These days it seems like everyone is trying to be an artist, which is not necessarily a good or bad thing. We have this influx of up and coming Christian artists, and everyone trying to be on mission. My question is: how many of us are impacting our artistic communities? We do good work in churches and out in the community, but are we connected with the artistic communities. I’m of the mindset that as salt and light, we are supposed to infiltrate every crack missing flavor and flood every crevice with the light of Christ. I hope we as artists aren’t missing opportunities to speak truth into a group of people because it’s not in a church building.
Art venues and events are places where people of all different worldviews come together and listen to one another. This a perfect place for a Christian to come in and artistically articulate their worldview. Artists and their audiences pride themselves on being open minded individuals, so a Christian artist (or artist who is a Christian) presenting their worldview won’t be too out of place. I think that we sometimes romanticize being “persecuted” and ostracized for being a Christian that we take pride in being outcasts. I feel like we are afraid people won’t listen or that Christians shouldn’t be in bars and other “secular” venues. I believe that if one was to go to an event in the local scene they would be pleasantly surprised.
In terms of being involved in the local art scene, I can only go with what I’ve seen and experienced. In the five years of performing in Louisville Kentucky, I can say that I’ve never been run out of venues or “persecuted” for being Christian and expressing that in my art. I’ve actually been welcomed, invited to other events, booked, among other things. My thing is I never attempted to preach and did my best to be good at what I did and good opportunities opened up. Sometimes I’ve visited events just to support and people ended up calling on me to perform (reason artists should always stay ready). I’m not famous by any means, but I have a little name and whether people agree with my faith or not, there is a mutual respect. All I’m saying is people can’t respect or know what they don’t see or consistently experience.
There are some risks and temptations when attempting to engage with local scene, so you need to be prayed up and sure of what you are doing and why. I’ve had women flirt with me, one even going as far to offer to take my virginity because she had heard my poem about waiting until marriage. Many people know what they believe a Christian should be, so they will test you to see if you are really about that life. It’s important accurately represent Christ in these arenas, as we may be the only Christian they encounter. Don’t look for instant conversions but rather plant seeds and ask questions in your art that makes the audience think.
In conclusion, I hope that artists are encouraged to engage their local art scenes. Not only is it needed, but people want it. In an interview, Heesun Lee spoke about performing at a non church event and how she was approached by a young lady. This lady asked “where is this? Where is all this positive music at we need this, we need more of this.” Sometimes people don’t know what they need until they are presented with it. Over the next few weeks, I will be reaching out to artists involved in their local art scene and see what that looks like for them. Let’s be salt and light in these bland and dark times.
