tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post1905203144324777312..comments2024-03-29T04:31:15.219-05:00Comments on Pastoral Meanderings: The Blight of the Arts... according to LutherPastor Petershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10653554256101480140noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-12552085148038297802013-04-24T19:18:07.504-05:002013-04-24T19:18:07.504-05:00"Does the body also not play a part in repent..."Does the body also not play a part in repentance and worship?"<br /><br />Exactly. Our age of "Christian" neo-gnosticism eschews beauty. Beauty is visceral, and sensual. It is not fit for a building concentrating on worship, a thing not tangible (their opinion). <br /><br />I find it hard to believe, unknown, that Lutheran churches beat out Baptists in your experience. Of course, not every town in America has a Baptist church building - uh, box - on every corner.<br /><br />It seems few people view or hear enough real art to appreciate it's message. Unless it is blatantly Christian (has crosses, Bibles, saints, spiritual words, etc.), the artist is considered secular. No depiction of Christ or Bible events? Not fit for a church building. <br /><br />At the risk of shooting at sacred cows: Christian publishing houses don't help. The literature coming out of them is illustrated not half so well as a comic book. Subjects are trite, poorly executed, and frequently mis-focused. We feed our children cartoon Jesus, Precious Moments (do they scare you, too?), CCM, and they play with plastic "swords of the Spirit." Is it any wonder there is a paucity of good Art?<br /><br /><br /><br />Janis Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02947508427040251166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6329600504016968888.post-63762301518174531432013-04-24T11:58:26.200-05:002013-04-24T11:58:26.200-05:00I could always tell which was the Lutheran church ...I could always tell which was the Lutheran church in any town I visited. It was always the smallest (in height), the least ornamented (the altar may have had a cloth on it), no crucifixes, maybe a cross, some stained glass, but with more colors rather which did not carry any theological point, walls of brick with maybe one or two schlocky banners hanging from them. <br /><br />If the church is the physical realization of the Kingdom while we yet sojourn here on earth, why do Lutherans insist on keeping it earthly rather than heavenly? Lutheran architecture of the last 85 years is abysmal. Lutheran art? What Lutheran art? Lutheran music? The best was in the Baroque. Today's stuff is crap.<br /><br />The senses and the faith cannot and should not be divorced from one another and yet that is exactly what has happened. I don't want to worship in a warehouse. I want a place which uplifts not only the soul, but also the body. Does the body also not play a part in repentance and worship? Until Lutherans get over their quasignosticism, the diminishing of art for the glory of God will continue unabated.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08038508116670615703noreply@blogger.com