Everyone, it seems, is trying to understand and connect with today’s culture. Businesses do it in the hope of selling products, politicians do it in the hope of getting votes, and Christians do it in the hope of winning souls. But while it is of great interest to many people and groups, the track record of most seems to be decidedly inconsistent.
I had the opportunity to sit down with academic, editor-in-chief of online magazine The Collision and author of the new book Straight to the Heart, Daniel Blackaby, to discuss why connecting with culture is so important and how to actually make it happen.
1. It seems that everyone, from influencers to politicians and pastors to major brands try to reach a broad culture. Why is that? And why is it so important for What do religious people in particular need to find out?
As the saying goes, “Everyone sells something.” Wherever we go, people, institutions, or products promise answers to our pressing questions in life or the fulfillment of our deepest desires. Every time Christians share the message of the Gospel, this encounter takes place against the noise Background of countless other people, forces and messages vying for attention. If Christians really believe in the liberating good news of the gospel, then we should be obliged to message with as many people as possible. To do this effectively, however, we must Understand how the human heart works and the various competing messages that affect it and to shape the ideologies and passions of the people. As Peter wrote: “Always be ready to Give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15) The The power lies in the message, but as ambassadors we have the responsibility to consciously and demanding in the way we deliver it.
2. The Church has a very mixed record when it comes to establishing connections with Culture. In which areas do you think the Church is wrong and How can we do this more effectively in the future?
Culture is constantly changing, so it can be a confusing and confusing experience to try to and keep going. Sometimes the Church has done it right, sometimes it has missed the mark, which creates a disconnect between it and the wider culture. As a rule of thumb, when confronted With the unknown, we all tend to fall back on what is familiar and comfortable. The Church can sometimes be great at giving answers to questions that nobody really asks, stubborn Clinging to the same message and delivery methods that have been successful in the past and failing to to recognize the cultural change around us. This is particularly tempting when there is a significant cultural paradigm shift, as it has been described in recent decades as a rational and logically driven “head- The “culture” has transformed into a more emotional “culture of the heart”. One way the church can be more effective is to commit to a posture of listening. If we start talking too quickly and conveying our message, we should open our hearts to the Pulse of culture so that we can better align our message with the questions and desires that people are currently struggling and longing for. The gospel is unchanging, but the church must be flexible in the way the Good News is spread in a rapidly changing world.
3. In your last book Straight to the heart They argue that perhaps art and beauty are more effective tools than logical arguments to reach hearts, why Do you believe this is true?
Logical and evidential arguments for faith have great value and edifying power. certainly not a binary “either/or” for a “head” or “heart” approach. At the same time, the head downstream of the heart. Ancient wisdom, biblical teachings and modern phycologists agree that humans are fundamentally emotional beings. None of us – not even the most “head-centered” among us – are as rational as we think we are. We can explain our emotions with rational Think, but we feel before we think, and our thinking is fundamentally influenced by what we So when we engage in rational debates or casual conversations in the coffee kitchen, we are downstream and face intellectual structures that are in the flow of complicated emotions and lived experiences. That is why debates rarely see a party changing their position, because devotion to one’s own faith is deeply rooted in the heart. Appeals However, through beauty and art, the intellectual walls that people have erected can be bypassed and directly to the heart, the source of the river. If you can reach a person’s heart, his head will probably follow.
4. What advice should be given to artists of faith when dealing with the
Intention to influence and shape this culture?
Don’t be afraid of beauty – neither in terms of the quality of the art nor as the central theme of the work. Hone your craft and develop your artistic skills so you can create great art. People rarely have Their hearts were changed by shoddy art, no matter how good the intentions. But also the power of beauty as a theme of the work. Modern art has contributed a lot to beauty from its pedestal. But in an increasingly industrialized world, people long for Beauty. This does not mean that Christians only want sentimental or “warm and fuzzy” Art. There is divine beauty in the crucifixion, for example as the light of the suffering Savior penetrates the raw brutality of this decisive moment. Darkness and despair are universal human experiences and thus fertile ground for artistic exploration. But we were created for beauty. God is the source of beauty. Beauty – both in the natural world and imperfectly reflected in artificially Art – is like a beacon that directs our spiritual eyes to God and our restless souls back to our heavenly home.
5. Which religious work of art (film, novel, song, etc.) do you consider particularly impressive and effective and conveys the belief in a beautiful and Connecting path?
I am not sure any story has captured the beautiful spirit of Christianity as well as JRR Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. I have been reading the story over and over for many years, starting with the New New Year’s Day, and allowed the Christian virtue hidden in the story to impact and inspire me. The Lord of the Rings may not express faith in a clear, propositional way for the mind, but it makes me feel it in my heart. Another personal favorite is the work of the American artist Thomas Cole (1901-1848). His work is intentionally more didactic than Tolkien, but no less profound. Expulsion from the Garden of Eden is a personal favorite, and the four paintings from his series The Voyage of Life currently hang on my library wall. The artistry is sublime and evokes a sense of wonder and awe, which proves to be the perfect Vehicle for the edifying spiritual themes contained therein.
Straight to the heart is now available wherever books are sold
To connect with Daniel and learn more about his work, visit The Collision
