Article: Covenant and Concerts: What Could a Christian Bring to the Performing Arts?

I have often been asked questions regarding the role of Christians in the performing arts. Will music sound better once it has been Christianized? Should a Christian perform a different kind of music? Would every performance have public prayer preceding it? Would we have so-called "altar calls" at the end of every concert or art exhibition?

However appropriate these questions may be, a most significant and distinctly Christian contribution to the arts is often overlooked. Such a contribution consists of that which is central to a faithful biblical vision for any area of life, namely the ethical orientation that the Christian brings to bear on all that he or she does. This is one of the most important areas of impact within the arts community, which represents, largely due to the Romantic break from enlightenment rationalism, an almost homogeneous commitment to relativistic ethics. The result of this commitment is an arts world that is foreign to biblical thought. And it is in regards to this ethical sphere of the arts that the Christian can make a most significant impact.

Unfortunately, it is precisely in this ethical arena that many Christian artists are pressured to capitulate. Whether it is expressed with participation in the current pacifist movement or "reaching out" to unrepentant homosexual artists, there are Christians who have adopted the ethical orientation that undermines the very gospel they claim to represent. Far from integrating one's faith and one's craft, ethical capitulation amputates the two. If Christians are going to make an ethical impact in the arts world, they are going to have to be armed with a strong covenant consciousness - that is, Christians must cultivate a biblical worldview that sees all of life through the lens of who we are in Christ. The result will be a biblical integration of faith and art, an integration that can have a significant contribution to a creative world so committed to relativistic thought.

The Covenant

Whenever we seek to answer the question of what a Christian brings to any area of life in general or the performing arts in particular, I think that it is important where we begin in formulating such an answer.

That is, such an issue requires that we start with our understanding of what it means to be a "Christian." One cannot impact the arts world as a Christian without first being a Christian. And this "being a Christian" requires that we understand our covenant identity in Christ. The consistent biblical pattern of the relationship God has with his people is a covenantal relationship. In such a relationship, God graciously provides for man first, then gives man a command to trust in his promises and provisions. Every law-command is a command to trust in the provisions of God. Thus, we are not to steal because we are to trust that God will provide; we are not to follow other gods, because we are to trust that God is everything he claims to be for us in Christ. This is a covenantal relationship.

God provides salvation for us in Christ and gives us his Law-command to live a life that daily trusts every thought to the promises and provisions of God. This is who we are in Christ. And the covenant now requires us to "be who we are." We are to walk in such a way that is true to who we are in Christ. Christianity is not merely about introspection (praying a prayer, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, etc.) It is not simply a "ticket to heaven." Identifying ourselves as Christians is to identify ourselves with a covenant-keeping God who requires that we daily trust in his promises and provisions. This is what the Lord requires of his covenant people - by trusting in his provisions we extend his Lordship throughout the earth and exercise godly dominion in every area of life.

Covenant and Concerts

Therefore, I believe that a Christian's impact in the performing arts is fundamentally ethical, not musical per se. In saying this, I am not arguing that music is separate from morality necessarily. Rather, I am arguing for something that is central to a faithful biblical vision for any area of life. In this sense, a Christian vision of music, for example, is not one that would require the playing of a particular repertoire over against another (i.e. we throw out pantheist Beethoven and perform only Bach), but rather one that requires a different walk. A Christian vision of the arts is not one that simply has a different philosophical or introspective bent, but one that honors the Law of God and seeks to bring glory to him.

For some Christian artists, it appears this ethical orientation the Christian brings to the performing arts is ignored in favor of subjective introspection. It is asserted that Christian artists bring a particular reflection and profound perspective to music and art that secular artists apparently lack. Because we are self-conscious in our love and worship of the Creator par excellence, we in turn can reflect that love and adoration in our personal creations as they bring glory to him. However true that may be, it should be noted that without understanding who we are as the covenant people of God, I believe the Christian is impaired in dealing with the enormous pressures within the arts community to accept and participate in relativistic morality, and thus amputate the arts from the covenant. For example, a brief internet search will reveal how many Christian artists accept homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle. In my experience, far too many Christians have capitulated to the overwhelming humanistic tilt that characterizes creative communities, and thus, far from integrating their art and faith, they have divorced their art from a faith that should be defined covenantally. And I believe that this is a most significant problem for Christians who seek to impact the world of the arts. Such pressures can only be resisted as we cultivate a covenantal consciousness, and seek to trust in the promises and provisions of God, as he defines them in his Word.

Moreover, this ethical orientation that Christians bring will have a significant effect on the motivation for the performing arts. Performers have a certain exhibitionism within themselves that enable them to "go public" with their work. However, this exhibitionism can far too often result in glorification of the self. One's motive for getting on stage is to be applauded for himself, or for the community that he is able to bring through concerts. In short, the arts become a vehicle for humanism - the celebration of autonomous man. It is the Christian musician alone who can seek to gain fame as one who performs for the glory of God. That is, the Christian's motive for personal recognition and fame in the performing arts is pursued for the sake of being famous as one who brings glory to God. And this glory is most often seen in the good works that are the fruit of the Spirit (Matt. 5:16). Thus, the Christian performing artist gets the recognition, and God gets the glory.

Conclusion

As we seek to be true to the dominion mandate we have been given, Christian artists must cultivate a covenant consciousness that flows into every area of life. This covenant consciousness provides a basis for a coherent integration of faith and art, which can be a significant contribution to the arts world. In so doing, we will have the joy of seeing the glory of God manifested in claiming the crown rights of King Jesus in the world of the performing arts. And that will be a beautiful sound indeed.

Steve Turley teaches theology at Tall Oaks Classical School in Delaware and music at Eastern University in Pennsylvania. He is the founder and president of Fretboard Fellowship Ministries. If you would like more information on Steve or Fretboard Fellowship, visit www.fretboardfellowship.com.



	Covenant and Concerts: What Could a Christian Bring to the Performing Arts? by Steve Turley I have often been asked questions regarding the role of Christians in the performing arts. Will music sound better once it has been Christianized? Should a Christian perform a different kind of music? Would every performance have public prayer preceding it? Would we have so-called "altar calls" at the end of every concert or art exhibition? However appropriate these questions may be, a most significant and distinctly Christian contribution to the arts is often overlooked. Such a contribution consists of that which is central to a faithful biblical vision for any area of life, namely the ethical orientation that the Christian brings to bear on all that he or she does. This is one of the most important areas of impact within the arts community, which represents, largely due to the Romantic break from enlightenment rationalism, an almost homogeneous commitment to relativistic ethics. The result of this commitment is an arts world that is foreign to biblical thought. And it is in regards to this ethical sphere of the arts that the Christian can make a most significant impact. Unfortunately, it is precisely in this ethical arena that many Christian artists are pressured to capitulate. Whether it is expressed with participation in the current pacifist movement or "reaching out" to unrepentant homosexual artists, there are Christians who have adopted the ethical orientation that undermines the very gospel they claim to represent. Far from integrating one's faith and one's craft, ethical capitulation amputates the two. If Christians are going to make an ethical impact in the arts world, they are going to have to be armed with a strong covenant consciousness - that is, Christians must cultivate a biblical worldview that sees all of life through the lens of who we are in Christ. The result will be a biblical integration of faith and art, an integration that can have a significant contribution to a creative world so committed to relativistic thought. The Covenant Whenever we seek to answer the question of what a Christian brings to any area of life in general or the performing arts in particular, I think that it is important where we begin in formulating such an answer. That is, such an issue requires that we start with our understanding of what it means to be a "Christian." One cannot impact the arts world as a Christian without first being a Christian. And this "being a Christian" requires that we understand our covenant identity in Christ. The consistent biblical pattern of the relationship God has with his people is a covenantal relationship. In such a relationship, God graciously provides for man first, then gives man a command to trust in his promises and provisions. Every law-command is a command to trust in the provisions of God. Thus, we are not to steal because we are to trust that God will provide; we are not to follow other gods, because we are to trust that God is everything he claims to be for us in Christ. This is a covenantal relationship. God provides salvation for us in Christ and gives us his Law-command to live a life that daily trusts every thought to the promises and provisions of God. This is who we are in Christ. And the covenant now requires us to "be who we are." We are to walk in such a way that is true to who we are in Christ. Christianity is not merely about introspection (praying a prayer, a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, etc.) It is not simply a "ticket to heaven." Identifying ourselves as Christians is to identify ourselves with a covenant-keeping God who requires that we daily trust in his promises and provisions. This is what the Lord requires of his covenant people - by trusting in his provisions we extend his Lordship throughout the earth and exercise godly dominion in every area of life. Covenant and Concerts Therefore, I believe that a Christian's impact in the performing arts is fundamentally ethical, not musical per se. In saying this, I am not arguing that music is separate from morality necessarily. Rather, I am arguing for something that is central to a faithful biblical vision for any area of life. In this sense, a Christian vision of music, for example, is not one that would require the playing of a particular repertoire over against another (i.e. we throw out pantheist Beethoven and perform only Bach), but rather one that requires a different walk. A Christian vision of the arts is not one that simply has a different philosophical or introspective bent, but one that honors the Law of God and seeks to bring glory to him. For some Christian artists, it appears this ethical orientation the Christian brings to the performing arts is ignored in favor of subjective introspection. It is asserted that Christian artists bring a particular reflection and profound perspective to music and art that secular artists apparently lack. Because we are self-conscious in our love and worship of the Creator par excellence, we in turn can reflect that love and adoration in our personal creations as they bring glory to him. However true that may be, it should be noted that without understanding who we are as the covenant people of God, I believe the Christian is impaired in dealing with the enormous pressures within the arts community to accept and participate in relativistic morality, and thus amputate the arts from the covenant. For example, a brief internet search will reveal how many Christian artists accept homosexuality as a legitimate lifestyle. In my experience, far too many Christians have capitulated to the overwhelming humanistic tilt that characterizes creative communities, and thus, far from integrating their art and faith, they have divorced their art from a faith that should be defined covenantally. And I believe that this is a most significant problem for Christians who seek to impact the world of the arts. Such pressures can only be resisted as we cultivate a covenantal consciousness, and seek to trust in the promises and provisions of God, as he defines them in his Word. Moreover, this ethical orientation that Christians bring will have a significant effect on the motivation for the performing arts. Performers have a certain exhibitionism within themselves that enable them to "go public" with their work. However, this exhibitionism can far too often result in glorification of the self. One's motive for getting on stage is to be applauded for himself, or for the community that he is able to bring through concerts. In short, the arts become a vehicle for humanism - the celebration of autonomous man. It is the Christian musician alone who can seek to gain fame as one who performs for the glory of God. That is, the Christian's motive for personal recognition and fame in the performing arts is pursued for the sake of being famous as one who brings glory to God. And this glory is most often seen in the good works that are the fruit of the Spirit (Matt. 5:16). Thus, the Christian performing artist gets the recognition, and God gets the glory. Conclusion As we seek to be true to the dominion mandate we have been given, Christian artists must cultivate a covenant consciousness that flows into every area of life. This covenant consciousness provides a basis for a coherent integration of faith and art, which can be a significant contribution to the arts world. In so doing, we will have the joy of seeing the glory of God manifested in claiming the crown rights of King Jesus in the world of the performing arts. And that will be a beautiful sound indeed. Steve Turley teaches theology at Tall Oaks Classical School in Delaware and music at Eastern University in Pennsylvania. He is the founder and president of Fretboard Fellowship Ministries. If you would like more information on Steve or Fretboard Fellowship, visit www.fretboardfellowship.com. Published March 2003 in our A Passion for Worship Newsletter. Return to the Article Index.

Covenant and Concerts: What Could a Christian Bring to the Performing Arts?

by Steve Turley

The Covenant

Covenant and Concerts

Conclusion

Covenant and Concerts:
What Could a Christian Bring to the Performing Arts?