Pastoral Aesthetic Quotes- 12

"You don't have to burn books to destroy a culture. Just get people to stop reading them."

--Ray Bradbury

Pastoral Aesthetic Quotes- 11

"Technology is a mode of revealing. Technology comes to presence where revealing and unconcealment take place, where aletheia, truth, happens."

--Martin Heidegger

Thoughts on Glee

I'm a regular watcher of FOX's hit show Glee. But, I came to it the hard way. Let me explain. My fiancee loves the show. We watch it regularly together. I don't enjoy the show as much as she does. I give it credit for being original. And I generally enjoy the music that's performed. Beyond that, I wouldn't exactly describe myself as a fan. And, I do see why the show is popular.

But, I've been doing some thinking on the issue. The show does imitate life pretty well. Let me discuss a few examples:

1. We all wish our lives had a great soundtrack. To many (if not most) of us, music is important. Certain songs seem to really capture how we feel at certain times or about certain issues. It is not hard to imagine these songs playing, or like in the case of Glee to break out into actually singing these songs as we go through our lives.

2. People constantly lie to each other. This is reflected well in the show, as are modern attitudes about lying. Think about it! We go through life demanding honesty from various persons and entities, ranging from our spouses and partners to politicians and government to corporations. But we encounter and participate in so much lying every day, our hypocrisy is quickly exposed. Additionally, we live in a culture where lying is considered to be natural, but also a display of good manners. The characters are constantly lying to each other. Art imitating life indeed.

3. We all deal with Sue Sylvester... The character of coach Sue Sylvester is interesting, if not entirely original. Fellow English major may rake me over the coals for this comparison, but I've been fighting this battle since college. Sue Sylvester reminds me of Don John in Shakespeare's play Much Ado About Nothing. Both characters are bitter, scheming, and mean for no apparent reason. I have yet to figure out why she hates the glee club so much and constantly plots their destruction. But, daily we encounter this person at school, at work, even at church. They are mean for no reason, and on the surface at least, have absolutely no reason to act in such a way.

4....but outward appearances aren't everything. Despite her own narcissism and her seemingly unending rage at a extremely talented and unrealistic high school choir, there are other facets to Sue. She has a soft spot in her heart for the mentally challenged. She has a sister with Down's syndrome whom she sees regularly, as well as a cheerleader on the squad in the same condition. She is capable of love and care, even if no one else sees it.

There are other issues to be explored. These are just some thoughts and reactions to the show I wanted to explore.

Where does this fit into ministry? First, pastors, if the show is as popular as it's reported to be, there's a good chance that our parishioners are watching. It's good to be at least a little familiar. I also think that, like me, even if you don't end up liking the show, there's at least something in there to which you can relate. Even on the most basic level, you can always glean a fresh sermon illustration from it.

What about you? Are you a regular watcher of Glee? Are you a fan? What other issues can be explored that I overlooked?

Pastoral Aesthetic Quotes- 10

"What is good Christian music? It is the combination of words that are biblically sound and music that is appropriate to the words and to their intended purpose. In authentically Christian songs the words and musical score work together to accomplish the one purpose God has for His church on earth: bringing glory to himself. If the music does not glorify God, it is not good church music."

--Robert C. Anderson (in The Effective Pastor, p.327)

Movie Review- Date Night

I saw this film a few weeks ago, but am just now getting around to posting the review. I aplogize for the delay.

This is a fun movie. I don't normally go to or even really like romantic comedies. But this one focuses more on the comedy than the romance. That said, it's still a good time. Here again, we are presented with a film that, on the surface, does not contain much theological content, but from which Gospel handles can be extracted or imported.

The film tells the story of Phil & Claire Foster, a typical suburban couple, who have fallen into a routine, or a rut. They decide to break out of their routine, and have their weekly date night in New York City. They attempt to get a table at a new, trendy restaurant, but find they cannot get a table. So, they decide to pose as another couple and take the reservation for the no-shows. A case of mistaken identity occurs, and rouble (plus hilarity) ensues.

As I said above, this is not much theological fodder. But, that doesn't mean there are no lessons to be gleaned. The first, and most obvious, is the necessity of a "date night" or it's equivalent. This is especially important in ministry. The temptation is very great to fall into a marital "routine" in the name of "doing ministry" or arguing that this is the way it has to be. True, the average date night will not have the hilarity depicted in the film, but doing something special on a regular (if weekly is impossible). And "something special" does not necessarily mean an expensive, trendy restaurant. It can mean just getting out of the house for a couple hours.

GOSPEL HANDLES

The Fosters constantly seek refuge and help from a former client of Claire's. He provides them with help. Similarly, we can go to our Heavenly Father for shelter and help. He will give aid no matter how annoying we might be.

CLERGY HANDLES

There are no depictions of clergy in the film.

Above, I discussed the need for ministry couples to have a "date night" of their own. This film would be a quality addition to that.

Pastoral Aesthetic Quotes- 9

"Some books are to be tasted, others to be swallowed, and some few to be chewed and digested."

--Francis Bacon

Pastoral Aesthetic Quotes- 8

"Remember that many a devotional service, special-day program, Sunday or Weekday lesson, or for that matter Women's Club program has been redeemed from mediocrity through the intelligent use of great pictures, great stories, great poetry, and great music artistically interpreted."

--Cynthia Pearl Maus (in The Old Testament and the Fine Arts)

Movie Review- Crazy Heart

In another context, I might have enjoyed this film more than I did. Here's what I mean: I watched this film with really high hopes. All the reviews I heard, both from professional critics and laypersons alike, was that this film, as well as the performance by Jeff Bridges, was this year's The Wrestler. Had I not just recently see that film, I probably would have liked it better than I did, as I stated above. This is not to say the film was terrible, because it was actually quite good. It just wasn't what I needed or wanted at the time.

The film tells the story of Bad Blake (Bridges), a country music singer who has (to put it mildly) seen better days. He is just about broke and has taken to playing in bowling alleys and taverns. At an appearance in Santa Fe, NM he encounters a journalist, named Jean Craddock. They begin a romantic relationship. Without giving away too much of the plot, suffice it to say that things are wonderful for a while, then they go seriously awry.

The performance of Jeff Bridges is very good; enough to earn him an Academy Award. Outside of that, I was underwhelmed by the film. But, it was interesting to see Colin Farrell play a country music singer. I saw few, if any comparisons to The Wrestler, outside of a story about a man trying to come to grips with something.

All is not lost, however. I really enjoyed the soundtrack. It reminded just how much I love traditional country music. And I was impressed that the actors (Bridges and Farrell) did their own singing. The results are incredible. Not surprisingly the song "The Weary Kind" won an Academy Award as well.

GOSPEL HANDLES

This is a classic redemption story. One of the key moments in the film is when Bad loses his girlfriend's son in a shopping center. This essentially ends their relationship. Following the breakup and the ensuing heartache, he vows to (and does) become sober. This is a great example of repentance: not merely apologizing for a misdeed, but actually (literally) going the other way.

Further, the film highlights one more critical distinction. Or better, it offers a clarification: the nature of forgiveness. The secular world has, at times, a warped sense of Christian forgiveness. This film illustrates this quite well in a scene at the end. Bad have given up drinking and even changed his name from Bad, reverting back to his given name (Otis). He grants an interview to Jean, only to discover that she is engaged. The two are friendly, and seem genuinely happy to see each other. This is the clarification. Forgiveness does not mean there are no consequences, only that the offense (sin) is blotted out.

CLERGY HANDLES

There are no depictions of clergy in this film.

This film is worth seeing. However, I would wait until the DVD release. This film is appropriate for film discussion groups and sermon illustrations. Be advised that the profanity in the film will be off-putting to some church goers. Caution is advised when using video clips, but that's the standing rule for all illustrations using film.

Pastoral Aesthetic Quotes- 7

"If I am a romantic my parents bear no responsibility for it. Tennyson, indeed, my father liked, but it was the Tennyson of In Memoriam and Locksley Hall. I never heard from him of the Lotus Eaters or the Morte d'Arthur. My mother, I have been told, cared for no poetry at all."

--C.S. Lewis
(in "Surprised by Joy")

Book Review- Art and the Bible

I recently read Francis Schaeffer's collection of essays "Art and the Bible". (Do two essays constitute a "collection"?) If I'm being totally honest, and I am, I must confess to not having read much Schaeffer. I know he has a great many fans in Christendom, but I am not familiar enough with his work (yet) to be counted as one of them. Having established this, let me say that I enjoyed this little volume.

As I stated above, there are two essays in the book. The first essay is the one titled "Art and the Bible". In this section Schaeffer disputes the belief that art has no place in the life of the Christian. Rather, he argues, that art should be in the life of the follower of Jesus. In fact, the Scriptures are replete with examples of not only God-pleasing art, by art mandates by God himself simply for beauty. Examples that Schaeffer uses to support this thesis are the tabernacle and the Temple descriptions and directives found in the Old Testament.

Quite helpful in the section is his discussion of "graven images"; those things which are expressly forbidden by God in the 10 Commandments (depending on which numbering system you employ). This particular commandment, Schaeffer notes, is the first one to which those who argue against art in the life of believers point in support of their position. Schaeffer argues, convincingly I think, that God does not specify "Thou shalt not make representational art". Rather, the prohibition is on worshipping the art that is made.

The second essay, "Some perspectives on Art" is helpful as well. Here Schaeffer lays out what constitutes art, good art, and Christian art. To be sure this is not a detailed excursus on art theory. But, it does provide some introductory material for those looking to see how the arts can fit into their Christian faith and life. Further, it helps in clarifying the distinction between Christian art and "religious art". In other words, Schaeffer argues, again, convincingly I think, that a work of art may be considered Christian, even if it does not deal with or depict Jesus or any other traditional Christian icon. Schaeffer argues, that it is not so much content which makes a work or art Christian, but rather the worldview of the artist.

Schaeffer cautions against trying to determine an artist's worldview, or at least the totality of it in one painting. This, he says, is futile. He places the work of art in the context of the artist's entire body of work.

I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking to explore all dimensions of their walk with Christ. By this, I mean, art and aesthetics are often judged in Christian circles by their content and/or message and then deemed "bad" or "good", which are often synonyms for "appropriate" and "inappropriate". Both sets of terms have their place, but the distinction should be made.

There are any number of art theory and textbooks on aesthetics which expand on the principles Schaeffer puts forth in his essays.But, this read, as I said, is good for beginners and explorers.

One minor flaw in this book is that Schaeffer omits any discussion of film as an art form. This is easily remedied by applying his principles to film study and viewing.