Challenge to faith and art

This is a very short talk I gave at a recent workshop I co-facilitated. The workshop was given by Fallen Clouds a theatre collective with a faith based vision. They're on facebook, they are pretty great. Look them up to read about their vision.
Anyway this is just a drop in the ocean as to what I could say given the opportunity about being an artist with a faith. Some of it points back to Jeff and Karen Barker at Northwestern, but, I hope, most of it comes from my own ponderings.

Just wanted to take a moment to encourage you as creative individuals who believe in Jesus. Actually I wanted to encourage and challenge you.
You see as Christians we carry an immense potential to help the Lord effect change in people. But also as artists we have an increased potential to effect change in people.
James Baldwin, a famous American author and playwright wrote, "The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions which have been hidden by the answers." Now Mr. Baldwin was not a believer in Jesus (as far as I have read) but his quote is very true of art and so important for us to remember as redeemed individuals.
One of the major questions that has been hidden by the answers is Where is the Love? All of us I'm sure can think of moments in art that we have experienced this question. There are several classic examples in the work of Shakespeare. And I'm also sure that all of us can look at everyday life and see how people have answered this question for better or for worse.
As Christians we know the answer to this question is of course Christ. But how do we as artists ask the question of where love is?
Many times in Christian art we see depictions of Jesus on a cross or holding a lamb. And those pieces have their merit, but they are depictions of the answer, and ours is to ask the question.
I have a constant picture of trying to walk a tedious tightrope. On one side of the rope I am an artist asking questions of people. On the other side I am a Child of God who longs for people to experience love that drives out all fear. I long to share my answer with people. But back again as an artist I am aware that many are not interested in receiving an answer - let alone the christian one. As a Christian artist I need to ask the questions that Jesus came to answer in a way that will have my audience thirsty for Life giving water.

So here I am standing on this tightrope and I challenge you to join in and walk with me.

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That's it. I do want to point out that I am not saying that art and Christianity are in opposition. If you thought that talk to me because -I'm not.

Cheers.