Never Trust an Artist

I am an artist. I’ve always wondered why the average Senior Pastor has a hard time trusting our tribe. I used to think their lack of trust was completely unfounded. But as I get older, and as I become more in touch with being an artist myself, I’m beginning to understand why. I’ve noticed some tendencies that seem to be consistent among artists I know who are getting paid by churches.

I have never met an artist who displays ALL of the following list of characteristics. But some of us display some of them. And it’s important for us to have the courage to look in the mirror, and to NOT respond with a defensive victim mentality.

1. Artists commit, then forget. Ask an artist to “get me that document”, or to “forward me that email”, and we’ll tell you “Sure. Right after lunch.” And we never think about it again. Until an organized person in charge reminds us.

2. Artists don’t write anything down. We honestly think we’ll remember. The best friend an artist can have is a senior pastor who gently whispers, “Did you want to write that down?”

3. Artists live one wrong decision away from disaster. Most people live 9-10 bad choices away from personal ruin. Many artists walk as closely to the line as they can because of the risk, and the rush.

4. Artists lie. Not all, but some. We lie to cover ourselves when we’re guilty of #1 or #2.

5. Artists struggle to see the bigger narrative they’re living in. Sometimes, we think our stories are the biggest, and the most important stories being told. The senior pastor, really more than anyone else in the church, sees the clearest portrait of the church’s big picture. Senior pastors get ticked when the church won’t fulfill her biblical mandate. Artists get ticked when their guitar strings break.

6. Artists gossip. Not all, but some. Much of the time, we’re gossiping about the Senior Pastor who refuses to trust us.

7. Artists deflect blame. Our first reaction is usually to find someone else to blame the problem on. Then we engage in #4. An hour later, we engage in #6.

There’s a pattern here. It always boils down to two things. If Christian artists could simply learn two things, we’d be a lot better off, and we’d make more of an impact on those exposed to the art we create.

First, we need to learn to follow through. Do what we say. Say what we do. Never walk into a staff meeting without a yellow pad and a pen, a Daytimer, or the IPhone “Notes” App open. Immediately following every meeting, we need to transfer our to-do notes onto something we’ll look at every day – our main computer, our wall, our secretary’s forehead. Paint an office wall with chalkboard paint, and create a special drawing every week, made up of to-do’s.

Second, we need to take personal responsibility more seriously. When we don’t meet a deadline because we forgot, we simply need to be honest about that. We need to have the courage to simply say, “I’m sorry. I forgot. I’ll take care of it immediately, then give you an update later today.”

Our world would be flat without artists. But our world would never move in any positive direction without leaders. May we all be willing to look hard in the mirror, and learn that artistry and leadership are not opposing or competing gifts. I pray that every true artists takes their leadership responsibility more seriously than ever.