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August 03, 2007

Evangelicals as Culture Shapers

One of the reasons why the church in the West has lost its effectiveness is because it largely views itself as the gate-keeper or defender against culture. There was a time when the church was the shaper of culture in the West. Can we return to a more pro-active stance? Some think we can:

These artistic evangelicals, though still relatively small in number, are striving to be creators of culture rather than imitators, said Dick Staub, a Seattle-based radio talk show host and author of "The Culturally Savvy Christian: A Manifesto for Deepening Faith and Enriching Popular Culture In an Age of Christianity-Lite." There is a desire, he said, to avoid inventing a parallel arts universe with Christian knockoffs for Christian audiences.

"They want to make art that connects to everybody," Staub said. "The call is first and foremost to make good art."

“They want to make art that connects to everybody” That sounds kind of...umm...missional, doesn't it? And yet too many "Christians" would criticize these efforts as not being "Christian" enough. I must to confess, I myself have said of certain Christian bands or singers that I'd wish they would be more open or up-front with their faith. Now I wonder, how Christian must a Christian's art be?

Posted by bubba138 at August 3, 2007 04:07 PM