These extracts come from a dialogue on art and evangelism as part of the scoping of an arts project:
SS: I'm guessing `evangelism' in its most comprehensive (and appropriate) sense. An arts event that models/demonstrates core values (both on the canvas and in the community), international/multicultural alongside local expressions ... all rooted in the singularity and supremacy of Christ and his work. Artists can talk about what they do and why they do it. An event that attracts people to and (therefore is supportive of) the local church(es) .... those tasked and commissioned and empowered to be ongoing salt and light in the community long after `we' are gone. Churches proclaim, demonstrate and live out the gospel in the local context. An event (and conversations up to/and around) that `evangelizes' the artists/participants i.e. deepens their own thinking and faith in regard to their callings and practice. We learn more about the love of God `Together with all the saints.'
JE: I don't think the Arts are essentially evangelistic. I think the Arts can be used to communicate explicit messages, as occurs in advertising for example, but that doing this narrows their impact to the specific message being communicated and thereby screens out of the artwork the nuances and depth of meaning which characterise truly great art. In other words, evangelism uses the Arts for its own purposes instead of allowing the Arts to communicate on their own terms. I would, therefore, prefer that, in working together, we create something that allows the art created to speak on its own terms rather than packaging it in a box marked evangelism.
SS: I heartily agree, especially in the light of Jonathan's insights and concerns about`art' as an evangelical tool being on a par with advertising. Here's why. In my experience this approach actually reduces the person and work of Jesus, and then tries to sell this on.
I think the role(s) art can play in the evangelistic efforts of the local church are more `roadclearing' (John the Baptist) and seed planting. I also think it is legitimate and appropriate for an artist to have strong convictions about why they make art, and to make wise use of any afforded opportunity to speak out about those convictions ..... especially in a multifaith and multicultural context.
Because it's my conviction that an artist in the spirit will have one eye on the opportunity to speak (and listen) one eye on the humanity of the listeners and one eye on the long term implications of the relationships being built that moment. So one aspect of our inquiry becomes: how can artists of faith engage in practices conducive to honouring Christ and supporting the best efforts of those organisations (churches?) mandated/anointed to both proclaim and live out the gospel faithfully in a multifaith and multicultural society? The apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians (some of `Paul', some of `Peter' or `Appollos' .... each exercising different teaching styles and foci) that God appointed (and anointed) those that planted seeds, those that watered, and those that brought in the harvest all equally. I would never deny an artist (so led) any role in any phase of that process, but by the same token I would be wary of suggesting that art is only valid as a platform or a pulpit. The New Testament has many suggestive images and metaphors for the different phases of God's church building process, and it is among those I see both hospitality and opportunity for the arts.
Another inquiry: (so) what role can we play in helping artists of faith towards best practice? Discussions like this one are sorely needed as a way of encouraging `one another to (genuinely) good works, even more as we see the day approaching' as the author of Hebrews puts it. My favorite piece of `evangelical art' is the Gospel of John. My current, second favorite (constantly changing) is the song `Ambulance' by a music group called Eisley (its a video on youtube) breathtakingly clear, simple, and yet it's a beautiful, haunting song.
JE: One person has said that art simply by being has the ability to speak to people about God and wants to provoke thought about spiritual issues by presenting Biblical truths in a visual format and Christianity as a living and relevant faith using culturally relevant delivery methods. Steve has written of an arts event that models/ demonstrates core values (both on the canvas and in the community), international/multicultural alongside local expressions ... all rooted in the singularity and supremacy of Christ and his work. Artists talking about what they do and why they do it. An event that attracts people to and (therefore is supportive of) the local church(es) .... those tasked and commissioned and empowered to be ongoing salt and light in the community long after `we' are gone. An event (and conversations up to/and around) that deepens the thinking and faith of artists and participants alike in regard to their callings and practice.
I think these are actually very similar visions and one's which I can endorse. However, they are evangelistic in the very broadest sense and not in the sense of an evangelistic event where every aspect of the event is designed to bring people to a point of decision and commitment during that event. Steve calls what we are talking about seed planting, Francis Schaeffer would have spoken of it as pre-evangelism. Drawing on the writings of Flannery O'Connor and Walker Percy I would prefer to talk in terms of creating epiphanies for people of the reality of life and their lives. Whatever we call it, I think we need to acknowledge that whatever Arts event we organise, while it would clearly point to Jesus, it will not be explicitly and specifically designed to bring those that come to the event to faith there and then but instead will stimulate thought and reflection opening up faith as a possibility for exploration. I don't think arts events can and should do more than that in terms of evangelism.
SS: What I sense going on here in our work at listening to the vision that is emerging, is something that I believe would constitute a teaching and empowering moment for all the artists and others that became involved in such an enterprise. As we clarify the role(s) of art, both in planting seeds in local cultures, but also in the concerns of communicating faith and value across cultures, I sense the emergence of a conversation thatcould have long term implications for what artists/artisans do in the future. There WAS a `position paper' that came out of Lausanne 04 on the arts ... and it was all worthy, well argued and comprehensive etc ... but I'm wondering if part of our brief might be to nudge the conversation a little further along ...
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Athlete - Chances.
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