Should We Engage in "Secular" Art?
Often, as Christian artists, people assume you’re making “Christian art.” Christian artist becomes a whole title, rather than two separate but connected descriptors of a person. So people come to us, often, with this question that they take very seriously: Should Christians engage in “secular” art?
The short of it is yes! Yes, we should engage in “secular” art. But let’s break that down, because there are a couple things loaded in that question.
First of all, the “sacred/secular” mindset is not a helpful way to think. This compartmentalizing school of thought actually creates divisions, so that what is “godly” is strictly Sunday worship, ministry, Bible, and everything explicitly Christian. Then, everything else is thought to be “secular” or “ungodly” – Monday to Saturday, watching T.V., eating food, hanging out with friends, etc. And it’s just not true!
God should and can be part of everything we do. We can invite him into our meals and into our workplaces; we can invite him into our art-making and art-intake.
But secondly, if you’re a Christian, it’s actually impossible for anything you make to be purely “secular” art. Art always reflects the artist, so your work will reflect Jesus in you. Even if you never mention or paint God, your art still shows how His Spirit has transformed you – from your view of sin to your hope in something bigger.
So don’t be afraid to make art that isn’t explicitly Christian. It’s been sanctified because of God redeeming you as a whole person.
As for consuming non-Christian art by non-Christian people… We still say YES!
All humans are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27). Regardless of belief, we are all creatures seeking after our Creator. “God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us.” Acts 17:27.
We all ask questions about the meaning of suffering, the limits of love, the purpose of pleasure, and more. These universal questions drive your favorite movies, T.V. shows, books, paintings, comics, plays, and more. Non-Christians still make art that moves us towards God.
In fact, I like to think of the surrounding verses of the previously mentioned Acts 17…
“Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: ‘People of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: to an unknown god. So you are ignorant of the very thing you worship—and this is what I am going to proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. ‘For in him we live and move and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’” Acts 17:22-28
What’s incredible about this passage is he literally quotes their culture. He references their religious sculpture and quotes their poets to make an argument for the Christian God. Clearly, this “secular” art points to the “sacred.”
An example Danielle often reflects on is Linkin Park. They are not a Christian band and in fact, the lead singer eventually rejected Christianity. But their songs address real truths like the need for forgiveness and the value of a human life. They sing words like, “Tell me it’s alright. Tell me I’m forgiven tonight,” and “Who cares when someone’s time runs out, if a moment is all we are, or quicker, quicker? Who cares if one more light goes out? Well I do.” But while their lyrics circle around to despair, because we know Jesus, we listen to these songs with the satisfying knowledge of his love.
Or take superhero movies as an example. It always involves powerful, otherworldly heroes who are still somehow very human and sympathetic to our humanity. They always fight evil and protect people who are never deserving enough. Superhero movies remind me of the gospel and renew my faith!
Like Paul, we redeem the art we’re seeing; we have a more full understanding of it and situate it in the truth of the gospel.
But here, I must address that sometimes we have specific objections about the inappropriate. Sex? Violence? Cursing? What do we think?
I want to first make it clear that art should not be held to the expectation of a sermon or a gospel tract. It’s not the same medium. An informational pamphlet is one thing. An instructive sermon is another. But art is complicated.
The Bible itself is a collection of literature with complicated subject matter. It doesn’t shy away from sex, violence, and cursing – because storytelling, like all art, is most powerful when it exposes humanity in all its goodness AND brokenness. We should know how bad the darkness can be. God uses explicit language when he compares the idolatry of his people to acts of prostitution. Jesus tells complicated parables with questionable characters. Prophets, in order to convey warnings from God, would perform bizarre acts like cooking food over excrement.
Uncomfortable realities or messages do not automatically make “secular” art “evil”. Let’s be discerning before we dismiss!
A filter we like to think about is whether or not good is treated as good and evil as evil. Hilariously, I don’t mind old Gossip Girl because there are definitely consequences to people’s actions. On the other hand, I don’t love Euphoria, because it accidentally glamorizes drugs and sexual trauma and it kind of just keeps going.
No, we don’t have to be afraid of non-Christian art automatically. It’s the culture you are in. And it can even bond you with your unchurched friends and enrich your relationship with God!
But of course, it’s okay to be discerning too. Some T.V. shows might be okay in theory, but still tempt you in a personal area of weakness. Don’t worry about it then! Some movies might seem dark, but actually help you understand your friend’s needs. Praise God!
God has sovereignly and purposefully placed you in this time and culture. Engage in it prayerfully, and don’t be afraid! God is always speaking to us, and art is a way of seeking Him.
