I started reading a book by Franky Schaeffer yesterday. It is titled Addicted to Mediocrity. The book is about how modern Christianity (over the last 100 years or so) have abandoned the arts; we have abandoned the creativity that was present in the earlier years of Christianity.
This has raised some questions for me:
Why do most churches avoid using peoples artistic ability outside of the children's program?
Why do we not see more "classical" instruments in worship (the trumpets, the symbols, etc)?
Why do we get nervous about painting, sculpting, dancing, etc?
I know that there are OT passages referencing not worshiping images carved out of stone, but does that mean that we cannot have any type of artwork? Look at the tabernacle. Everything was covered in gold, fine stones, beautiful tapestries. This was a place where the beautiful, creative God dwelt, and it showed his beauty, and his creativity.
Why have we abondoned that today?
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6 comments:
I don't think it's abandoned. There is no doubt a huge revival of the arts especially in our generation.
In the past month I've witnessed paintings, "sand-drawing portrayals of the prodigal son", symbols and trumpets in worship, and interpretive dancing in chapel...
I would ask you, however, where you go to church?
If it is heavily attended by college students, that would be a major part of the reason.
Most churches do not include any of those things. I wish they did, but most don't.
Surprisingly I participate in a local congregation full of old people. The diversity of musical instruments are played by folks who are at least mid-age.
The last painting I saw done was by an old man as well.
I think the problem with all the talk about "what's wrong with the church" and "why doesn't the church do this" is because most people who determine what's wrong with the church, determine it based on the churches that they've went to or grown up in. Most of us have no concept on the vastness and diversity of the church and how "a majority" of the church has integrated certain aspects of creativity into their ministry and service.
And like I said, I see the growing interest in art, especially in our generation, which would include college age students.
Also,
I can walk down the hall right now and find 50 different views of what "the church" needs to do or what "the church isn't doing that it needs to"...it drives me crazy.
Thus, it seems to me that we're in a period of the church that has, for the most part, transitioned from the debate of "worship in churches" to a much broader argument on ecclesiology.
Personally,
I feel that our experience plus knowledge must drive our critique of the church. I have attended about 7-8 churches total in my life (not counting the one week visits). It should be my DUTY to examine those churches that have I enter into. I need to look upon their actions, rituals, teachings, etc to decide whether they accurately display the truth of our God. It is my job, as well as every other Christian, to examine the Scriptures to help light the path for us to go as a church.
In other words, I am not trying to push my opinions about church onto every congregation, not even the congregation I'm attending. I do however, want to see where we do a poor job of displaying God.
Most churches do the obvious things pretty well--communion, prayer, some teaching, solid children's program.
One area of God I see in Scripture is His creativity. As far as I know there is no outline in Scripture for how to implement creativity into churches, which gives us a lot of freedom. I find, however, that in many churches--all that I have been a consistent part in--overlook this aspect because they are so focused on other aspects (which I would say are more important).
In other words, I critique my churches, and the many churches I interact with regularly now that I work in a town full time. I'm glad your church does have art, my church will probably never use art completely that way because our people are different--different talents and creativities.
I'm rambling now...
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