Aug/100
Christians in the Arts
Artists that are Christians have a tough road ahead of them. They are misunderstood by the world because of their faith, and they are misunderstood by the church because of their art.
Unfortunately, much of the Church, because of religion, has required artists to make a choice between God and art. The Church has held the belief that Christians can’t be secular artists. If they are called to create any type of art (music, painting, poetry, dance, etc.), they must do it within the confines of religion. Otherwise, the art is “worldly.” However, there are many Christians who have felt the call to be artists in the “world.” In doing so, the Church has made the assumption that Christian artists are selling their soul to world. In what other area of society have we made this assumption? I haven’t seen it in politics, business, or any other area of culture
Therefore, what is a Christian artist to do?? This is exactly what I’ll be sharing when I speak this Sunday at Living Stones Crown Point. Join us at either our 8 AM or 11 AM service. I also have a very exciting announcement that I’m SUPER excited to make as it relates to the music of Living Stones.
Join us this Sunday, August 22.
Jul/101
LIVE! Album Available on Amazon and iTunes
You can download our newest album, Living Stones Worship LIVE! on iTunes and Amazon.com.
If you want a physical copy with all the cool album art with pictures from the night of recording, you can buy it from CD Baby.
AND if you need chord charts, go on over to LSWorship.com for those.
Jun/104
Worship — A Musical Style?
Tonight while driving with the family and listening to some good mainstream, Christian contemporary Christian music, I had a thought. I came to a realization while listening to the songs, music, and lyrics from the band, Sevenglory, on their CD Atmosphere. In the midst of pondering the lyrics and enjoying the music, I realized that I was worshiping. But wait a minute . . . this music isn’t music that we would do on a typical Sunday morning at Living Stones or any other “typical” American church for that matter. It would be viewed by most religious people as unacceptable for a “worship service.”
While some may argue the ability to worship to any music, I would argue that you would have to have been inside my heart to make that determination. And since you can’t get inside my heart, you’ll either have to take my word for it or call me crazy. This whole point reaffirms a message that has burned inside of me for quite some time. Life is worship. If we are living life filled by the glory of God as evidenced by the power of Holy Spirit working in us, then everything we do is worship. Driving my newly purchased Mustang convertible with the top fully down and my full head of hair blowing in the wind, for me is worship. Why? . . . because while doing so it causes me to focus my attention on the greatness of God and the wonder of His beautiful creation. That beautiful creation includes me. When I am joyful because of anything connected with God, it’s worship.
Now back to my original point. I contend that we can worship just as fully while listening to contemporary Christian music as much as we can to the typical worship genre. I contend that we can worship while viewing art created by a secular artist. Why? Because the God of all creation still is at the source of all creative ability. It causes me to worship. I contend that you can even listen to a completely secular song (pure in its lyrics and spirit) and the message and the music can direct you toward God and cause you to worship. You see worship isn’t a style and isn’t even about music. Worship, at the very core, is that which we hold as most important.
