Calling It Christian
What are Christian artists supposed to create?
Calling It Christian
Is a Christian photographer supposed to take pictures of Jesus? (Highly improbable, though if anything could do it it would be Tmz).
Is a Christian painter supposed to paint portraits of Jesus? (Wait what color was he?)
Is a Christian writer supposed to write about Jesus? (Done. Apostles did that already)
Is a Christian actor supposed to play Jesus? (Talk about starving for lack of work)
Is a Christian sculptor supposed to sculpt figures of Jesus? (Hey, buddy, what is this? I think Jesus wasn't as muscular as you made him there.)
What is a Christian artist?
We are humans. We are artists. We are Christians.
In that order. The first two you are born with, the latter you are born again with. If you try to flip that order, nobody will understand you except other Christians.
A Christian is a person. Just like any other person. Only they've chosen to believe they have a Savior, and exhibit Christ-like behavior. (Which is not exclusive, as there are many population who reflect this behavior who are not Christian.) The exhibiting Christ-like behavior part is much harder than it seems. We often fail miserably at it. And if we are honest with ourselves as well as others, it brings us back to being human, just like anything else.
Freedom
As Christians we are free. And as artists, it is in that free time we should create. We should create what we feel, and in that free time we will be relevant, authentic, and transparent. As artists we need to be sure our work is top notch. Our standards are highly high. Having the constant awareness that we can all the time be better. There is nothing wrong with calling yourself a Christian artist. For an artist who portrays/reflects Christ in their work, it's an postponement of their new life.
There is, however, a growing segment of artists who are Christians separating themselves from the Christian label. Why are they doing this? For some, they don't want the baggage of what is viewed as Christian to work on other's opinions of their work. For others (myself included), it's a desire to be seen, heard, or read just as one would perceive any other artist.
This is very similar to the cultural stance on Religion vs God. You will hear more complaints and accusations hurled at religion than you genuinely will hear about God. Religion is a flawed human ideas because we as humans are flawed.
Here's the real deal: the label, in this case the Christian label, is not the power. It's not what makes something good.
If you request a friend to a Christian concert, and this friend has never been to church, there's a good occasion Todd is going to say no. But if you plainly asked Todd to check out a rock band you've heard good things about, well, you might just get Todd's attention.
If Todd goes and 1.) the band plays quality music, and 2.) there's something more to it that you can't put a finger on, then that's where the power is. It's not in the Christian label.
Unfortunately, we as humans feel comfortable with labels. If at your invitation Todd asked more about the band and what kind of music they play, you'd have to recap them in some way, indie, alternative, whatever. And by Todd knowing you, he might ask if they are a Christian band.Again with the labels production our uncomplicated invitation to check out a band more complex and exhaustive.
The cultural idea of what is Christian is often so far removed from Christ that anything with that label now hurts more than helps.
Take one of the popular chicken restaurants for example. The founder is a Christian. Truett Cathy. However, in the bistro name, there is no reference to it being a Christian restaurant. No taglines under the logo that say Our Chickens are Baptized. It's just a franchise which has become very popular for the food they serve. Their customers go there because they like the food. uncomplicated as that.
We must motivate ourselves to do our very best, and by our example lead others to do their best as well. -Truett Cathy
I never opinion I'd quote a chicken salesmen, as I myself don't eat chicken. It is when we are creating and doing our best, maintaining high quality standards and constantly learning and growing that we make an impact, becoming relevant and influential.
Who Are You?
The key to relating to population is found in you. The key to population relating to your work is found in you. The more you know who you are, the more transparent you become. When you cultivate the characteristics that make you exciting as a someone and recap them into your work, there becomes a oneness between who you are and what you create.
What you create is an postponement of who you are. It doesn't all the time define who you are, but it does acquaint others about you.
It's time to strip the labels and show population who you genuinely are. Share your opinion, speak straight through your work. As an artist, at the end of the day, your work should say more about you than any label ever could.
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