Page 6 - Empowering Missional Artists - Jim Mills.pdf

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to be present, connect with and serve our world for Christ’s sake. In the church world we have

been quick to emphasize Paul’s exhortation to not be of this world, but we have not heeded his

plea to be in the world for Christ sake. (I Corinthians. 5:9-13) Still it is correct to recognize the

obvious negative influence of the mass media and the current postmodern predominance which

feeds truant western civilization. These realities make our involvement in culture and the arts a

crucial imperative.

The arts are front and center in influencing our world and “remain an important forum for

debate in our culture.” (Turner 2001, 21) A few facts which underscore this idea include: “The

box office for Hollywood 2006” (Taylor 2007) was “$9.42 billion;” (Ibid) and “according to the

Center for Screen Time Awareness; the number of 30-second commercials that the average

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child views in one year is 20,000 ;” (Ibid) finally “industry analysts predict an increase in

worldwide movie attendance over the next five years, with Asia and Central and Eastern Europe

becoming the fastest-growing regions.” (Holson 2006) While church attendance in the western

world is decreasing movie attendance is on the rise. This was true in the last 30 years and now

even with the advent of Covid-19, where movie theaters have been closed down to a great

degree still the movie industry thrives via various media platforms. Though often immoral and

decadent, the TV series and movies seem to be more relevant than the church when it comes to

addressing life’s real issues. Movies end up forming and discipling a generation.

It is not only the mass media of film and television which bends our western societies, but

also the stage, painting, poetry, dance, music, photography, and on and on the list goes. These

are all aesthetic cultural portals through which our world is shaped. We, the church, do not have

the luxury to continue denying the significance of the arts. Therefore, our active and intentional

involvement in the arts is not an option if we wish to relevantly impact our world with the Gospel

and fulfill our biblical salt and light mandate. (Matthew 5:13-14)

We, the evangelical church, have our work cut out for us because all too often we have

marginalized the arts and alienated the artists. The truth is we have neither nurtured nor