Christian Artists

Post by **_JC** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:16 pm

That was an interesting article. David mentioned that the makers of "Left Behind" were not filmmakers but rather evangelists who were using film. I have to agree with him because I watched the first film in that series and could hardly stomach the poor craftsmanship. I'm sure everyone involved in that production were all serious Christians but I felt rather embarrassed watching it.

Steve, I honestly thought you'd be against the whole idea of Christians being involved in filmmaking. Perhaps it was due to listening to your "Christian Counterculture" lecture series where you (rightly) pointed out that too much time is spent on entertainment. I see what I do as more than entertainment, obviously, but my struggle has always centered on what kinds of stories to tell. Jesus was a master storyteller so at least I have an example.

Post by **_Ely** » Tue Jul 25, 2006 12:22 pm

As long as you don't compromise what God's truth, I say, keep on keeping on JC..

btw, I tried to dowload clips from your website but it wasn't happening. What's the procedure for viewing them? Or alternatively, is there anywhere else we can view some of your stuff?

Ely

Post by **_JC** » Wed Jul 26, 2006 7:23 am

Ely, you'll need the latest version of quicktime to view those clips. They are just short films I made in college, not serious work. It's not indicative of the stuff we are doing now but there's no copyright on my student films so I put them up. Hehe.

Post by **_glow** » Sun Aug 27, 2006 9:03 pm

Well JC

You are talking about a subject very close to my heart...art.

I am blessed with the gift of visual arts in the sense I paint and draw and He works through me. I connect with him, I can sense it. I have many visions of paintings in my heart I know I have to get out and share with folks. As a mom for several years it has been side tracked some in different avenues, but I still created through him in baking cookies , wall papering, writing special love poems etc.

but He has never let me lose sight of Genesis 1: In the begining God created.......GOD CREATED...thats where it ALL started in the material world and we are all created in HIS image! It is "in us" to create also....How cool is that!
So when the days pop up that creating seems trivial especially compared to a death in the family or starving children I remember this little note I have stuck up on my kitchen wall from Timothy 4:14.

Neglect not the gift that is in thee.

God wants me to do it. So I do , I let Him work through me, I enjoy it, I connect to him and feel so blessed I am able to express myself in the very loving way He created me and likes to work through me.

I hope all of you seek and find that area God has called you to to "create" in the material world which connects to His spiritual world . Afterall He created us like that! Yeah God....Glow

Post by **_Alembic** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 11:00 am

Interesting question, and one that as a baby Christian I have been wrestling with.

At the age of 9, I began a professional life centered around music, and have been a professional musician ever since. Since beginning my walk with Christ, that "talent"

...a questionable concept in my case...has taken a back seat to my devotion to study and the rearrangement of my life.

Having spoken to many Christians regarding this postponement, I have yet again come to realize even more deeply and by new parameters that there is good and bad music in all genres...including spiritual music...and that I should just let God guide me in whatever my future endeavors are, as I trust Him in all of my other endeavors.

I do have one question, though, and would appreciate any and all input on the matter. That is, what is this fascination with ballads that seem to permeate the spiritual music realm? My guess is that people equate a slow song with an abundance of heartfelt and sincere emotion.

Again, any input is appreciated.

Post by **_TK** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 11:56 am

hi alembic--

you reference christian "ballads"-- can you give me an example of a popular christian song that meets this definition? before i respond i want to make sure i know what you mean when you say "ballad." i have an idea, but i want to make sure. thx!

TK

Post by **_JC** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 3:03 pm

Glow and Alembic, thanks for sharing. I'm often reminded of the artisans God commisioned to build the tabernacle. Though not an exact correlation, Christians involved in the arts serve a similar purpose. Non-Christians who view my work would never know it was made by a Christian man. However, if you told the viewer this information they'd be like, "Yeah... I can see that."

I'm a parabolic filmmaker and the characters in my stories remain religiously neutral. Like Jesus' parables, I use the situation itself, not the characters' own beliefs, to reveal whatever truth I'm expressing. This removes "religion" from the whole deal and allows the viewer to watch and think, without a bias springing up. I may do a film one day where my lead character is Christian, but I doubt it.

Post by **_glow** » Mon Aug 28, 2006 5:14 pm

JC

I think that comment you made on non Christians would never know you were one by what they viewed or some thing like that is very interesting.

My husband before he was saved read a little book he found in the book store, that he swore led Him to Christ later on. He was also sure (even though he never researched it) That it was not written by a Christian man but God used it and it's universal truth under God, to pull him in.

SO you never know when you reach out for sure how some one will be touched. I think the best thing is you "are" reaching out and just the essense of who you are in Christ will plants seeds.

I know now that I am back into my art after all these years people from areas I'd never connected with before have stopped me and asked to see my work etc.

They get into conversations with me where I am open to share where I believe my gift comes from etc. They all seem to be very open to my response probubly because it is the truth and a natural answer from me. It's really neat to see. Keep up the ideas and input! Glow

Post by **_Alembic** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 12:03 pm

TK wrote:hi alembic--

you reference christian "ballads"-- can you give me an example of a popular christian song that meets this definition? before i respond i want to make sure i know what you mean when you say "ballad." i have an idea, but i want to make sure. thx!

TK

TK...

Ballad is just a generic musical term for a slow song. I haven't any specific examples other than the various hymns and occasional forays out to churches other than my own, where there just seems to be a preponderance of these types of tunes presented.

As a professional musician on sabbatical

, I am reminded of how a band structures a set with very few of these slow songs in the attempt to keep the energy of the crowd up.

Again, as a baby Christian, my experience in the spiritual realm of music is limited, but I am learning!

Post by **_TK** » Wed Aug 30, 2006 2:43 pm

ballads, of course, are generally love songs, but not always ("the wreck of the edmund fitzgerald" by gordon lightfoot comes to mind); ballad-type worship songs are generally "love songs" to the Lord.

however, a "worship song" obviously does not need to be a ballad to invoke true emotion or true worship. the song "it is you" by the newsboys comes to mind-- there are tons of others.

i dont listen to a lot of "comtemporary christian" music anymore because i find much of it a tad trite.

yesterday at the library i picked up a CD of Elvis singing some old gospel favorites. not bad! even though i am not a huge elvis fan.

TK