How "Relevent" Are Christian Artists?

Here is a little article I wrote a month ago. I've learned alot about being an artist since then. You have to follow your heart and passion. If you grapple with the questions long enough, you will see the way.

How "Relevent" Are Christian Artists?
by Enrique Crosby

In the song Mr. Jones, Adam Duritz, lead singer of Counting Crows sings, "We all wanna be big big stars, yeah, but we got different reasons for that." How important is fame, and is fame an important and valid motivation and goal for Christian artists to pursue? In an article entitled, "Religion and rock: not a mixture for success", Jess Brooke of the Colorado State University newspaper The Rocky Mountain Collegian writes about how bands that start off overtly Christian in style usually have to lose their overt references to Jesus and Christianity before they become popular in main stream culture.

This artlicle resonates with questions I have in my heart being a visual artist. Questions like: Who is my audience? Is popularity an important platform that I need with my art? Will God be served more if I keep a smaller audience with art that keeps a clear Christian witness, or will he be served more if I make my art more palatable to the masses and make it more ambiguous?

I have heard references in other articles and blogs about the difference between a Christian artist and an artist who is a Christian. (Artist being: visual, music, writers) One produces works that discuss Christian issues, the other creates works on various topics yet the artist retains in his heart that he/she is a Christian.

A story in Scripture I think relates to this topic is that of Daniel, a young devout Jewish man who grows up in a predominantly pagan culture to become one of the great old testament prophets. In his lifetime, Daniel must find the balance between strong commited devotion to the LORD, and humble and devout service to the empire he lives in that at many times opposes his religious beliefs.

Daniel has an amazing ability to serve with great faithfulness the kingdom he lives in , yet at times is commited to standing without apology against the same kingdom in certain situations. Through out his life, Daniel is honored and dishonored repeatedly for his diligent hard work and his uncompomising devoution to the God of Israel.

In Daniel, I find a man to be contemplated. For in Daniel I find a man that has to grapple with many questions that Christians in modern America are facing.

He did not become an antisocial recluse in his society, but instead served his society with zeal. On the other hand, he also retained a lack of interest in fame, promotion or riches even though these often came to him inadvertently. What poise and balance.

Even though Daniel worked more in the realm of politics and religion, artist and musicians will find important themes to consider by studying his life.