Engaging in Art with Missional Intent in France

Steve Thrall is a friend and colleague of ours in Paris. One common interest that draws us together is his interest in art, artists, and ministry to and through creative gifts and creatively gifted people. Steve's pastoral heart has a particular bent toward artists. He also has worked with la Fonderie. He completed a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2005 with his final project on "Engaging in Art with Missional Intent in France." I believe that this is a valuable document for those working in France. However, it is also valuable for the Church in the West as a whole. Here is an excerpt of Steve's summary of his unpublished paper (used with permission). The entire summary as a PDF document can be found by clicking here.

Art, as a human artifact, has value in and of itself, being created and produced by people who are themselves created in the Creator’s image. This is part of God’s intentional design, part of what He labeled “very good” (Gen. 1:31). Art produced by men and women who become Christians will gradually reveal a change in values, a worldview shift. These values may cause little or no change in the style, but the content may well reflect changes, revealing for example, a renewed hope, or joy, or a new ethical concern. The work of all Christian artists, given the body of their work over time, will reflect the values of the Kingdom of God.

The focus of these reflexions is narrower, however. The thoughts expressed here concern artists in France who feel called to specifically and intentionally testify to God’s grace within French culture, through the expression of their art. Art is recognized as an important integral part of French history. It is a highly valued element of the social and cultural context. The call to mission by engaging in art with missional intent may be quite new to most Christians. Yet, given France’s long established love affair with the arts, the cultural shifts going on and the renewed spiritual interest being expressed, the time for this kind of missionary activity is here.

For most of human history the arts have been centered in the urban sphere of influence. Artistic expression is a public expression. Art depends on groups of people for its production, distribution and appreciation. In France the city of Paris has been, and is, the undisputed center of this artistic interest with its museums, concert halls, art schools, theaters, and galleries. In addition, the commercial production and distribution of a wide variety of media which depends on art such as film, music, literature, radio and television are city center businesses. The arts together with the city function as one to communicate and influence the values of society.

It is clear that it is not just individual artists who are called to engage in mission with artistic gifts, it is the Church as a broad community of believers, which include the artists, who are called to labor together. For missionaries to be effective in ministry, whether they be evangelists, apostles, artists, teachers or administrators, they need the multifaceted support of the whole Body of Christ. Those who are part of this support network do not all need to be versed in theology, art or business. They simply need to be convinced that these gifts are vital to the mission of the Church of Jesus Christ. The use of artistic gifts presents a significant God-designed opportunity to open doors to the heart of French culture that have been shut for a very long time.

A Christian witness through the use of art is a public witness. Mission thinking in France will need to be expanded in scope with a renewed appreciation for cultural and societal changes, which the Gospel brings. Art provides creative access to public forums and public institutions, with which French churches historically, do not have much experience. When the Church is absent from this public dialogue the salt and light are missing. However, if the Church is willing to embrace it, art can give them a public voice that they have not had before. To do so new attitudes must be adopted.

Art is capable of touching large numbers of people through its subtle, indirect, metaphoric communication of truth. For many people, however, an artistic presentation will be one of the first steps in a long process of seeking spiritual answers. The French Church must allow God to broaden its understanding, and learn how to nurture the sometimes slow process of Kingdom growth. That process needs continued cultivation long after the first individuals become Christians. Mission includes individual transformation, but is not limited to the Gospel’s private impact. The goal of the Gospel is transformation on all levels of society. The Gospel is public truth. It is not, as French culture would have us believe, limited to private belief. Art will have an impact on individuals but it will also have a public, society-wide impact over time. The transformation must be both bottom up and top down.

Lesslie Newbigin writes that the Church is the hermeneutic of the Gospel. French society is beginning to pay attention to what the Church does and thinks. A Church that is unafraid to take a thoughtful public stance will attract attention, and the arts will facilitate the process. A unified multi-ethnic Church which is arts-oriented would be a powerful hermeneutic in French society before the first word is ever spoken.

Direct verbal presentations of propositional truth have been prized by the Church as the only faithful way of communicating the importance of the Gospel. Communication implies a mutual understanding of shared points of reference even when there is not agreement. In France, however, the commonly shared experiences, symbolism and points of reference in the spiritual realm are often missing, so real understanding between two individuals does not take place. A verbal expression, no matter how clear, does not guarantee that communication has occurred.

Art, by its very nature, is indirect. A majority of French people are not yet ready to interact with God’s truth directly. For this reason the indirectness of art can be very important for mission. Art, as a metaphor, is capable of disclosing truth for the first time. It can lead to the first steps on a long spiritual journey. Art’s allusiveness suggests, prods, points and indicates truth subtly and consistently. Art can, at times, become God’s “still, quiet voice” speaking to the French soul.

French culture, as in other Latin cultures of southern Europe, emphasizes indirectness as a value in communication. It is a way of prompting the person to discover something on his or her own without an offensive direct confrontation. By contrast non-Latin Europe and North American culture emphasize directness, efficiency and getting right to the point. Because of its indirectness art can prompt reflection and invite dialogue. Art can raise questions in the mind that require a response. Being asked a question and choosing not to answer is like trying to stop a sneeze. It can be done, but only with conscious effort. The questions raised can push people toward revelation. Art engages and invites dialogue. It pushes toward active participation.

Art asks questions. It does not give answers. Many forms of art can do precisely what Jesus did with parables. They can simply be offered to the crowds for reflection. Discussions can be initiated later with those who take time to ask questions. Artists can determine what people really want or need to hear by asking a question rather than making a statement or describing what they were supposed to perceive.