When my wife and I attend a church, we like to serve. For the last 6 years, we've served in youth and in worship arts areas of a local church, enthusiastically as leaders.
Yet, we sensed that our time at this particular church was complete – that we had been called to the church for a season – and that time was over.
As individuals and families, we're drawn to a church through the relationships we have. Friends, family, acquaintances give us a familiar face to look for when we first attend as a guest. As we get to know more people, it becomes more like family. As we start to serve, we become more like staff – and the relational aspect has the potential to change. It's the last stage that can bring joy and sorrow into our lives, if the relationships are not maintained, if trust is not established early on. We lose sight of relationships when programs become more important than people.
But now it's time to move on, we've been lead to a different church, pastored by one of the most humble and self-deprecating individuals I've had the privilege of knowing. He and his wife are dear friends; we've known them for years – we trust them and are confident in his exposition of God's Word.
But what's different this time, is that instead of jumping in and volunteering, we're going to – even need to – wait. And I'm OK with that.
God asks us to wait for Him, to listen to Him, and to obey Him. We're going to be guests again, as we get to know a new family.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Ideas for art in the church
A college friend, who pastors a church, recently asked for my input on how art can help inspire, encourage and challenge. It's taken me some time, but here are some thoughts. To start, here's his initial question:
First, read through these books to get yourself into a proper mindset about art and the church. One of the reasons that churches don't have much art in them is that the Church, in large part, abandoned the arts long ago, substituting sentimental popular culture for artistic depth. If art of any kind couldn't be used for Sunday school or evangelism, it was deemed not worthy and largely ignored. Some churches create complex graphic and environmental themes to support sermon series, but they are no substitute for art in our lives – in our churches, our homes and in our spirits.
HR Rookmaker's Art needs no justification is an excellent treatise on how the Church (and Christians) has lowered its aesthetic standards,, and failed to interact with contemporary culture in a meaningful way (preferring to mimic an copy, rather than being original).
Schaeffer's Art and the Bible is a superb work. One of the most significant, and shortest, works on art ever written.
Current books on art and Christian faith can be found at Square Halo Books. I recommend It Was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God.
I feel your pain: my office is in a building on battleship gray and glass. Were it not for the light and the color we've added; it would be thoroughly depressing.
Your environment, your existing architecture can be treated as art. Starting with color is a good place. Create BIG panels of color by staining 4x8 sheets of plywood with rich, deep color stains (not paint) to accent the industrial feel of the building – allowing the texture of the wood to show through. It doesn't need to, but as a metaphor it can speak to the beauty and transparency of grace and God's revealing work in our lives. A main panel covered in vibrant red can be a focal point to bring to the attention of the church family and to visitors the sacrifice of His blood that was made. Avoid kitsch references to any color-based evangelism tools such as color books. Remember, art needs no justification.
Too many churches try to appear so polished, so perfect, that their environment becomes merely a stage for a production and an entertainment venue; a whitewashed imitation of what the Church can be. Art should be authentic, not amateur. The environment in your church is spatial art. It's architecture. If it's metal and industrial, don't try to hide it, accentuate it.
One idea to consider – (I'd love to see you do it), and done in a very small way, is to mount a series of mirrors, circular (which will look great on square walls). Choose a series of words, or phrases such as Redeemed, I am one whom Jesus loves, Forgiven. Have them cut in vinyl that looks like frosted glass and mounted on the mirror, and hang them on the panels, centered. Then when an individual looks in the mirror, they see the message direct from scripture, the word that reminds them of their standing or potential in Christ.
What can you do with light, especially natural light? I am mystified by churches that so thoroughly darken a worship environment. We worship a God of light! Why must we worship him in the dark? Light encourages the building of relationships between familiar friends and with visitors; it allows us to read the Word while it is being preached.
Art is for (God's) glory and for beauty; in Exodus the art of the tabernacle was to enhancement the environment of worship (my favorite are the pomegranates). God told Moses that he filled Bezalel with his Spirit in order to create works of art for the tabernacle. In the Hebrew it indicates he will think of what he wants to create (even though God told him exactly what he wanted), and to have the skill to create them.
Next we'll discuss specific types of art. That's more of a challenge, and topic for another article. The environment is the first place to start, it's the canvas upon which art will hang; in which art will create an atmosphere of beauty.
"The church is in a 10-year-old metal building. Everything's gray! I'm working on bringing some color into the building. Over the last few years, I have become much more sensitive to how art can inspire and encourage, not to speak of how art can challenge and "preach." But in wanting to bring art i.e., painting, sculpture, etc., into the church, I'm at a loss as to how to begin to create a plan for this or to create a financial provision for it. Looking for guidance…"Here's what I suggest:
First, read through these books to get yourself into a proper mindset about art and the church. One of the reasons that churches don't have much art in them is that the Church, in large part, abandoned the arts long ago, substituting sentimental popular culture for artistic depth. If art of any kind couldn't be used for Sunday school or evangelism, it was deemed not worthy and largely ignored. Some churches create complex graphic and environmental themes to support sermon series, but they are no substitute for art in our lives – in our churches, our homes and in our spirits.
HR Rookmaker's Art needs no justification is an excellent treatise on how the Church (and Christians) has lowered its aesthetic standards,, and failed to interact with contemporary culture in a meaningful way (preferring to mimic an copy, rather than being original).
Schaeffer's Art and the Bible is a superb work. One of the most significant, and shortest, works on art ever written.
Current books on art and Christian faith can be found at Square Halo Books. I recommend It Was Good: Making Art to the Glory of God.
I feel your pain: my office is in a building on battleship gray and glass. Were it not for the light and the color we've added; it would be thoroughly depressing.
Your environment, your existing architecture can be treated as art. Starting with color is a good place. Create BIG panels of color by staining 4x8 sheets of plywood with rich, deep color stains (not paint) to accent the industrial feel of the building – allowing the texture of the wood to show through. It doesn't need to, but as a metaphor it can speak to the beauty and transparency of grace and God's revealing work in our lives. A main panel covered in vibrant red can be a focal point to bring to the attention of the church family and to visitors the sacrifice of His blood that was made. Avoid kitsch references to any color-based evangelism tools such as color books. Remember, art needs no justification.
Too many churches try to appear so polished, so perfect, that their environment becomes merely a stage for a production and an entertainment venue; a whitewashed imitation of what the Church can be. Art should be authentic, not amateur. The environment in your church is spatial art. It's architecture. If it's metal and industrial, don't try to hide it, accentuate it.
One idea to consider – (I'd love to see you do it), and done in a very small way, is to mount a series of mirrors, circular (which will look great on square walls). Choose a series of words, or phrases such as Redeemed, I am one whom Jesus loves, Forgiven. Have them cut in vinyl that looks like frosted glass and mounted on the mirror, and hang them on the panels, centered. Then when an individual looks in the mirror, they see the message direct from scripture, the word that reminds them of their standing or potential in Christ.
What can you do with light, especially natural light? I am mystified by churches that so thoroughly darken a worship environment. We worship a God of light! Why must we worship him in the dark? Light encourages the building of relationships between familiar friends and with visitors; it allows us to read the Word while it is being preached.
Art is for (God's) glory and for beauty; in Exodus the art of the tabernacle was to enhancement the environment of worship (my favorite are the pomegranates). God told Moses that he filled Bezalel with his Spirit in order to create works of art for the tabernacle. In the Hebrew it indicates he will think of what he wants to create (even though God told him exactly what he wanted), and to have the skill to create them.
Next we'll discuss specific types of art. That's more of a challenge, and topic for another article. The environment is the first place to start, it's the canvas upon which art will hang; in which art will create an atmosphere of beauty.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Watching your (Christian) language
It's no wonder the Church struggles to communicate effectively with the rest of humanity. It invents words and creates terms that are only understood by those who invent them, in an effort to sound relevant and in an attempt to be (pre) inclusive.
Unbelievers have become "pre-christian." Outreach has become "missional." In an effort to grow in numbers at the expense of our congregation's spiritual depth we have become "attractional." Programs have replaced community, production has replaced authenticity. Bonhoeffer spins in his grave.
The Bible gives us the language we need, there is no need to invent anything new. We are ambassadors, living in a culture to which we do not belong; despairing over issues that the Church abandoned long ago (as indicated by Rookmaker in Art Needs No Justification). We have one task: reconciling people to God (2 Corinthians 5:20).
We need not complicate our task by pretending to speak the language of the culture we live in, when in reality the words we use are foreign to those for whom they are intended. A true ambassador learns the language and culture in which they are living. We must do the same and quit speaking "Christianese."
Unbelievers have become "pre-christian." Outreach has become "missional." In an effort to grow in numbers at the expense of our congregation's spiritual depth we have become "attractional." Programs have replaced community, production has replaced authenticity. Bonhoeffer spins in his grave.
The Bible gives us the language we need, there is no need to invent anything new. We are ambassadors, living in a culture to which we do not belong; despairing over issues that the Church abandoned long ago (as indicated by Rookmaker in Art Needs No Justification). We have one task: reconciling people to God (2 Corinthians 5:20).
We need not complicate our task by pretending to speak the language of the culture we live in, when in reality the words we use are foreign to those for whom they are intended. A true ambassador learns the language and culture in which they are living. We must do the same and quit speaking "Christianese."
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