Weekly postings on Mondays

Sunday, December 26, 2010

The Crown Jewel

Recently I hung out with a lively group of Christian art students at Northwestern University (Evanston, IL).

Art and discourse near the shores of Lake Michigan
I was swept away in a vigorous two-hour conversation with them over a lovely dinner. Why I get to have all the fun, I cannot explain.

Their main concern?

Art just doesn't seem that important to evangelical Christians (exceptions: scrapbooking and music). Beauty is merely frosting on the cake, playing no integral role in our spirituality.

We could, I suppose, write off their complaint as the typical grousing of "misunderstood" artists.

But that would be a mistake.

Art, whether beautiful or arresting, "needs no justification," as Hans Rookmaaker famously said. That is, we should be creative because God is creative. We should love beauty and poetry and music because we are made in the very image of God. 

But for many evangelicals, decades of preoccupation with conservative social issues and "practical" approaches to ministry have crowded out any appreciation for art. . .  and thereby crowded out something of our essential humanity, I would argue.

My hope is that we do not crowd out these young NU artists and their kind. If empowered, they could help transform our physical environs--and our core spirituality--into sacred, crown jewels.

The effect on those outside the kingdom?

I believe they'd be drawn all the more to (and in some cases, repelled more violently from) the Beautiful Savior, Lord of the Nations.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Blind Spots

As I've gotten older my vision and spiritual intuition seem to have gotten sharper. In fact, I might be able to give you some helpful counsel, if you ask.

The one person I can't figure out, however, is myself. Me, no get.

Think about it: By definition I can't see my own blind spots. Yet, I know they're there. I know something needs attention. I know I need your counsel if I'm to navigate my way through the next stretch of tricky waters--whatever they turn out to be.

It seems to me some people don't know they have blind spots. And they'd probably be devastated if someone told them. I guess mostly we don't tell them, do we.

Socrates admitted his blind spots, and was rewarded for it. The Oracle at Delphi called him the wisest man in the world, because he admitted what he didn't know. He didn't think himself wise.

As we come to each other as colleagues, friends, co-workers, family, may we regard ourselves as teachable. You're able to see my stuff, I'm able to see yours. It's our own stuff--hiding like a vehicle just beyond the range of our side mirrors--that we can't see.

Saturday, December 04, 2010

Guacamole Vision

Recently I had lunch with the senior pastor of a church in the "top-100" fastest growing churches in America.

The scope of the church's ministry is impressive--multiple campuses, dozens of missionaries, hundreds coming to faith in Christ.

After chatting for a few minutes at the restaurant, some really serious chips 'n guac arrived at our table, so I figured it was time to ask a tough question.

I was wondering whether he is perceived as an empire builder, and what criticism he faces for it. After all, people can't resist reading the worst motives into a "successful" Christian leader, and shooting him/her down for it in the name of God.

"Yeah, all the time," he said dryly. Like, of course.

"How do you reply to your critics?"

"That's easy. I have a one word answer: Hell."

"Say more."

"I believe in a real place called 'Hell.' And I believe that unless people place their faith in Jesus Christ as their savior, they will go to Hell."

"So. . ."

"So that motivates me big time. I'll do whatever it takes, within Biblical norms, to reach lost people. I'll raise money, build buildings, preach sermons, create fantastic youth ministry space [see my post from last week], start new churches, take over dying churches. . . ."

There was fire in his eyes, urgency in his voice. He layed out a big vision, then asked me to come and do an event at the church.

I was in before the green guac was gone.

Friends, the power of vision--consistent, persistent, dynamic vision--is unstoppable.