The expansion of reformed Protestant theological thought in our country is increasingly evident, the movement is even more present among young people, and since the advent of the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, thinkers and works of this theological landscape have gained even more voice and ground among Protestant Christians. All this is undoubtedly a source of great joy and gratitude to the Lord who, by his grace, has presented to the Brazilian Church increasingly formed and prepared for the faithful biblical teaching of the Holy Scriptures and Christians. Theology.
However, one point led me to reflect on the real understanding of the Church, about all life at the service of Jesus who taught us the reformed tradition, and this point concerns in particular aesthetics and art. to save the supremacy of Christ’s lordship over all things, and it is precisely for this purpose that I intend to take some notes.
- When I speak of aesthetics and art I mean any initiative.
- Activity and / or artifact that expresses what we believe and do.
- I speak of cultural production as a whole: music.
- Cinema.
- Plastic arts.
- Theater.
- Painting.
- Cultural festivals of all kinds.
- Books.
- Stories.
- Events.
- Conferences; but I’m not just talking about the event and the artifact itself.
- I’m also talking about how these events and artifacts are presented.
- In the sense that we could include video.
- Photography.
- Sound.
- Design.
- Decoration.
- Reception.
- Communication and a multitude of aspects that could be named.
Of course, in a space like this, we don’t even have time to scratch the surface of what the subject really requires, so I intend to focus on the second part of the previous list, which relates, in particular, to how we present and communicate the cultural artifacts we produce and the message we have on our hands as a Church and as Christians.
With the expansion of the theology reformed in Brazilian soil, the events and activities of the reformed churches were also developed; however, this movement has left an open problem: we often have excellent content, however, transmitted carelessly and precariously. -Conceived invitations, graphic arts of dubious taste, disorderly organization and reception, the sound of events/services of very poor quality, and even hospitality in some reformed circles tends to be colder and more distant.
I believe that the rationale that should serve as a backdrop for understanding the idea that I intend to emphasize here is the fact that Christ is also the Lord of art and aesthetics, that there is a pattern revealed in the creation of the beautiful and good, and that God cares. Perhaps we should be challenged to look at creation, recognizing it as the greatest and most spectacular artist that has ever existed in all eternity. Everything most beautiful that exists in the universe, from the most distant stars that decorate the moonless nights, the most sumptuous natural wonders of planet Earth, are the work of the hands of this magnificent artist, and they scream before our eyes revealing how beautiful is.
At all times, we have real opportunities to contemplate the horizon, the metamorphosis of colors in the sky, the serene singing of a bird, the dazzling glare of the sun and the lush and sometimes intimidating trees that do not have a single identical leaf. Every day we are exposed to a party full of colors, lines, strokes, curves, sounds, smells and flavors of all kinds, for all tastes Have you ever stopped to think that God chose His creation to be so?He chose to do it, and he did? This God is a God who is interested in the design and beauty of things, in the organization, in aesthetics, in the harmony of the elements, who is not and has never been a disordered God, neglected and indifferent to the good. and pleasing to the eye?
In addition to understanding this founding concept in our hearts, we must also restore the central importance of art in human life. Today, an overwhelming part of what has influenced humanity and influenced us every day to this day are the cultural and artistic artifacts: the great classical works of music and painting, the visual arts, the great classics of literature and theatre, the countless oral traditions that have preserved the history and culture of countless peoples for centuries; even contemporaryity and its television series, films, soap operas, marketing and advertising pieces, stand-up comedies, musical hits and so many other artistic efforts, everything has always possessed and possesses an incredible power of communication, awareness and influence in human life. Perceiving every culture that has been disseminated by these multiple artistic and aesthetic vehicles mentioned above, isn’t that exactly what shaped the secularized mindset of postmodern man?How have We Christians positioned ourselves in relation to this arsenal of creative possibilities in front of us??
Aren’t we the ones who appreciate the theology that subscribes to Soli Deo Gloria, God’s sovereignty over all things, the supremacy of Christ, eating and drinking, and doing something else for the glory of God?What’s the point of having so much biblical knowledge?Orthodoxy if there is not the slightest understanding of the most basic developments of this wonderful understanding that designates Christ as the Lord of every inch of what we do and every second we exist?
How can we talk so much about the glory of God when sometimes we fail to reflect that awareness by making a simple announcement of an event that we are organizing? In a simple internet art, on a banner, on a billboard, on a poster. , in a video, in the recording, mixing and mastering of a song, how can we announce with our mouths and books that everything is from God and should be done for his glory and continue to present all these riches in such a precarious and mediocre way ? ? What have we lost in the middle of all this process?
How, before the God who created all the astonishing beauty that can be contemplated in creation, can we continue with our churches that are so visually thought out and adorned so carelessly?Why do musicians in reformed churches often seem to be the least applied and least rehearsed?Why is the sound in the reformed churches mainly so precarious and poorly matched?Why does every time we show a video on the datashow, things never work at first?we always have to be so late and behind in all these ways Could it be that we have gone beyond time to realize how shameful this is and how a change in behavior could contribute to the advancement of the powerful message we have at hand?
It is sad when we are besathed by unhealthy pragmatism, in which we conclude that this whole aesthetic universe is less important to God, or worse, nor is it. the best in any activity you’re putting your hands on. Facing the world from this perspective can change your life. When you organize an event that involves the gospel message, don’t leave it at the last minute, don’t be careless, assemble a team ready to work, plan in every detail, don’t underestimate art, design, order, or aesthetics, they communicate much more about you and your religious community than you can imagine.
But we can still go much further, when we are going to sort and order the kitchen, the closet, your books, the library, the courtyard, the office, when we are going to decorate an environment, advertise, a brochure. , a poster, a website, a video, when to fix the next faucet, change the next shower, sort your documents, when to make this painting at home. , set the table for Sunday lunch, remember that the God you serve is meticulous and capricious, begins to notice the details, flavors, colors, letters, sizes, stamps, little things made with excellence, adds value to all this. the beautiful in perspective, there is still and always will be beauty in God’s world. He himself has given us incredible creative and beautifying skill, He also created us because He is so, and we are created in His image and likeness. . Don’t throw it away.
Am I saying that the effectiveness of the gospel message depends on these things? Of course not. Spirit does what it wants, how it wants, when it wants, and how it wants, yet it does not set a precedent for us to be aesthetically sloppy. It is also important to say that nothing that has been underlined here must necessarily depend on a lot of money, it is quite possible to be organized and aesthetically committed, having few resources, the issue has much more to do with the heart and the way of seeing things that with the money. The fact is that we have an aesthetic standard to follow, and the standard is the highest level, it is the standard of creation.
It’s time to value and encourage our musicians, composers, photographers, sound artists, decorators, poets, graphic designers (they are much needed), craftsmen, plastic artists, illuminators, writers, sound engineers, painters, sculptors, writers, music producers. , in short, designers and artists of all kinds, we must eradicate from our conceptions this peculiar idea of evangelical circles that in the Kingdom of God there are no artists, God is not against artists, on the contrary, God is one of them. . The greatest of them all.
May the Lord awaken the Reformed Churches to this aspect of Christ’s Lordship and glorify him with much more fidelity in the field of art, aesthetics and design.