Art, Worship, and the Christian Response to Culture
Summary
In our exploration of the intersection between Christianity and the arts, we delved into the ongoing debate about the role of music in worship and the broader implications of art in shaping culture. The contemporary church faces a challenge with the concept of "seeker-sensitive" worship, which aims to make services more appealing to non-believers by incorporating secular music styles. This approach raises questions about the true purpose of worship, which should primarily be about offering praise to God and edifying the believers, rather than focusing on evangelism during Sunday services.
The influence of philosophy on art and culture is profound, as philosophical ideas often trickle down from intellectual circles to the public through artists. This relationship is evident in how shifts in philosophical thought are mirrored in artistic movements. As Christians, we must be discerning about what we adopt from secular culture, ensuring that our engagement with art, including music, literature, and other forms, aligns with our faith and values.
We also discussed the concept of "aliteracy," where individuals have the ability to read but choose not to, preferring visual and auditory stimuli over the written word. This trend poses a challenge for Christians, who are traditionally "people of the word." The decline in reading and the rise of visual media have shifted how people engage with information and ideas, often at the expense of depth and critical thinking.
Furthermore, the current state of literature, particularly fiction, often includes gratuitous violence and obscenity, reflecting a broader cultural acceptance of vulgarity and blasphemy. This shift highlights the divide between secular and Christian literature, creating distinct marketplaces and challenges for Christian artists seeking to engage with the broader culture.
Key Takeaways:
- Worship should primarily focus on glorifying God and edifying believers, rather than being tailored to attract non-believers. This distinction influences how we structure our services and understand the purpose of gathering as a church. [02:46]
- The relationship between philosophy and art is significant, as artists often serve as intermediaries who introduce philosophical ideas to the broader culture. This underscores the importance of being discerning about the art forms we engage with and their underlying messages. [06:27]
- The trend of "aliteracy" reflects a cultural shift towards visual and auditory media, which can undermine the depth and richness of engaging with the written word. As Christians, we are called to be people of the word, valuing thoughtful and meaningful engagement with literature. [10:32]
- The prevalence of vulgarity and obscenity in contemporary literature highlights a cultural acceptance of blasphemy and immorality. Christians must navigate this landscape carefully, seeking literature that aligns with biblical values and encourages virtuous reflection. [20:47]
- The divide between secular and Christian literature presents challenges for Christian artists seeking to engage with the broader culture. This separation calls for creativity and discernment in how we communicate our faith through the arts. [22:56]
Youtube Chapters:
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:29] - The Role of Music in Worship
[01:32] - Seeker-Sensitive Worship
[02:46] - Purpose of Sunday Worship
[03:14] - Theology and Worship
[04:22] - Art and Culture
[05:48] - Philosophy's Influence on Art
[06:27] - Artists as Cultural Intermediaries
[07:14] - Rationalism and Art
[08:24] - Literature as an Art Form
[09:35] - Aliteracy in Modern Culture
[11:05] - Impact of Visual Media
[12:20] - Reading Trends and Challenges
[13:42] - Christian Engagement with Literature
[16:03] - Obscenity and Modern Literature
[20:47] - Blasphemy in Art
[22:56] - The Divide in Literature Markets
[23:38] - Challenges for Christian Artists
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Philippians 4:8 - "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."
2. Romans 3:11 - "There is none who understands; there is none who seeks after God."
3. Hebrews 10:25 - "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."
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Observation Questions:
1. What is the primary purpose of Sunday worship according to the sermon, and how does this contrast with the seeker-sensitive approach? [02:46]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of artists in shaping culture and introducing philosophical ideas to the public? [06:27]
3. What is "aliteracy," and how does it pose a challenge for Christians as described in the sermon? [10:32]
4. How does the sermon characterize the current state of contemporary literature, particularly in terms of its content? [16:03]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How might the concept of "seeker-sensitive" worship conflict with the biblical understanding of worship as described in Hebrews 10:25? [02:46]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that Christians should be discerning about the art and literature they engage with, in light of Philippians 4:8? [13:42]
3. How does the sermon’s discussion of "aliteracy" relate to the biblical call for Christians to be "people of the word"? [11:43]
4. What are the implications of Romans 3:11 for the idea that non-believers are seeking God through seeker-sensitive worship services? [03:14]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your church's worship services. Do they prioritize glorifying God and edifying believers, or do they lean towards being seeker-sensitive? How might this affect your personal worship experience? [02:46]
2. Consider the art and media you consume. How can you apply Philippians 4:8 to ensure that what you engage with aligns with your faith and values? [13:42]
3. In what ways can you encourage a culture of reading and engagement with the written word in your family or community, countering the trend of "aliteracy"? [11:43]
4. How do you navigate the divide between secular and Christian literature in your reading habits? What steps can you take to ensure your reading choices reflect your Christian values? [22:56]
5. Think about a recent piece of art or literature you encountered. Did it challenge or support your Christian worldview? How can you be more discerning in the future? [07:49]
6. How can you actively participate in your church community to ensure that worship services remain focused on their biblical purpose? [02:46]
7. Identify one area in your life where you might be influenced by secular culture. What practical steps can you take to align this area more closely with your faith? [07:49]
Devotional
Day 1: Worship as a Divine Offering
Worship is not merely a tool for evangelism but a sacred act of glorifying God and edifying believers. In contemporary church settings, there is a tendency to adopt "seeker-sensitive" approaches, incorporating secular music styles to attract non-believers. However, this can blur the true purpose of worship, which is to offer praise to God and strengthen the faith of the congregation. By focusing on glorifying God, worship becomes a transformative experience that deepens the spiritual life of believers and honors the divine presence. [02:46]
Psalm 29:2-3 (ESV): "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over many waters."
Reflection: How can you shift your focus during worship to ensure it is primarily about glorifying God rather than meeting personal preferences or expectations?
Day 2: Art as a Conduit for Philosophy
Art serves as a powerful medium through which philosophical ideas are communicated to the broader culture. Artists often act as intermediaries, translating complex philosophical concepts into accessible forms that influence public thought. This relationship underscores the importance of discernment in engaging with art, as it can shape cultural values and beliefs. Christians are called to critically evaluate the art they consume, ensuring it aligns with their faith and promotes messages that reflect biblical truths. [06:27]
Colossians 2:8 (ESV): "See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ."
Reflection: What is one piece of art or media you regularly engage with? How does it align with or challenge your Christian values?
Day 3: The Challenge of Aliteracy
In a culture increasingly dominated by visual and auditory media, the trend of "aliteracy" poses a significant challenge for Christians, traditionally known as "people of the word." This shift away from reading can undermine the depth and richness of engaging with the written word, which is essential for thoughtful and meaningful spiritual growth. Christians are encouraged to prioritize reading, particularly Scripture, to cultivate a deeper understanding of their faith and develop critical thinking skills. [10:32]
1 Timothy 4:13 (ESV): "Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching."
Reflection: What steps can you take this week to incorporate more reading, especially of Scripture, into your daily routine?
Day 4: Navigating Vulgarity in Literature
The prevalence of vulgarity and obscenity in contemporary literature reflects a broader cultural acceptance of blasphemy and immorality. This environment presents a challenge for Christians seeking literature that aligns with biblical values and encourages virtuous reflection. By carefully selecting what they read, Christians can engage with literature that not only entertains but also edifies and inspires them to live according to their faith. [20:47]
Philippians 4:8 (ESV): "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."
Reflection: Consider the books you are currently reading. Do they reflect the values you wish to cultivate in your life? How can you make more intentional choices in your reading material?
Day 5: Bridging the Divide in Literature
The divide between secular and Christian literature creates distinct marketplaces and challenges for Christian artists seeking to engage with the broader culture. This separation calls for creativity and discernment in how faith is communicated through the arts. Christian artists are encouraged to find innovative ways to bridge this gap, using their talents to convey messages of hope, redemption, and truth that resonate with a diverse audience. [22:56]
1 Corinthians 9:22 (ESV): "To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some."
Reflection: If you are an artist or creator, how can you use your talents to engage with both Christian and secular audiences in a way that remains true to your faith?
Quotes
And part of their controversy has to do with the appearance in some circles of the invasion of worldliness into the house of God. I don’t remember whether I mentioned earlier that I was recently at a large Christian convention where several thousand people came together for a two-hour service on Sunday morning, and when it was written up afterwards for those delegates, the mention was made of that part of the worship service which was described as the entertainment part of the worship service. [00:00:21]
But then the question becomes, what’s the purpose of worship on Sunday morning? Is it to do evangelism, or is it the gathering together, the assembling together of the saints for worship? Because the difference is, if we see Sunday morning as an evangelistic outreach mission or we see it as a worship service, however we look at it will, in the final analysis, determine how we structure it, and I’m convinced that the purpose of Sunday morning worship, Sabbath worship, as established early on in redemptive history, was for the edification of the people of God. [00:02:26]
The other thing that disturbs me about the nomenclature of seeker-sensitive worship is that it makes the assumption that people who are unbelievers are seeking after God when the Bible tells us without any ambiguity that the unbeliever is not seeking after God, but is seeking the benefits that only God can give him, while at the same time fleeing as fast as they can from the immediate presence of God. [00:03:17]
And so the history of philosophy is the history of the articulation of competing systems of thought or of world views that are usually created in a very heavy intellectual ivory tower background, where we wonder whether they have any relevance whatsoever to culture. Now for the most part, and I’m painting with a broad brush here, for the most part in the history of western civilization, the way the technical ideas of the philosophers have gotten down from the ivory tower and into the market to public square and into those areas by which culture is shaped is through the intermediaries called artists. [00:05:50]
That’s why I say we have to be very careful what we borrow from the secular world and bring into the Christian life, not just in terms of music, but also in terms of paintings, art, architecture, and most of all, literature. So I want to speak – spend some time today talking about literature as an art form, and one of the finest works I’ve ever written – read on this subject is one I have with me today written by Gene Edward Veith, entitled, Reading Between the Lines, now- and the subheading is, “A Christian Guide to Literature.” [00:08:11]
Aliteracy refers to people who have the ability to read and to write but choose not to; they’re not interested in the word, in the written word. Rather, these people prefer to respond to images rather than to read books with sentences and paragraphs and words, that we’ve become more and more nonverbal, where we respond now to sounds and sound bytes on television. [00:10:05]
And so this is strange, and this is a real crisis for Christians, because for Christians, we are, from all time back, people of the word. I read a statistic not too long ago – and I don’t know how accurate these statistics are and how people come to this, but I guess they know what they’re doing – but market research indicated that only four percent of Americans walk into a bookstore, either religious or secular, in a given year to – and actually purchase a book to read, four percent. [00:11:39]
And if you go into your local bookstore and then begin to see what are the best sellers in terms of what the four percent who do read are reading, that doesn’t give us a whole lot more to be encouraged about because the literature that is found in the marketplace, again, reflects the neo-paganism of the secular culture. In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he makes this statement: “Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there’s any virtue, if there’s anything praiseworthy, meditate on these things” – that we are supposed to meditate on things of virtue, which is hard to do when you’re reading a lot of contemporary literature, particularly the novel. [00:12:38]
But you read these novels today, and it seems like you can’t pick up fiction without being immediately confronted by the most grotesque, vulgar, violent, obscene, prurient literature. It’s as if, in the publishing industry, if you’re going to publish fiction, you have a moral obligation to include within it some kind of salacious material, and many people are addicted to this as a vicarious form of sexual fantasy, to be engaged in reading books of this sort. [00:14:59]
And you take the word “obscene,” which is a very pictorial word, and it comes from the ancient Greece, and it means “off-stage.” If somebody was going to be murdered or perish in war in the classical theater, the actors would leave the stage and then somebody would come as a messenger and give the bad news that the character had been slain, had been murdered, or whatever, because it was felt, even in ancient pagan culture, to be obscene to show that right in front of the audience, which would appeal not to their aesthetic sense, but to more base animalistic impulses in the audience, and the dramatist did not want his art to be compromised by gore and by violence. [00:16:10]
And yet, if there’s anything that permeates the modern culture, it is the acceptability of blasphemy in virtually every art form that we encounter in our day. Just the other day, I watched a program on television which was Inside, I think, the Actor’s Studio, or something like that where they interview famous actors, and this was a fascinating interview of a well-known British actor, a British actor whose work I’ve very much admired over the years. [00:21:13]
In fact, we have two distinct marketplaces and two distinct annual conventions between the secular booksellers and the Christian publishers, and I remember when Francis Shaffer wrote his book, When Shall We – How Shall We Then Live, that it outsold dramatically Jane Fonda’s workout book, and for weeks, Jane Fonda’s workout book was number one on the New York Times bestseller’s list and Schaffer’s work was never even mentioned, even though in the marketplace, it had greatly outsold Jane Fonda. [00:23:02]
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