Forward Thinking Jesus
April 13, 2009 by Douglas
I think most of us would agree that Jesus was forward thinking, so why isn’t that necessarily true of the Church? While we’re often responsive in the arts, it’s uncommon for us to be forward thinking enough to allow artists the freedom to be uniquely innovative, capturing imaginations once again, and engaging culture.
Is it because we prefer safety and predictability? Unfortunately, good art isn’t always safe or predictable, and while being in control is comfortable, it’s not exactly biblical and has little to do with exercising faith.
Very very good discussion…good topic to pursue. Jesus was quite progressive for his time. It should be sufficient that our work please the Father. Whether it pleases the church is irrelevant. (well, unless maybe you’re marketing to the church.) Jesus wasn’t too pleasing to the church in His day. But then again he wasn’t pointing people to church, but to Father; preparing a people to BE the church. I would suggest that our desire to please the church and be acceptable to it is a killer of creativity (and a killer of faith too). But to walk out that God-given gifting with realization it pleases Father opens up that creative gift. So here’s to creativity.
I don’t think that Jesus was a progressive in any sense of the word. Jesus was a fundamentalist. According to the recorded history that the Bible gives us, the Pharisees had become ultra progressive, and Jesus endeavored to remedy that.
Interesting and dynamic discussion here on “Forward Thinking Jesus” with Jay and Fred’s comments. I think Jesus would probably turn some tables over today like he did with the money-changers in the temple in his time. Whether that’s progressive or forward-thinking, I don’t know – but I like it.