Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
"Christian" ________
I have recently had the conversation on more than one occasion with a few different young people about not making "Christian" versions of movies, music, books, etc. I have always felt that there is a place for it, such as worship music or christian contemporary as long as it is an overflow of your heart, but the discussion was more around the fact that you don't have to make "Christian" art just because you are a Christian. My point was that your worldview and relationship with Christ should overflow from you in everything you do if you are a believer. Your relationship with Him should never be in question when examining your art even if you never mention Him by name. I think the best art is made naturally from your heart and that the Christian community would do well to allow their gifts to flow naturally and with out being forced to compete with mainstream America. Not to say that there is not a place for "Christian" art, but not at the expense of creating what should come natural. I think that is a disservice to who God is as a creator. There is an excelent article written by Eric Metaxas that I feel expresses the point well.
By Eric Metaxas
January 9, 2013
If you've read The Chronicles of Narnia, you know they are loaded with Christian themes and symbols. That's why many assume that C. S. Lewis wrote them in order to send some kind of Christian message.
But Lewis himself insisted otherwise. The tales, he said, started as a series of pictures that came into his mind and set his imagination working. The result was not sermons, but stories-beautiful stories loved by believers and non-believers alike for decades.
There's a lesson in here for all of us. Conservative Christians today often feel alienated from the larger society, and for good reason. The vast majority of the stories that permeate our culture are told by people whose worldview is diametrically opposed to ours. We can hardly watch a TV show or read a magazine without seeing ourselves portrayed as villains, and our cultural opponents held up as the epitome of righteousness.
And it's not hard to see the political impact stories have on our fellow Americans. As National Review Online recently put it: "The fact is, it's easier to sell a political narrative to America when it comports with the cultural narrative we see and hear every day."
NRO's solution was for cultural conservatives to start taking back the culture by telling and promoting stories of our own. They argue that we can't "keep ignoring the importance of story."
And that much is true. But we have to be careful that we understand what stories really are, and why people tell them.
Which brings us back to Lewis and Narnia. Remember that Lewis didn't tell stories to push an agenda. His stories grew naturally out of his worldview, and because he was a gifted storyteller, they expressed that worldview beautifully.
As Alex Wainer explains in a recent article at BreakPoint.org, this is true of all the best-told stories. We may be tempted to think that secularist celebrities went into show business simply to indoctrinate the public; many of them certainly act like that.
But that is not the case. Wainer writes, "Entertainers often work from childhood to develop [their] talents, and go through years of arduous dues-paying [and] rejection, working menial jobs while pursuing endless auditions and practicing their craft."
For the most popular artists and entertainers today-just as it was for Lewis-their art grows naturally out of their worldview. It just so happens that today, we have far fewer C. S. Lewises and far more Jon Stewarts.
This is why conservative Christians need to be wary of engaging in cultural efforts just to push a message. As Wainer reminds us, "Jon Stewart knows comedy in his bones; he happens to be liberal, but he mainly wants to make people laugh. When conservatives start telling stories to express their ideology, they have missed the motive that will sustain them through the years of setbacks common to anyone in the entertainment industry." And audiences will know the difference-and stay away.
Christians produced great art and culture for centuries, and we can do it again. But there are no shortcuts. The church needs to teach its members a strong and consistent Christian worldview, and then support and encourage those with artistic gifts to pursue their calling.
Please, come to BreakPoint.org and read Alex Wainer's article, "Creating a Conservative Counterculture: Harder than it sounds."
Re-shaping the culture is a noble goal. But our first goal should be to be so soaked in the Christian faith and worldview that the stories we tell-and the lives we live-will naturally speak of the beauty, and goodness and love of Christ.
Originally posted at
http://www.christianpost.com/news/engaging-in-culture-the-right-way-87947/#HZ9oVm8SG21O07OP.99
By Eric Metaxas
January 9, 2013
If you've read The Chronicles of Narnia, you know they are loaded with Christian themes and symbols. That's why many assume that C. S. Lewis wrote them in order to send some kind of Christian message.
But Lewis himself insisted otherwise. The tales, he said, started as a series of pictures that came into his mind and set his imagination working. The result was not sermons, but stories-beautiful stories loved by believers and non-believers alike for decades.
There's a lesson in here for all of us. Conservative Christians today often feel alienated from the larger society, and for good reason. The vast majority of the stories that permeate our culture are told by people whose worldview is diametrically opposed to ours. We can hardly watch a TV show or read a magazine without seeing ourselves portrayed as villains, and our cultural opponents held up as the epitome of righteousness.
And it's not hard to see the political impact stories have on our fellow Americans. As National Review Online recently put it: "The fact is, it's easier to sell a political narrative to America when it comports with the cultural narrative we see and hear every day."
NRO's solution was for cultural conservatives to start taking back the culture by telling and promoting stories of our own. They argue that we can't "keep ignoring the importance of story."
And that much is true. But we have to be careful that we understand what stories really are, and why people tell them.
Which brings us back to Lewis and Narnia. Remember that Lewis didn't tell stories to push an agenda. His stories grew naturally out of his worldview, and because he was a gifted storyteller, they expressed that worldview beautifully.
As Alex Wainer explains in a recent article at BreakPoint.org, this is true of all the best-told stories. We may be tempted to think that secularist celebrities went into show business simply to indoctrinate the public; many of them certainly act like that.
But that is not the case. Wainer writes, "Entertainers often work from childhood to develop [their] talents, and go through years of arduous dues-paying [and] rejection, working menial jobs while pursuing endless auditions and practicing their craft."
For the most popular artists and entertainers today-just as it was for Lewis-their art grows naturally out of their worldview. It just so happens that today, we have far fewer C. S. Lewises and far more Jon Stewarts.
This is why conservative Christians need to be wary of engaging in cultural efforts just to push a message. As Wainer reminds us, "Jon Stewart knows comedy in his bones; he happens to be liberal, but he mainly wants to make people laugh. When conservatives start telling stories to express their ideology, they have missed the motive that will sustain them through the years of setbacks common to anyone in the entertainment industry." And audiences will know the difference-and stay away.
Christians produced great art and culture for centuries, and we can do it again. But there are no shortcuts. The church needs to teach its members a strong and consistent Christian worldview, and then support and encourage those with artistic gifts to pursue their calling.
Please, come to BreakPoint.org and read Alex Wainer's article, "Creating a Conservative Counterculture: Harder than it sounds."
Re-shaping the culture is a noble goal. But our first goal should be to be so soaked in the Christian faith and worldview that the stories we tell-and the lives we live-will naturally speak of the beauty, and goodness and love of Christ.
Originally posted at
http://www.christianpost.com/news/engaging-in-culture-the-right-way-87947/#HZ9oVm8SG21O07OP.99
Monday, January 21, 2013
Pray for the Government
In light of President Obama's inauguration, I am reminded back to the initial inaugural speech delivered from our nation’s first president.
April 30, 1789
Such being the impressions under which I have, in obedience to the public summons, repaired to the present station, it would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves for these essential purposes, and may enable every instrument employed in its administration to execute with success the functions allotted to his charge. In tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good, I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own, nor those of my fellow-citizens at large less than either. No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency; and in the important revolution just accomplished in the system of their united government the tranquil deliberations and voluntary consent of so many distinct communities from which the event has resulted can not be compared with the means by which most governments have been established without some return of pious gratitude, along with an humble anticipation of the future blessings which the past seem to presage. These reflections, arising out of the present crisis, have forced themselves too strongly on my mind to be suppressed. You will join with me, I trust, in thinking that there are none under the influence of which the proceedings of a new and free government can more auspiciously commence.
Paragraph 6
Having thus imparted to you my sentiments as they have been awakened by the occasion which brings us together, I shall take my present leave; but not without resorting once more to the benign Parent of the Human Race in humble supplication that, since He has been pleased to favor the American people with opportunities for deliberating in perfect tranquility, and dispositions for deciding with unparalleled unanimity on a form of government for the security of their union and the advancement of their happiness, so His divine blessing may be equally conspicuous in the enlarged views, the temperate consultations, and the wise measures on which the success of this Government must depend.
George Washington thought that it would be improper to leave out as his first official act, a prayer to the Almighty for his blessings over the nation. This was part of his address to the people of the United States. This was followed by a Congressional session (a worship and prayer session) at Saint Paul’s Chapel in Manhattan. This nation’s very beginning was rooted in belief in and reliance on the Almighty. It pains me to see how far we have turned away from God and and the results can be seen in every area of our culture. This even includes the religious parts of our culture. My prayer today is for all in office and leadership to hear the voice of the Lord and allow Him to guide their steps as they continue to lead this nation. I pray also for the leadership of Venezuela as the nation is in a state of uncertainty with President Chavez still in Cuba with a life threatening illness and his next term as president delayed. He was unable to be sworn in at the official inauguration ceremony earlier, and now there is a controversy and a rise in tension as some claim he should forfeit the presidency and others stating that he can be sworn in at a later time. Our responsibility as believers is to pray for those who God has allowed to be in these positions for He alone appoints rulers of nations and will use them to see His purpose fufilled. 1Tim 2:1............Heavenly Father, I give thanks for our government.
1 Tim 2:2...........I pray for all men and women having authority over us in any way.
Prov. 1:23..........Pour out Your Spirit upon them and make Your Word known to them.
Ps 25:21............Cause them to be men and women of integrity, obedient concerning us,
1 Tim 2:2...........that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty.
Prov. 2:10..........Let wisdom enter their hearts, and let knowledge be pleasant to them.
Prov. 2:11..........Let discretion preserve them and understanding keep them,
Prov. 2:12..........to deliver them from the way of evil and from evil men.
Psalm 1:1..........Make their hearts and ears attentive to godly counsel,
2Chr 20:32.........doing what is right in your sight.
Prov. 2:21..........Let the upright dwell in our government.
Heb 12:27..........Cause there to be a shaking in all areas.
Prov. 2:21..........Let those complete and blameless before You stay.
Prov. 2:22..........and cut off the wicked. Let the unfaithful be rooted out.
1Cor 4:5............Bring to light what is hidden in darkness,
1Cor 4:5............and expose the secret aims of the hearts.
Rev 2:5.............Let this nation remember from where they have fallen,
Rev 2:5.............repenting, and returning to doing their first works,
1Chr 22:19........setting their hearts and their souls to seek the Lord,
2Chr 7:14..........humbling themselves, praying, and turning from their wicked ways.
2Chr 7:14..........Then hear them, O Lord, and forgive their sins and heal our land.
Acts 26:18........Open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light.
Heb 3:13...........Soften the hearts that are hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.
Ps 107:20..........Deliver them from their destructions.
2Pet 3:9............Father, You have been long suffering toward us,
2Pet 3:9............not willing that any should perish,
2Pet 3:9............but that all should come to repentance.
Isa 49:22...........Raise up a standard in this nation.
Zech 10:1..........Cause the rains of Your Spirit to flood this land
Hab 3:2.............and revive Your work in the midst of us.
Isa 59:16...........Raise up intercessors for this nation
2Cor 10:4..........to pull down strongholds over this land.
Isa 40:5............And let the glory of the Lord be revealed!
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