The Power of Art in Culture

Have you considered the relationship between art and culture?

In the early 20th century, movements such as Dadaism were thought to reflect the culture’s dismay. In actuality, many modernist movements actually pushed the mainstream mindset into the artist’s dismay and skepticism rather than the other way around. It’s a strange phenomenon, but when an artist hit the intelligentsia big enough, their message would be passed into philosophical circles, then into the education system and into the culture. 

Many of these movements were Godless and dark. As a result, the church harshly criticized and rejected the arts without understanding the power they were forfeiting. Whether painting, music, television, or literature, multiple avenues of media were vacated by mature Christian voices, not realizing the darkness that would fill the vacuum and subsequently pull their own youth away from truth.

Good art is like a bulldozer. It cannot be argued with. It just is. It stands as a demonstration of its own message. This is true for both Christian and non-Christian art. I believe, when our message fails to go out, it has just as much to do with Christians bunkering up as it has to do with encountering demonic resistance. Only Christ can speak into what is really needy and desperate in the hearts of the humans around us, and he chose us as the conduit of his message.

For example, Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky are so highly celebrated for their genius, they were highly circulated even throughout the Soviet Communist anti-Christian periods. People couldn’t get Bibles, but they could get the gospel through Dostoyevski. Likewise, the Beatles tore into a mostly-Christian American culture and popularized Eastern religions, offering alternatives to those who were seeking spiritual enlightenment. And in another odd turn, sci-fi nerds everywhere still quote Gandolf and connect with the God they don’t know in The Lord of the Rings. 

This article is a simplification of a complex modern history, but the truth stands. Whoever controls the arts gets to speak into the hearts of people. But if the art is profound enough, the powers-that-be cannot prevent it from blasting its way into the mainstream. And while we may find it daunting to become a Dostoyevsky, there are probably a few out there right now contemplating whether they should continue “wasting time” with their writing hobby.

For this reason, let’s encourage our Christian artists, writers, creators. They are our bulldozers, our inroads for truth to infiltrate the lies and darkness of our times. If that’s you, take hold of Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”