Garrett loaned me this great book that I’m reading. One of the book’s reviewers at Amazon (johnw from Dallas) does a good job of encapsulating its’ content. I’ve emphasized some of his points …

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“1. It is uncompromising, both in its descriptions of the artist’s mind, dreams, and motivations, and also in its exacting analysis of what it means to be a Christian. Turner pulls no punches in describing the incredible dichotomy between the gift of new life we have been given as a result of faith in the death and resurrrection of Christ as atonement for our sins, and the very emotions, dreams, insecurities, and passions that drive the artist in his or her creative endeavors. It is true, at least in my experience (and as Rory Noland has written in his very good book, “The Heart of the Artist”), that Christians in the arts are often more prone to temptation since they allow their feelings and passions to not only enter in to their work, but to drive it.

2. It puts out a call for artists to not only do art in the church to glorify God, but especially to do art OUT in the world to carry His message of salvation to those who do not yet know Him. How often do we hear the statement that the “real” work of the Christian is religious in nature, or takes place in and around the church? But, as Turner writes, “Jesus is Lord” over the WHOLE of our lives, even and especially those parts that are very ’unreligious’ in nature. We are called to live for Christ minute by minute.

3. It is also honest in its assessment that the church often does not know what to do with the artists in our midst, let alone present an atmosphere in which they can flourish in their gifts and talents. It is my sincere hope that books like this one and the aforementioned Noland book can serve as a wake up call, letting the modern day church know that there is a powerful group of servants here, and that we need to both minister to them and more importantly allow them to minister to us and to God with their creative talents.

4. Rather than a simplistic “Christian vs. secular” explanation of art in the world, Turner submits a very well-conceived philosophy of five concentric circles of varying degrees of the mix of faith and art. I found this very helpful both in better understanding the art I see in and out of churches around me, and developing my own philosophy of art and faith.”

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Yes! In our dancing, both Debbie and I ultimately seek to glorify God. At the same time, we are careful to draw pre-defined boundaries so as not to compromise both our witness and our relationships with one another and Christ. One of the most powerful ways to glorify God is in the arts (sounds strange coming from an engineer!). And the arts can be a powerful witness to an unbelieving world.

Dancing for the glory of God …

Bob
Fides Quaerens Intellectum
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Bob Pratico
Fides Quaerens Intellectum
(my Sojourn blog)