Resonant Images - Latest Comments

Re: on prayers of rememberence, confession and hope…

Harmonie — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 01:42:58 -0000

Beautiful. Thanks friend.

Re: on grace and beauty…

jonassink — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 18:09:12 -0000

Brad, thanks for your comments!

I do think there is an important educational role for artists and creatives to play in the church. We just have to be careful not to rush the process and realize every church will have to find a pace that it is comfortable with. Some will more quickly jump on board than others, but that doesn't mean the "slow" churches should be left behind!

I think there is a place though for exposure to the creative process. Demystifying art and letting people see how an artist arrived at a particular expression--especially with pieces that are more "edgy"--gives the audience a starting place for dialogue with the artist. If many ways, teaching people how to view and engage with art, and by extension culture, is the most valuable role artists in the church can play.

Re: on grace and beauty…

brad — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 13:21:48 -0000

Yes, there are generations working hard at this, but sadly it is mostly just these generations that are seeing it. In other words, we're preaching to the choir. Baby Boomers have artificially constrained the language of the church with a giant pause button. That phenomenon is responsible for the chasm between church and culture. Whatever we do must be invitational to our elders, and one of the ways that I have envisioned this is to shield them from how art is created, which will in turn shield artists from their unqualified criticism.

My experience of church is that it generally shows a higher comfort level with artistic expression than it with the creative process. 30-somethings (to pick an arbitrary category) have developed a whole new paradigm of art and communication, and the Baby Boomers want a piece of it. But they do not comprehend the process, and haven't exhibited much of a desire to try. (Don't even get me started!) We have some educating to do. They have some education to do. Without invitational humility on both sides this is doomed.

Another way to address this is to find the remnant among our elders who not only 'get it' but who can articulate it well, and give them a platform. I'll bet that they will be better translators than we are.

I see this as an important way that we can become all things to all men.

Re: on church, culture and language…

Sophia Agtarap — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 03:02:06 -0000

Spot on, Jonathan.

Re: on church, culture and language…

jonassink — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 03:13:39 -0000

Ruth, you are right that each generation probably goes through some kind of transition or "rebellion" of sorts. I think I read somewhere once that Issac Watts was considered avant guarde during his lifetime, though you probably know more about that than I do. :)

I certainly don't want to go off an form a "new church", which I think a lot of young Christians are doing. I have huge respect for the work of church communities like COPA, Church of the Beloved and SCUM Church, but I also don't think we should give up on the traditional church.

I think organizations like Kindlings are a good start. I also think artists in the younger generations are going to have to be teachers to a degree. They are going to have to educate the church on how art functions in more than utilitarian. I think established, older churches can also play a mentoring role. Maybe churches treat new "contemporary" services more like semi-autonomous church plants rather than a pet project of the "young people".

I think this conversation very quickly gets away from art at this point. In a lot of ways, even churches that are doing a "good job" incorporating art still struggle with what to do with young, post-college adults.

In the end, I think the two most important things for both sides to realize is that at the end of the day they aren't two sides, everyone should be working together for the glory of God and the church. We can always improve. I think you hit it on the head, it is a process that takes time and humility.

This takes time, but it will happen I think. Even if the conversation just starts with a couple people over coffee. Build consensus and slowly add new perspectives and people and see what happens. Not every church has to be the some, some will naturally look more traditional and liturgical, and some may even continue to revel in those 80s praise choruses, but we can always do better, worship better.

Re: on church, culture and language…

Ruth — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 23:13:20 -0000

Thanks for this post -- it's a topic I've struggled with myself. I agree that there's a stylistic divide within the church; though I'm sure each generation struggles with this. Unfortunately, the trend I see is the younger generation breaking off to form their own, more "culturally relevant" gatherings. There's a time and a place for these, but in a broader sense everyone loses when we let artistic/stylistic differences divide the body. I wouldn't want to trade the wisdom I receive from worshiping regularly with older Christians, even if I have to sing a few '80s praise choruses. (Not that I haven't complained about that...)

I think there does need to be a certain amount of compromise from both sides -- i.e. the younger generation accepting the fact that change takes time and the older generation recognizing the need for change. What do you think are some healthy ways to promote dialogue about this within the church?

Re: on church, culture and language…

Chris White — Sun, 31 Jul 2011 22:51:55 -0000

Jonathan.

Really dig this post. You've said so much I've been feeling the past several years. Love that you're willing to speak this, too. I want to send you a copy of my new film. I think you will see that even though we're 2,000 miles away from each other...in many ways, we're thick as thieves.

Send your mailing address to me at parismtscout@gmail.com.

Re: on what is justice…

Nicole Rife — Mon, 02 May 2011 14:01:21 -0000

Thank you for sharing your beautifully written thoughts. I am humbled by all of this and feel that you worded it perfectly. Many blessings.

Re: on what is justice…

Dan Ericson — Mon, 02 May 2011 12:38:15 -0000

Very interesting view. Can't say I disagree to be honest. I like this part of the quote you posted: “If this means there is one less death in the future, then I’m glad for that”. That, and retaliation are really what this comes down to. If we were God's people as a nation, we could maybe quote Bible verses vindicating our actions.

Re: on hard work…

Christy Tennant — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 19:35:52 -0000

Hey Jonathan - have you ever read/worked through The Artist's Way? Something tells me you have, but if not, you really should. In fact, I'm hoping to do it after I move to Seattle - perhaps we can work through it together, and invite others to also? I've done it alone and in groups, and I love the group dynamic. So enriching. Anyway, I think it would affirm and foster much of what you're exploring nowadays. See you soon!

Re: on things i used to be good at...

John Paul — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 12:45:03 -0000

Then you can turn them into photographs if you want to. haha.
i like your sketches.

Re: on values and stories…

Jonathan — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 05:08:43 -0000

The crazy thing with this quote is that McKee isn't even Christian, he's just a guy who teaches courses on scriptwriting for movies.

This is the direction my thesis is starting to turn in though. Obviously for Christian artists I'm lobbying for faith informed art that promotes a justice centered worldview, but for artists in general both inside and outside of the church we desperately need to restore "Truth" to the conversation. Postmodernism has so stripped Truth and meaning from everything in society that even our stories and art now suck. Even non-Christian artists make better art when they are raising questions of our relationship with Truth, when they are struggling to make sense out of the moral ambiguities of life. You don't have to be a Christian to make beautiful, meaningful art. I think there is a HUGE opening for Christians to return to the arts with a message of Truth that people are eager to explore.

Re: on values and stories…

Tina — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 04:57:26 -0000

this is such a good statement.... it reminds me of that bible verse from Revelations 3:16 "so because you are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, i am about to spit you out of my mouth.
i think that hardest thing about building relationship with people and encouraging them to build their relationship with God is not their anger or hatred but just their complete lack of feeling all together.
You have to get people to feel something, to take a side, to have an opinion. This horrible apathetic ground our generation is in is killing us faster then intense times of persecution!!

Re: on the death of post-modernism…

Jonathan — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 20:20:06 -0000

I have been know to indulge in hyperbole from time to time so you are probably right in saying Post-Modernism likely is not dying. But at least in the art world right now there is a fight going on between artists who want to return to "Modern" art and those who want to celebrate the chaos that Post-Modernism has created. It's the whole art for arts sake crowd (i.e. Damien Hirst) and they drive me crazy.

I do think Post-Modernism has to face the question of what it's goals are though. It will sputter and stall as long as it maintains a position of distrust toward Truth. It's kind of like why Anarchism has never really caught on as a form of government. Sounds great in theory but you quickly realize it's just chaos. Not even famously "great in theory" Communism makes this error. People, life, needs structure and Post-Modernism doesn't offer a viable option, at least not at the moment.

Re: on the death of post-modernism…

Brandon Baker — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 15:20:39 -0000

I'm going to disagree here. Not with everything you wrote, just some of it.

Postmodernism is not dying because it has not yet even been fully formed. You noted that so far postmodernism has been about deconstruction and rejecting absolute Truth. It's a rebellion against modernism insatiable need to put everything into a box and dissect the living daylights out of it.

I would argue that Postmodernism is actually growing. It's beginning to mature past its adolescent deconstruction stage and is beginning to explore what it stands for rather than what it stands against.

Naturally, some of the de-constructive aspects will fall away because in order to understand what you are, you will at some point have to stop focusing on what you are not. I think that's where we're headed.

I think your observations are spot on, its just that those things will end up strengthening postmodernism rather than killing it.

Re: political science > you

Rebecca — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 23:22:08 -0000

And clearly humble as well ;)

Re: just being

Rebecca — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 23:11:12 -0000

This is my favorite post so far. Awesome...seriously

Re: on selling something better...

Rebecca — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 23:14:43 -0000

That add is refreshingly idea promoting as opposed to product promotion. Very cool. I really like Dove's ads as well.

Re: on church…

Rebecca — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:53:05 -0000

I completely know what you mean! Some of my best "church" experiences have been outside of the standard settings. Bible studies with friends where you look into the Word, and then legitimately look into your own lives together are some of the most changing experiences ever.

Re: on the artist as prophet…

tina — Sun, 09 May 2010 02:16:12 -0000

wow jon this is amazing!!!!!! i love that quote!

Re: on church…

tina — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 18:17:35 -0000

JON!!

this was amazing i was just thinking this myself.... it was one of the most amazing sundays i have in long time!

thanx for putting it together. i really enjoyed it!

Re: on selling out, or the death of geek

Hassan Ardman — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 04:36:54 -0000

Our boy is actually loco about lego as well as star wars lego - thanks for the tips!

Re: on justice and faith...

Jonathan — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 04:04:39 -0000

I thought you might like it. :)

Alex, Tiffany, and I were talking about this after you left. So frustrating to hear someone with such a loud platform say something so, well, wrong. Fortunately, it has been cool seeing a lot of Christians stand up and graciously say what they believe the Bible really says about justice and poverty.

Re: on justice and faith...

tina — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:29:07 -0000

I love this!!! i read a summarize of what this guy said... and was actually dumb founded!!! this guy's christianity would be so much easier.....

Re: be excellent…

Susan Duncan — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:02:58 -0000

Wow! I have been discussing similar ideas with a friend at work recently. I think it is a state of mind that has been building in my head as well, but I haven't been able to push through. So much seems to be holding us back, but what is it? Maybe what's necessary is not so much an arrogance as an untempered confidence in what we are called to do. Defining the "obstacles" may be the first step, so that we can push past them. However, for some, tapping into that thing they've suppressed but secretly feel called to do may be the first required action. I like your last point - the point is not where you end up - just dive in! I really needed to hear this. Thanks!