Music, Arts, Media
and the Great Commission
-- currently a SELF-DIRECTED STUDY --
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BUILDING ON A SOLID FOUNDATION
** back to Self-Directed Study Index **
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Section Four:
(listen to Colin Harbinson tapes and read Heart of the Artist)
GODLY CHARACTER:
- the huge importance of godly character in musicians/artists - and our need
to be cleansed of the things in our lives which God is wanting to use us to
help free the people He's called us to - ie. Isaiah 6 - woe is me, for I am
a man of unclean lips and I live among a people of unclean lips..he first had
to be freed of his unclean lips before he could be used to help set them free
in this area. - Colin Harbinson has written some excellent stuff on this which
I can send you for your consideration. (by the way, do any of you have his current
mailing address and phone/fax? I think I still have his current email addy but
not sure...maybe you can send that to us, too?
* Bible Studies for Performing Artists - (From Christian Performing Artist's Fellowship)
Includes the following:
FOREWORD
Table of Contents
Suggestions For Your Daily Quiet Time
General Points for MasterClass leadership:
As the group prepares to leave, thank them, remind them to ponder and pray about the material which was discussed, and tell them the topic for the next MasterClass.
Preparation
Title: "Being faithful with your talent: always improving ourselves"
Title: "Taking instructions: learning from those who are experienced"
Title: "Diligence: being prepared in advance"
Title: "Time priorities: practicing, quiet time, etc."
The Performance
Title: "Pursuing excellence"
Title: "Nervousness in performing"
Title: "Egomania vs. humility, or confidence vs. timidity"
Title: "Handling criticism and critics"
Motives of Performers
Title: "Motives of the heart - keeping pure"
Title: "Is your art your god?"
Title: "Looking for Man’s praise or God’s praise"
Title: "Your identity, from Christ or your artistic skill?"
Relationships in performance
Title: "Competitiveness: being God’s best or beating the others"
Title: "Working with authorities (conductors, directors, teachers, etc.)"
Title: "No compromise with sin and worldliness"
Title: "Dealing with unbelieving artistic friends"
A Lifetime in the Arts
Title: "Never worshipping the ‘Idol of Career’"
Title: "Using your talents to serve others"
Title: "Teaching: Your life must agree with what you teach"
Title: "Our witness as performers"
Daily Bible Reading Guide
LISTS FOR PRAYER AND INTERCESSION.
* The Arts and Spiritual Warfare - Colin Harbinson
* Related Links and HERE
* Christian Artists Development Course
RECOMMENDED READING:
+ The Heart of the Artist - Rory Noland
Read
THE CULTURE WARRIOR - by
David Traylor, ARTtribe
NOTE!! - I would highly recommend David's excellent and
very helpful book to all of you! It covers a lot of very practical ground on
many aspects of the arts, including godly character development, encouraging
local believing arts councils, the need for arts patronage, and many related
aspects. If you have or are starting a creative arts school, I would definitely
recommend this as a book to consider as one of the primary textbooks!
-------------------
"The Strategic Guidebook for the Believing Creative and Interpretive Artist
is not just another traditional academic overview and Biblical justification
of the arts. It is a comprehensive visionary call for all Christians involved
in the arts to equip themselves and join in the struggle for popular culture
and western civilization. "The Culture Warrior" is a practical working
manual, written by a working artist, for working artists and all the others
that make the arts happen. The author systematically lays a solid foundation
for artists, in every creative discipline, with Biblical solutions for the redemption
of culture and the extension of the kingdom of God. Here you will find insight
into the various spiritual and natural components for the formulation and execution
of dynamic and powerful works of art. The patron and the many types of patronage
are also explored in depth. "The Culture Warrior" is a working manual
for ALL believing artists, of ANY age or stage in their creative career or spiritual
maturity. This book is for ALL believers who have been drawn into the arts and
desire to augment their teachings and faith with action. It explores the dynamics
of working within the context of contemporary Christianity as well as the powerful
"inspirational entertainment industry."
In "The Culture Warrior" you will understand why there is no such thing as a "Christian" art or "Christian" artist. The insights contained in "The Culture Warrior" can be used within any artistic discipline and God given creative vision. Any believing artist will be able to use these concepts to move out into more effective fields of creativity and aesthetic service for the glory of God, the extension of His kingdom and the transformation of the popular culture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction - An Open Letter - (available online)
Part I - A Basic Overview Of The Arts In Contemporary Christianity
Chapter 1 - Pilgrim, Where Stand We Now? (available online) / Chapter 2 - In
the beginning God created.../ Chapter 3 - A Very, Very Brief History of Art
in the Church / Chapter 4 - What Arts Forms Are We Talking About? / Chapter
5 - The Arts, Their Potential and the Church / Chapter 6 - Powerbrokers and
the Spirit of the Dominant Culture
Part II - Creative And Interpretive Artists
Chapter 7 - Artists and Their Good Gifts / Chapter 8 - The Creative Process,
the Artist / and the Craftsman / Chapter 9 - Foundational Elements / Chapter
10 - Inspiration For Works Of Art / Chapter 11 - Ministry, Compassion and Discernment
/ Chapter 12 - Death, Traps and Snares, Money And Other Significant Things /
Part III - Change, The Church, Patrons, And The Future
Chapter 13 - Change, Artists And The Church / Chapter 14 - The Arts For Church
/ Leaders, Artists, and Congregations / Chapter 15 - Is Now the Time to Kick
the Artists Out of the Church? / Chapter 16 - Patrons /
Chapter 17 - Time, The Unspoken Thing and Specific Goals
Part IV - Questions and Answers / Part V - Study Guide
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Here are some additional excellent related books to read
+ More Like the Master: A Christian Musician's Reader - Jeremy Begbie/Michael Card, ed., etc.
+ Francis Schaeffer's PERSPECTIVES ON THE ARTS
+ The
Gift of Craftsmenship/Artistry
+ The
Gift of Music - Vocal
+ The
Gift of Music - Instrumental
+ The
Gift of Writing
*Excellence and Godly Character in Proper Perspective
EXCELLENCE & GODLY CHARACTER IN THE PROPER PERSPECTIVE:
- along with godly character there should be at least a short section, I think,
devoted to the aspect of excellence and the arts and how that relates to godly
character...in my opinion, as much as I believe excellence is something we should
strive for and keep working at (ie loving God with all our heart, mind, soul
and strength, etc.), I believe that often this has been greatly imbalanced in
the Church (even though it has often not been taken seriously enough, either)
by the fact that so often Christian musicians and artists don't really recognize
how crucial the need is for godly character - biblically I believe it is a much
greater need. Both are necessary, but godly character is a MUST if we want to
be used effectively in using the arts to reach the lost and to help disciple
the nations, otherwise we will be bringing all our sin into the mix and be ineffective
and in fact help to destroy what we are seeking to rebuild. I think the reason
this aspect is so often not taken seriously enough is because I also believe
that many Christian musicians/artists don't understand their biblical calling
and the role of music/arts in the Bible/Great Commission.
+ Godly Responses to Praise and Criticism
+ Mentoring Artists & Musicians: A Lost Art? - Can It Be Restored? - Grace Wiebe
Matching
Outcomes With Methods and Contexts - Jonathan Lewis
* Related Links re Mentoring
* Related Links re Internships - also HERE and HERE
RESOURCES:
+ Internship Opportunities with the Great Commission Worship & Arts Center
and HERE
+ Ministry Standards for Artistic Kingdom Service - Byron Spradlin
+ The Process of Seeing Our Visions Coming into Reality - Grace Wiebe - although this article is referring to visions regarding house churches, the same principles apply re music and the arts/media, etc.
+ The Isaiah 6 Principle
* Spiritual Warfare and the Arts
+ Laying Foundations For Music/Arts Ministries Throgh Prayerwalking - Grace Wiebe
+ The Arts and Spiritual Warfare - Colin Harbinson - International Festival of the Arts
* Judging Art With Discernment
+ Four Standards of Judgment - Francis Schaeffer
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