On Christians and Art (Again)

And I officially heart this article. For while he uses the word "conservative," he pretty much really means "Christian."

Ten Mistakes Conservatives Make in Art and Entertainment

The three best points being these:

1. Common Grace

Mistake #2: We don't quite understand common grace -- the idea that the good, the true, and the beautiful can be found in the most "unlikely" of places (Broadway) and people (liberal artists). Without a strong belief in common grace, we will either get angry at the culture or withdraw from it entirely.

2. Mystery and wonder

Mistake #7: We use the arts to save souls and sway elections. True artists enter their work with a sense of mystery, wonderment, always uncertain what may finally appear on the canvas or film or pages. Children’s author Madeleine L'Engle speaks of her surprise when a certain character appeared unexpectedly in the plot of the novel she was writing. She says, "I cannot imagine the book without [the character], and I know that it is a much better book because of him. But where he came from I cannot say. He was a sheer gift of grace." A sermon can be artful, and Lord knows campaign ads could use some imagination. Mixing art and agenda, however, is propaganda, whether it comes from the left or the right. If you want to send a message, Samuel Goldwyn rightly said, call Western Union.

Though I would caveat (or clarify) that any piece of art worth anything is going to have some sort of message to it. The point, I think, is more along the lines that we should go into art to show the glory, wonder, truth, mystery, and beauty of things...and whatever message comes out of that, so be it.

3. Un-safe Art

Mistake #10: We like safe art. Soggy may be a better term. Easy to digest. Nothing that causes heartburn. Do we really want art that never challenges our convictions, wrestles with our beliefs, or questions our faith? Let’s not forget: beauty is hardly safe, truth is never tame, goodness is anything but trite. Author Franky Schaeffer said it best : "The arts ask hard questions. Art incinerates polyester/velvet dreams of inner healing and cheap grace. Art hurts, slaps, and defines. Art is interested in truth: in bad words spoken by bad people, in good words spoken by good people, in sin and goodness, in life, sex, birth, color, texture, death, love, hate, nature, man, religion, music, God, fire, water, and air. Art tears down, builds up, and redefines. Art is uncomfortable." Finally, and most profoundly, he writes: "Good art (which, among other things, means truth-telling art) is good in itself, even when it is about bad things."