Creativity and the Glory of God

I'll never forget the time I sat down and watched an episode of Glee with my parents.

I had just performed in my first musical and seen a touring performance of Wicked, so I was mesmerized by the world of theater and the performing arts. Glee was becoming a cultural phenomenon, and my parents were curious about what their son had gotten into.

The Arts had drawn me in and wooed me. I wasn't just a nerdy kid who liked Star Wars and played the baritone anymore; I was a performer. Creativity had given me a new identity, and sure, Glee didn't have the best message (especially for a believer) but it was art! They sang with passion and danced uninhibited; they seemed free. I shot hopeful glances at my parents as the episode played, praying they could see what I saw.

When the episode finished, my parents called the show out for what it was: "garbage".

I knew instantly in my heart that they were right. The show glorified sex and promoted a life without Jesus, but I wasn't ready to let go of my newfound creative identity. I was angry with my parents and reasoned that they just couldn't understand the artistry behind the show.

But that day I knew that my creative heart would have to take a back seat to my devotion to Christ.

This year's Super Bowl Halftime Show was no exception to that rule.

The truth is, it should be easy to point at the SBHS as an example of "art" that Christians should not partake in.

But unfortunately, I've found that Christians who have an affinity toward the arts are often slow to take stands for truth in this area. We're willing to justify almost anything in the name of creativity.

Matthew 10:16 warns us about the kind of world we're being exposed to as Christians. "Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."

One of the more far-fetched excuses for the clearly sexually charged SBHS says it was simply a reflection of the Hispanic dance culture. As a Hispanic person myself, I can confidently say that pole-dancing isn't a part of culture. Additionally, it's ridiculous to claim that pole-dancing doesn't carry any sexual implications.

But this illogical (and unbiblical) line of thinking is actually pretty common among Christian creative people.

To say that the sexual imagery of the SBHS was there for any other reason than to make money is a dangerously naive belief. The porn industry’s annual revenue is more than the NFL, NBA, and MLB combined. To put it plainly, sex sells, and the creators of the SBHS are not above crafting a performance that exploits the addictions of millions of people.

Sadly, female empowerment and celebrating Latina culture are lies that this industry hides behind to further push the boundaries of what they can put on television.

The fact that this exploitation is rampant in today's entertainment industry means that Christians have to be incredibly diligent when it comes to what we consume.

While it's true that much of what we consume comes down to personal conviction, it's also important to remember that we will all be held accountable for the things we allow into our lives. In fact, Matthew 12:36 says "that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment."

To quote a friend of mine who wrote about this same topic years ago, "What is the cost of following Jesus if we can't even turn off the tv commercials for him?" - Mariah Mychal Russell

Finally, I'd like to address a commonly believed myth about sexual temptation and bondage.

Let me be frank about this. Even if you are a man or a woman who does not struggle with sexual bondage, you absolutely have a spiritual responsibility to look out for your brothers and sisters who do. That means curbing the way you dress, act, talk, etc. if it means helping that person live a life that looks more like Christ.

Shirking your responsibility in this area is unloving, unkind, selfish, and just wrong.

But don't take my word for it. Here's what Paul has to say in Romans 14:14-15. "I am convinced and fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for him it is unclean. If your brother is distressed by what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy your brother, for whom Christ died."

Surrendering our freedoms for the sake of another is one of the most Christ-like things we can do.

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I realize that deciding what we should or shouldn't consume as believers can be a difficult task. Our best practices are to continually look to Scripture and listen to the Holy Spirit for guidance.

But there is hope! There are powerful themes of truth, grace, and freedom in so many forms of storytelling. This blog is meant to celebrate those stories that carry God's messages within them, in addition to pointing out those that don't.

So be on the look out for my next blog post where I talk about some of my favorite movies, the eternal truths contained in them, and the true purpose of creativity. In the meantime, feel free to check out some of the movies I've already written about in the Recent Posts section on the homepage!