Southern Seminary Student Arts Organization

There is a new student art organization at Southern Seminary (where I go to school via the internet).  I am really excited about this because it is not often that seminary education remains so closely faithful to biblical Christianity and yet still has a passion to be relevant to the culture.  Usually, seminaries get side-tracked by one or the other; a preoccupation with the bible but no appreciation for cultural engagement, or so preoccupied with culture that they see less of a need for the bible.  Ideally, we should spend an equal amount of time studying our culture and our Bible.  As I learn to study the Bible, I find it fascinating how easy it becomes to relate the culture of the bible to the culture I live in.  If I still lived near campus, I would attend this group in a heart-beat.  

I took three courses in art history and graduated with a degree in graphic design and web-design.  Having a knowledge of how art has changed over the years is almost better than an anthropology class.  It is one thing to study people through statistics and other empirical data, however, studying what people described as beautiful in a given area can yield equally satisfying results.  Mainly, because a greater appreciation of an art piece grows with a greater understanding of the culture in which it was created.  The church as a whole would do well to understand the role of art in culture and to identify its close connection to what appeals to people.  

For example, Apple computers are beginning to make significant gains in the technology market.  If you have ever thought it was solely because they work really well and there operating system is stable, you are wrong.  Apple takes great pride in its presentation of their computers.  In terms of construction. they all have wide curves around their edges, minimal screws exposed, and no endorsement stickers slapped all over it.  Their operating system is designed so that is gives the appearance of simplicity.  At times, it can be a real pain in the teeth to get it to do what you want, but who cares....it looks well-made and therefore makes the average user feel like its easily accessible.  This is what good art does.  Whether its a painting or music, at some level you can enter the piece and understand the basic shape and form.  However, great art always keeps you looking and listening, noticing things you had not seen before.  Check out the video to see a great (sarcastic) example of what I am talking about.

 

Next-Wave-Magazine - Worship as Evangelism This article is by a Sally Morganthaler who wrote the book Worship Evangelism. The article basically is her confession, that the contemporary worship movement that she so actively followed has not really reached the unchurched. In fact, she even shut down her website designed to equip churches implementing contemporary worship. I highly encourage you to read the whole thing since it outlines this woman's journey from the beginning of the contemporary worship movement in the late 80's early 90's to its present state. HT: House Church Blog

Wow. This quote is from a blog I mentioned previously that is written by an athiest who goes to various Christian events and gives his reaction. Regardless of the fact that he will obviously not be impressed with Benny Hinn, some of what he wrote is truly astounding. Particularly, the threat if the people do not give money.

They’re so good at evangelism, they even converted a building! This blog entry is part of an experiment by a Christian radio talk show host named Drew Marshall. He offered to pay some non-Christians to go to some churches in the Toronto area. This blog talks about their experience at a mega-church, and it is worth the read. Particularly, it should wake Christians up to see how an educated non-Christian sees a mega-church that is relying on being mostly attractional in its approach to reach people. (Attractional Church = majority of time money and man hours goes into the Sunday service). An excerpt:

This part of Bruxy’s series was about attitudes towards money - specifically, those of “The Secret” versus those of Christ. Great talk, very clearly pointing out the Bible’s really clear messages on money and wealth. I was impressed with Bruxy’s insistence on putting traditionally over-used quotes in context, which makes them clearer and points out how they’re usually mis-quoted. I also liked his style - yes, he was preaching the traditional message of “Seek His kingdom and the rest will follow”, and “We shouldn’t value money or possessions enough to seek them”, but he delivered it well. The line “God doesn’t need your money” really sat well with me - what omnipotent divinity needs the feeble human trappings of finance? Also really liked the way he pointed out that those who are wealthy shouldn’t be judged as impure or imperfect - that lesson often gets missed by those eager to be “the meek and poor”, and thus the inheritors of the earth. That said, I always get irritated by this topic as far as Christianity is concerned. Why is it that I should not seek out possessions and money, but the church is permitted to do just that? Does taking 10% of every congregant’s income not count as seeking out money? Why should the institution be rich, and the congregation not? If you really believe you should be living the aesthetic life led by Christ and his apostles, why aren’t you doing it? If money and possessions aren’t important, why aren’t you meeting to discuss the meaning of Christ’s ideas and life in the local park? Notwithstanding the need to broadcast to your rather large congregation, and obviously you’d have to come up with a solution during the winter months, but really: why the son et lumiere? I found the medium more than a bit out of whack with the message.

It has come to my attention that the church must take more seriously the medium it chooses to proclaim the Gospel. I have no doubt that the preacher gave the clearest, doctrinally sound presentation of what the text in the Bible intended. But that is not the chief concern of the non-Christian here and in most of North America. Instead, it is the method used to communicate that truth (flashy lights and sound) that is essentially, drowning out the message altogether. If this is the case, then for whom does the church do the elaborate Sunday service? Probably not those who are genuinely unchurched.

Sex Offenders Test Churches’ Core Beliefs - New York Times It is always interesting when a church is really challenged by the world in stories like this. When former sex offenders come into a church openly seeking a place of worship, how will the church respond?

Well, Now We Have GodTube In case you have missed the latest craze....Godtube is here. A youtube clone for Christian videos. The site it controlled by the user base and site administrators to keep objectionable videos from being posted. I found this interesting because a secular blog picked it up and pointed out something.

"I think JesusTube would have been a better name choice, though, given that this is restricted to the Christian God."