An Open Letter to Creatives
April 1, 2009 · Print This Article
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about creatives who exist in the church. People who create their church’s videos, design and maintain their church’s websites, lighting and stage directors and artists, and musicians. There are so many things I want to say to you, but haven’t.
Until now.
I guess I want to make this simple statement first and foremost: After watching people like you for years and years, I want you to know that the stuff you create doesn’t matter as much as you think it does. After years of experience, I’ve come to the conclusion that the artistic designs you engage in may only marginally impact someone’s life.
I wonder if it all starts at the top of the food chain? I wonder if the lead pastor and executive staff team have sold creatives (like us) a bogus bill of goods? They’ve told us that the stuff we create every week has the potential to change lives. But just be honest for a minute. Can you actually name someone whose life has been changed as a result of your craft? I doubt it.
You awake in the middle of the night with creative ideas, mixed with the stress of deadlines you can’t possibly meet. You’ve ignored, or even dropped the most important relationships in your life. You stay late at the church office, and no one knows, or even really cares. And all for what? All to create and maintain art in the desperate hope that someone’s life will be impacted?
Really?
And what about this obsession with beauty? You uphold beauty like it’s the gateway to God Himself. God only communicates His presence through His written Word. He has chosen never to communicate through any other means – His Word even says so. Again, my greatest fear is that you’ve been sold a bill of goods that simply doesn’t produce over the long term.
And so here’s what I really want you to hear and meditate on. Next weekend is coming. Over the next few days, your schedule will be taken with creative meetings that you don’t want to be a part of; with pastoral conflict at the highest levels; and with late nights away from the people you love. You are preparing for something that will come and go in a heartbeat. By the time you’re worship services are over, most of the people will be at brunch, arguing about the choice of music, or the pastor’s sermon.
And I’ve just gotta ask this most obvious question: Why labor in vain?
Wouldn’t you be a better steward of your church’s financial resources if you didn’t put as much time and effort into one weekend? There’s a time to know when “good enough” is “good enough”, and it might be a good time for you to back off of any unrealistic expectations you have of creative beauty, and to simply declare “good enough”.
Will this weekend change lives? Maybe. But do you need to take any of the responsibility for setting up an environment for that to occur? In my experience, the answer is a resounding “no”. Let God be God. He will do whatever He wants.
I openly invite this conversation to continue.
Yours truly.
Satan
(This article was written for Collide Magazine – a great magazine that helps church leaders better understand the unique intersection at the corner of church and media).
Well, you really had me going!
I pray constantly that the crazy time I invest in programming and the tension we all face during the Easter season – will result in just one moment where God will reveal himself to someone. One moment in His presence is worth all the moments creating and trying to meet deadlines! What an honor to create for the Creator Himself!
Wow, I got most of the way through the article and was wondering to myself, is this really the same guy I listened to at ECHO last August? Then I got to the end. Great stuff Gary! I only hope that everyone actuallt reads to the end!
hmmm… makes you think. Am I spending my time for something that will have eternal significance? I should continually be asking myself that question. But the fear of that question shouldn't cause me to give up and do nothing.
Because people will be in our church Sunday that wouldn't come at any other time of the year. Because the awe you feel when you experience something beautiful reflects the beauty of the God who made it. Because we have seen and heard how God has used our work to alter the course of someones life. Because the media that I create is a conduit to bring people's attention to the message and person of Christ. Because I am a living sacrifice, poured out for my Savior in worship for what He's done for me. And if something I do for this Sunday can bring Him glory, it's worth it.
ha ha… a Screwtape Letters twist ending. Didn't expect that!
Good stuff
That's exactly why I got out of public school music teaching. I wanted to do something eternal with all this artistic crud coming out of me. But, to be sure, if it isn't Spirit led, it ain't beautiful no matter how artistic or creative it is. I know you know that, but for me, most of the things in my media job I really don't know how to do. . .I've got to have God do it. I used to really be embarrassed about it, but now, when a video turns out really wonderfully or visual is unusually effective, I can know it's God working, not me. And there is a certain peace in that.
Gary, I like the way you think brother… how did I work for close to five years in Fresno and not meet you????
Holy COW!! I was wondering what in the world and then i got to the bottom and for a short pause said WHO? the OH>>> well I am not normally that slow but you sure had me going. I love it this should have been in April fools weekly LOL
Holy COW!! I was wondering what in the world and then i got to the bottom and for a short pause said WHO? then OH… well I am not normally that slow but you sure had me going. I love it this should have been in April fools weekly LOL
Hey uncle gary!! I had no iea what you were talking about in the blog until i got to the end, which was when i went back and reread the whol thing again through different eyes. I love you sooooooo much!!!!!
Thanks my beautiful niece. Amazed that you're reading this blog. You are loved!
Evertthing we say and do will and should have an effect on someone somewhere. We should always be aware of what we say and do! We are the only Jesus some people ever see!We are his ambassadors! 24 hrs. a day and 7 days a week we are always to walk the walk.
I was just reviewing the "Open Letter" blog on the day Gary Mo and company go to Newport to film a video version. Awesome stuff. I believe that only true Christ Followers who understand the differece between talents and Spiritual Gifts can achieve the combined effort it takes to pull off a "Holy Spirit" moment on Sundays or when ever asked to participate in an event to show people Jesus. I truly get a rush from doing media and having no one at church know I was up in our Media Skybox. The widow gave her last mite without anyone noticing except Jesus. Should not that be our position as well???