Really enjoyed the Wedgwood Circle event today. Great conversation that ranged from art to investing. The mission of Wedgwood is to create culture by promoting that which is true, good, and beautiful.
What struck me the most? Honestly, it was an off-handed comment by Charlie Peacock. He made reference to Jon Forman, lead singer of Switchfoot. Jon said his parents didn't just raise him to "not do anything wrong." They raised him to live dangerously.
Then we got a short acoustic concert by Vince Scheuer, lead singer of Army of Me. And he made an off-handed comment about the fact that Christian music was "too safe." I'm not a musician nor the son of a musician, but I agree with his assessment. I feel the same way about Christian books. They are too safe. There isn't enough risk, enough originality, enough creativity. We need more dangerous authors, dangerous artists.
So my big take away? Ironically, I want to be like Jon Forman's parents. I want to teach and model this motto for my kids: live dangerously for the cause of Christ.
What struck me the most? Honestly, it was an off-handed comment by Charlie Peacock. He made reference to Jon Forman, lead singer of Switchfoot. Jon said his parents didn't just raise him to "not do anything wrong." They raised him to live dangerously.
Then we got a short acoustic concert by Vince Scheuer, lead singer of Army of Me. And he made an off-handed comment about the fact that Christian music was "too safe." I'm not a musician nor the son of a musician, but I agree with his assessment. I feel the same way about Christian books. They are too safe. There isn't enough risk, enough originality, enough creativity. We need more dangerous authors, dangerous artists.
So my big take away? Ironically, I want to be like Jon Forman's parents. I want to teach and model this motto for my kids: live dangerously for the cause of Christ.
9 Comments:
Can you clarify what you are thinking when you agree that Christian music is "too safe" and say that Christian books are the same?
i.e. Are you thinking of specific subsects of Christian music and/or Christian books, or the genres in general? What purpose/end goal are you thinking of when you make that statement? What makes an author/artist dangerous, original or creative -- what's the root definition?
Sorry, lots of questions. :-)
When I read The Barbarian Way by Erwin McManus I felt like it encouraged the same idea of living dangerously. If you haven't read that I would highly suggest it. Just an idea.
Kate
Love the folks at Wedgewood and what they're doing!
Mark,
I tend to agree with the thoughts you posted. I tend to avoid Christian books (especially "fiction") as it tends to be boring and poorly written. but I will say, there are some great new Christian bands that are starting to live on the cutting edge. A number of them sing about the life that kids live these days and the challenges they face. Much better that the standard repetitive choruses.
Keep up the good work.
Jenny,
Not sure what Vince meant in regards to music. And he's referring to the music he listened to growing up. I agree that there are more artists that are pushing the boundaries now.
In regards to books and some music, what I'm saying is that they are so predictable. We're saying and singing the same old thing instead of saying old things in new ways. Not enough creative and intellectual risks. We don't venture towards the edge of creativity and really make people think. Honestly, I think that is what the Shack has done but Paul Young has gotten blasted for doing it. My opinion? It's fiction. It's fiction that is pushing the boundaries. Is all of fit for a theology classroom? No. But it's not theology. It's fiction. And it's edgy enough to speak to those who don't want "canned Christianity."
Hope that helps.
Mark
Thanks, Mark. This reads very different to me than the first way it was phrased. So, yes, it helped. :-)
I think I agree, although I would phrase it in a different way.
To an extent, I think it's more about speaking the languages and dialects that people understand, so that truth can be conveyed and understood. It's like when you finally get a message God is saying (through another individual) and realize that other people have been saying the same thing to you - just not in a way that you could fully comprehend.
Or, the way I feel a need to rephrase what I think you just said. :-)
I think that's where innovation comes in - as we're each unique, I'd imagine there's an infinate number of languages for us to cover in speaking the truth.
And, I think that learning to speak and hear other languages can help us know God better and build a better community.
So, innovation is key.
But I also think there's a lot of value in the "old way" - because there are people who speak those languages. And because learning those languages can have value for us. Maybe it's like refining gold? Saving the best of the old way? And then at the same time discovering the new languages.
Hey man!
I totally feel this. As an artist, it's so easy to drop right in to the regular way of thinking. A nice portrait will always have a place in a mother's heart, but using what God has given us in a way that changes us and changes others for the better is our burden. It isn't a suggestion, it's a command.
Romans 12:3-8 isn't a closed list in my book. Artists, tech guys, writers, musicians, Starbuck's employees, students -- all of us are going to be judged against what we have been given. That's a sober, freeing thought. We are what we are supposed to be. We get graded on effort.
Our feet should never touch the ground. We should be scared all of the time. When we depend is when we're free. Faith in something isn't fully faith if you aren't depending on it.
Thanks for calling us past the comfortable.
::jer::
www.jernelsen.com
P.S. (my dad sent me this post, hope it isn't too random. thanks man!)
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That is SO Good! That's what Abba has been instilling in me for like the last few months!!! Currently, there's nothing setting the Christian apart from the world... We've got Christian services that can do nothing more than other humanitarian clubs and charities. There's gotta be something that sets us apart!!! We're the children of God! How much MORE should our stuff change the world and evoke hunger in people's lives?
It's the breath of God breathed onto our talents or abilities, that's needed. We've limited Christian living to our own abilities.
Great post man!!!
Feel free to drop byMy Glory To Glory blog!!
Also, Perdue Media, a business/ community Jesus and I are starting up.
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