Culture and Beauty
On the subject of music and the arts, here are some thoughts from Adrian Keister:
Culture and Beauty Part 1 and Culture and Beauty Part 2 and Culture and Beauty Part 3
I love his thesis: Avoid making popular culture your main diet. My question: Should we make popular culture a part of our diet at all?
Culture and Beauty Part 1 and Culture and Beauty Part 2 and Culture and Beauty Part 3
I love his thesis: Avoid making popular culture your main diet. My question: Should we make popular culture a part of our diet at all?
posted by Crystal Paine at 4:33 PM
18 Comments:
I'm curious about some of the problems you have with CCM music. Can you give me some examples of songs that have unBiblical lyrics, because I haven't come across any. Perhaps I haven't been paying close enough attention though. I'm also curious about the beats, and why landing on the 1st/2nd/3rd/4th beat is important. I'm a musician and I've been listening to music more closely lately and counting where in the count the beat hits. Unfortunately, I'm still confused, because my reaction to a song is the same regardless of where the beat lands? I would greatly appreciate more information and Biblical support on this. Thanks!
SARAI
Wow, this post was an interesting read! I'll be giving this quite a bit of thought.
It IS amazing how influenced we are by popular culture....just look at how many people went out and got a certain haircut based upon a popular tv character's hairstyle...people actually went into the salon and would ask for the haircut based upon the character's name.
I think tv and movies are the biggest influence in popular culture.
Verses keep popping into my head like Matt 5:13-16 about being 'salt and light' in the world, & James 1:27b, as well as I John 2:15 'Love not the world, neither the THINGS that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."
The last part of Acts 17:6b '....These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;'
And finally, Romans 12:2'And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.'
It makes me wonder, as a Christian, how can I be 'salt and light'(Matt 15:13-16) to the world, or 'turn the world upside down'(Acts 17:6b) for Christ if I am 'conforming'(Romans 12:2) to the world by following popular culture?
To an extent it may depend on how you're defining "popular culture," which encompasses a very wide variety of things and which changes over the decades. As a Christian, I believe it's perfectly appropriate to enjoy well-chosen popular culture. God's beautiful creations go beyond the physical world itself to endowing certain people with great talent who are able to create works of inspiration and beauty. When I listen to something such as Nat King Cole singing "Stardust," for example, or revisit one of Laura Ingalls Wilder's books, I am enjoying part of the world which God has given us to enjoy and appreciate while we are here.
I don't see this as being "of the world" in the same sense that a non-Christian is "of the world" and living without Christ and the Holy Spirit.
Interesting topic -- Best wishes, Laura
Many of the world's greatest paintings and music have come about in times of "popular culture" or complete rebellion.
For some reason Adrian's articles are not appearing for me. I can't read them.
About popular culture being in our lives at all, I think it depends on what is popular. There is a lot of stuff in our culture today that is garbage. From movies to styles, Christians should avoid certain things that are not beautiful. Like the style of wearing your jeans so low on your hips that you can see your underwear. That is just vulgar! (BTW, I read that they are fading this fad out.)
However, if you cut your hair like Julia Roberts I don't see how that is bad. She has really great hair. I had a Dorothy Hamill haircut when I was a kid (not my choice). However, if you want to shave your head because that is the 'in' thing to do that would be wrong because it usually means that you are rebellious. Young people who die their hair unnatural colors and or get hair cuts that are out or the ordinary are usually doing it to rebell against parents or authority. Rebellion against authority is not a Christian trait that should be encouraged. (I do want to mention that the people who do rebell should really treated with kindness because they are so lost. I have known some, growing up, and they are really searching for the truth.
If we avoid all popular culture we should be living like the Amish. A lot of Christian girls, I know, love the Jane Austen period or the Victorian era. The fashions in this time were once part of popular culture. Most of these fashions were beautiful and I think it was OK.
I guess if the popular culture of your time is not modest or beautiful then you should avoid it. I think it is unChristian to dress like B. Spears, but OK to get an Audrey Hepurn style dress(I can't think of a fashion icon in this age that is modest just because I am not up on a lot of modern popular culture) because one is modest and beautiful and the other is not.
I hope I am making sense. I feel pretty spacey this morning. :)
I think I will try to figure out why I can't see those articles before I write anymore.
-Zan
Laura, I am prone to agree with you that we can freely embrace "whatsoever things are lovely, true, good, virtuous, praiseworthy," etc. in popular culture (re Philippians 4:8). I also think that the Christian mandate to "go into all the world and make disciples," as accomplished, for example, by Paul's "becoming all things to all people so that he might by all means save some" requires at least a familiarity with what is going on in popular culture; one really cannot engage others without sharing some common understanding (overheard recently: "You cant watch that! Its sinful!... how do I know? Well, I havent actually watched it/read anything about it... but I still presume to claim that I know what Im talking about!!!") ...ugggh. I usually keep abreast of what's going on in popular culture by reading movie reviews and Vogue and the New Yorker! These are relatively "elevated" ways of staying in the loop without having to actually engage in what you may find offensive. Ted Baehr also runs a Christian movie review ministry, which is good.
Also, I think its most important that we remember our Lord's cultural "diet" - He did not shun eating and conversing with sinners and prostitutes.
I LOVE music.....excellent music that is. With my "vast" years of experience in the world as a really lost, pathetic soul, I lived music and see now the scars it left on me. Since I have been rescued and redemeed by the Lord, he as slowly taken me down a different road and now I can say that it doesn't take much to remind me what is beautiful to Him and that which isn't.
CCM is a bunch of money-making trash - My own opinion of course, but I also have facts to back up that statement and also have the experience of working with it in a church setting teaching young people. I am so thankful that God showed me the higher road and I went against "church policy" and tossed it out......I wasn't too popular there anymore ....hee hee.
I would like to know what people think of Messianic type music. You can listen live at "wstw.fm" online. I have NEVER heard anything but glorifying lyrics and music from anyone on here. Since I have gravitated towards my Hebraic heritage, I have learned so much and also see God so much more clearly now. No more contemporary stuff for me.
I don't know much about the beats and all that, but I must say I like intense music sometimes....I don't think that is offensive to my God, but I know that He does tell us to make a joyful noise to Him. My Rabbi told me that worship isn't singing and all that....it is good, but true worship to the Lord is following His commands to us and living them out in our daily, hourly lives. That is worship. You don't sing to the TV if you "worship" it. You build your life around it and obey it's commands to you. Get the picture?
Again, I would point anyone to the "Messianic" music. I guess that is the only lable I can come up with at this point. :-)
what is "beautiful"?
I have never been into doing what the fad was. But I think it shapes your thinking more than you realize! You start to think that a certain color is pretty because you see it everywhere! My mom's favorite color was orange back in the 60's. She decorated her bathroom that color and we had orange towels that lasted forever!
I do many things that are not "in" because I believe that that is what God would require of me. I do not dress like everyone else, but too I am not Amish. Contrary to popular belief the Amish actually are quite influenced by the popular culture and probably do worse things or the same amount of worldly things as children that are from regular society. Your clothes do not make you good. My brother watched his first R rated movies working with the Amish sad to say.
My goal is to not let society influence my decisions, but to let the Spirit of God direct me. If it is not something that is wrong, then do it. If it is not something that will lead to good works, and holiness then don't!
I recently read this quote and thought it was applicable to the subject of popular culture:
"In the world of biology, we are given the example of a frog that when placed into boiling water, will immediately jump out. However, if that same frog is put into a bowl of cool water which is slowly heated by a bunsen burner, the frog will eventually boil to death."
--it's amazing what we can get used to when it's introduced to us us slowly, over time.
Quote:
"My Rabbi told me that worship isn't singing and all that....it is good, but true worship to the Lord is following His commands to us and living them out in our daily, hourly lives. That is worship. You don't sing to the TV if you "worship" it. You build your life around it and obey it's commands to you."
--good point, C.A. Worcester
This last summer a friend of mine read a couple of the books mentioned in Adrian Keister's original post (that Crystal linked us to) and one of them suggested a tv fast for 30 days. She did it (it was hard at first) and at the end of the 30 days her perspective on things had changed. Alot of what was on tv was very shocking, even the commercials. Things that didn't bother her or that she didn't notice before suddenly were offensive and jolting to her.
BTW, I'm not saying that ALL popular culture is bad...but most of it doesn't fall in line with Phil 4:8.
Quote from Martha A:
"Your clothes do not make you good. My brother watched his first R rated movies working with the Amish sad to say."
I heard the same thing from someone who lived near and dealt with the Amish quite a bit(a disclaimer: I'm sure not ALL Amish are like that), Martha and you're right, just because you wear certain clothing it doesn't make you 'good'.
Anothe quote from Martha A.:
"My goal is to not let society influence my decisions, but to let the Spirit of God direct me. If it is not something that is wrong, then do it. If it is not something that will lead to good works, and holiness then don't!"
--well said!
Jess, look at what God says is "beautiful" to Him. Look it up yourself and see what He says...don't take my word for it. 51
I think that this issue goes right back to what you're always reminding us of- the whole "By what standard?" question. Christians must view everything through Christian glasses, considering whether what we see is honoring to the Lord. If we base our standard of beauty on the world's fickle standards rather than relying upon God's unchanging standard, we do so at our own peril.
I agree with you Samara H. As a Christian, the BIBLE must be our standard of 'culture and beauty'....not the world and not even other Christians, but the Bible.
All of these GREAT comments sure have given me a lot to think about in my own life.
oops, I meant to say 'just' the Bible. (o: (o:
I think you have brought up some interesting and valuable information concerning the current trends in CCM. However, I would hesitate to throw the proverbial baby out with the bath water. I will agree that 90% of popular “Christian” music is garbage, but I’m not sure if you are making a distinction between individual artists and worship music. To me it seems like you are saying they are one and the same, but if I’m wrong than I apologize.
As the worship leader in my church, under my husband’s authority as pastor, I am extremely careful what I bring before the congregation. We do a blend of hymns, 70's -80's choruses, and a few modern worship songs. I rely on the Holy Spirit to give me wisdom when considering a song to be included in our services.
I realize that some criticism of modern worship are: repetitive and only uses “He, Him, Lord or God”. If we were solely using that as a criteria for “good” music that lets throw out: “Father, Let Me Dedicate”, “Take My Life and Let It Be”, and “I’ll Fly Away” for starters. I see no difference between those songs and “Come, Now Is the Time to Worship”, “Lord You Are More Precious” and “Our God Is An Awesome God”.
Another criticism of contemporary worship music is its repetitive compositional nature -ok, fine but “Amazing Grace” and “Be Thou My Vision” both use 5 chords. If you really want repetitive, come over to my house, I’m currently listening to “English Country Dances from Playford’s Dancing Master 1651-1703 by The Broadside Band.
To conclude I’ll concede that use of music in the church is always controversial. “Another squabble in churches concerned music. The first settlers, intent on kicking off all traces of the liturgy of the church they had left behind, had abolished all music except psalms. In 1723 a book was printed which gave both notes and words for psalms. People complained, ‘If we begin to sing by rule, the next thing will be to pray by rule’. In England, Handel was turning out his mighty works for organ, and enough people wanted to see organ introduced in America that a Harvard senior thesis in 1730 asked, ‘Do organs excite a devotional spirit?’ Jonathan Edwards himself liked music and encouraged his people to sing, but even that matter was an abrasive one.” - from “Marriage to a Difficult Man: The Uncommon Union of Jonathan & Sarah Edwards.
I’ll finish by saying, ask the Lord to give you wisdom concerning what music, lyrics, etc. are appropriate and conclude with this quote: “ There has been a growing tendency to supplant the musically rich heritage of the Christian church with endless monotonous choruses. Some of the lighter Christian music makes enjoyable singing; some of it is good quality and merits a place in the repertoire. But one of the human responses in our relationship with God has always been a musical response. Surely, the should also be dignified, rich, and of a good musical standard.” - from “For the Children’s Sake” by Susan Schaeffer Macaulay.
how do the scriptural interpretations of "culture and beauty" apply to art in your view? What art is okay and what isn't? I've read these verses, and my interpretation would probably fare differently from yours?
Liz, great thoughts! I'm writing a post on this. :)
In response to Jessica's question:
God is beautiful and is the creator of beauty. Therefore, whatever reflects His character is beautiful. Whatever doesn't, is ugly.
Example: Some abstract art. Paintings or art that does not reflect God's character or intended design. This is not beautiful art. These paintings are usually an expression of the hopelessness that comes with a postmodern worldview.
Post a Comment
<< Home