book. It is one i wanted to read for a while. I read The Chosen and seen it as a play in Philly. Quite enjoyable.

[Heather Goodman]

There is this tension. As artists, the last thing we want is propaganda or message-driven art (although I will say that this happens no matter what faith or belief system you have). But this tension is played out at the cross and resurrection--a combination which is the culmination of beauty.
I think a lot of Christians forget that Judges, one of the ugliest, most tragic stories is a book in the Bible. This too is beauty.
I think there are times of emptiness, and that's okay. Maybe it's okay when we have writer's block. Maybe these are the fastings before the Easter feast. Maybe we try to hard to push through them rather than allowing God to give us rest in him, allowing ourselves to just be.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts and reflections on the poetry fest!

[David Gorgone]

That is definately true. Another blogger sent me a book by a Christian fiction writer. One of the book blurbs said it wasn't preachy, but when I read it I found that to be far from the truth. And the writing was so bad there were times I couldn't help but find myself laugh uncontrollably. Plus a lot of the theology was outright deplorable.