This editorial is written in response to this article.
Preface: Before you ask, yes I have read The Culturally Savvy Christian.
Disclaimer: This post contains several. . .disclaimers. And questions.
Last month in San Antonio, conservative Christians gathered to honor the best films of the year--that is, the best Christian films. Among the categories honored at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival: best musical score, best biblical family, best anti-abortion film, and best explanation of biblical creation.
Only one of the previously mentioned categories is a joke.
As a side note, the 18-member Arkansan Duggar family performed their own version of “Edelweiss” at the festival. Naturally.
Do I sound cynical? Is the unease I felt listening to this story engendered by my own lack of conviction? My subscription to the worldly values propagated by pagan Hollywood studio executives?
Or am I just fed up with the “counter-cultural phenomenon” of evangelicals disguising bad art with the banner of “Christian”?
Granted, I haven’t seen any of the films honored at the SAICFF (but I have seen these clips of two of the big winners. I don’t think my admittedly premature conclusions are too far from the mark). And who’s to blame conservative Christians for creating an alternative media outlet which accurately reflects their values? Certainly, such initiative should be applauded.
And it should be--if the art being created is good.
I hope I don’t seem unjustly harsh. I guess my resentment for the whole subgenre of Christian marketing stems from the questions it often raises amongst the Jesus-interested-but-intellectually-wary general public:
Does being a Christian mean buying into the Christian industry? Do I have to like these films? These poorly written allegories?* This music? Because, to be perfectly honest--I find most Christian music to be bland, needlessly repetitive, and -- I’m just gonna say it -- depressing.**
Can I be a Christian and still have discerning tastes? Or further still: can I be a Christian and still be...smart?
This NPR story reignited a deeper internal debate I’ve been having with myself recently. Can faith and intellectualism coexist in equal proportions? Does the sharpening of one weaken the other?
Does my inability to find meaning in the 409th repeated refrain of a praise song stem from a lack of pure faith on my part, or just an annoyance with praise songs? (I don’t hate all praise songs. Just...a lot of them).
I hope I’m not alone in fearing that being avowedly “Christian” will somehow neuter the other facets of what I am--a fairly intelligent girl (woman?) with a sometimes (often) wildly inappropriate sense of humor. How to be Christian without losing your “edge”? Is Christianity some factory which produces glass-eyed asexual droids with shaky Southern-pastor voices who actually like Kirk Cameron movies?
Of course not. But letting “Christian” become synonymous with “formulaic,” “cheesy,” or just plain “bad” is only perpetuating that message.
*There are some brilliant, thoughtful Christian thinkers and writers out there. Christian fiction as a whole, however...
**I am no connoisseur of Christian music. I speak from my limited experience with the genre. If anyone has any recommendations for me, I'd be happy to take them.
3 comments:
I completely agree. While I've not ventured into Christian film, I've tried to enjoy the music and have been thwarted by its general not goodness.
There are a few exceptions, Phil Keaggy for one, but most Christian music isn't too stellar. Rumor has it that Sufjan is an active Christian but doesn't really prosletize with his tunes, though Seven Swans is pretty Christian sounding.
Keep fighting the good fight against bad music hiding behind the moniker and buying power of Christianity.
This has been a major debate in my mind as well. I feel that one of the greatest challenges of our faith is that of relevance in a world that does not always acknowledge God. We must struggle to remain relevant or our words, no matter how inviting, will still seem like the stem from the ivory church tower.
this one's a much needed stinger for many. sadly, you are justly harsh, and for that I commend your authenticity.
how can christians suffocate themselves in such disenchanted apathy towards creativity when they claim to 'worship' a god that generated this world we live in? it's a pity to mention, but bowel movements have more individualized creativity than films such as you've mentioned...
...or maybe i'm just a faithless cynic too.
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