1. How can you present a Christian worldview through books and films while still producing a quality product?
Well, I'm going to differ here from what most people would tell
you. In my experience, there are two necessary things we must do, to do
present a Christian worldview AND produce a quality product.
The first thing is for Christians to quit lying about the realities of life in a sin-cursed world.
Most Christian art is fundamentally dishonest. (Not intentionally,
but it's a byproduct of Christians trying to whitewash realities so
their "sensibilities" are not "offended.") The reality is, most of us
(particularly fundamentalists) live in a bubble
we've created. We shut the world out, rarely rub shoulders with unsaved
people, and hide from all streams of secular media.
Then, for some reason, inside that bubble, we try to write fiction
that speaks Christ's truth about the very ugly world we literally know
nothing about. The result is a fundamentally dishonest kind of art that
portrays the world as we
wish it would be--not as it really is.
This doesn't mean art has to be gratuitous. But it does need to be honest.
In real life, people rarely fall on their knees and get saved in
the third act. Sin issues like rape, drug addiction, murder and other
serious wrongdoing are rampant, and good doesn't always triumph over
evil (at least in this life). But these types of
perspectives are rarely ever examined in Christian art, for fear of
offending parents with small children, or very conservative churches.
Most unsaved characters are reduced to mere caricatures, with
"alcoholism" being the prevailing vice that demonstrates
their degenerate state. (As a Christian profesional working in a
secular environment, I can't help but chuckle when I read many Christian
novels. The portrayal of secular life is incredibly naive.)
That is not the world I live in. The world I live in is far, far worse. And by contrast, the Gospel is
all the more beautiful when it shines into that darkness. We write about good people who get better, not dead people who need life.
Simply put: The Bible doesn't lie about depravity. We shouldn't either.
The second way to create a quality Christian-infused product is to learn what a quality product is.
Unfortunately, most Christian novels and movies are poorly
constructed and shallow. But Christians study those novels and movies as
their guide to creating their own art. The result? More shallow art. A
well-told biblically honest story deserves the highest
level of craft. In order to master that craft, an artist must be
willing to study the great art -- both fiction and film -- from around
the world, and see how that art touches the heart of humankind to leave a
lasting impact. Often times, a single classic
secular film or novel offers more beautiful depictions of biblical
truth than an entire shelf of bad Christian fiction or movies.
2. What are some difficulties in creating such a product?
Well, I think some of the difficulties. I covered that above.
Overall, the Christian community (in my experience) is afraid to truly
honest Christian art, and truly beautiful Christian art. We want
shallow, sugar-coated stories that conveniently bend all
of the events to reinforce the spiritual point we've already decided
for the story. That's not art, that's propaganda.
I've found it far more powerful, spiritually engaging and effective to create honest, gritty art that speaks the
realities of Biblical truth through a portrait of our fallen world. The
art may or may not portray people going to church,
reading their Bibles, etc. Regardless, it's the kind of art that opens
doors for me to talk to unsaved people about spiritual issues and about
my own faith.
Unfortunately, it's also the kind of art that is not welcome in
many churches, schools and Christian organizations. it's just not
black-and-white enough.
3. What benefits can be reaped in producing a Christian product of good quality?
Our God is a God of order, beauty, perfection, and holiness. He
deserves nothing less than the best quality offering we can give him --
and as writers, our work is an offering, a sacrifice of time, talent
emotional investment and toil in the footsteps
of his creative act. The main benefit of producing this product is that
we do our best service to God.
From an economic perspective, though, it's somewhat sad we even have to ask this question. Because: in the secular world,
quality is rewarded. Period. In the Christian world, if you have
"good intentions" or a "heart-warming message" people will overlook bad
quality. Try that in Hollywood, and you'll be laughed out of the office.
While Hollywood can also be overly harsh
and a very difficult place to do art, it is also a great crucible for
refining your talent and being driven to create the highest possible art
you can--because nothing less will be accepted than the best among all
options.
**Note: If I sound terribly cynical about the state of Christian
art, it's because I am. I've had numerous experiences--shocking
ones--with Christians who wanted me to literally be dishonest about a
particular situation, or force a biblical moral into
a story that was more spiritually powerful using metaphor or even
silence to convey the point. As a Christian artist, I've turned my
efforts to working on quality projects that honestly convey my faith --
whether or not they portray an overtly Christian main
character. I also love the fantasy genre for its aptitude to present
spiritual allegory, and I find ways to work on fantasy projects wherever
I can, to be a light and testimony to the people I collaborate with.
And it's worked -- I've had so many opportunities
to witness to people through these means. When it comes to
fellowshipping with other Christian artists, I tend to gravitate toward
those who share similar concerns for the state of Christian art, and
have chosen to work in the secular industry 1) to be a witness
and 2) because they simply get to work on better-quality projects. I'm
affiliated with a community doing just that. It's called Act One, and
it's located in the heart of Hollywood. You can read more about their
amazing ministry here:
www.actoneprogram.com
No comments:
Post a Comment