Christian at the Movies (2)
The laziest form of “discernment” about movies or television looks for the easy targets of occultism, sex, nudity, bad language and gratuitous violence. Certainly, Christians… Read More »Christian at the Movies (2)
Articles on Aesthetics
Christian at the Movies (1)
I was about ten when the first Rock ‘n Roll evangelists came to town. They weren’t proselytizing on behalf of Iron Maiden. They were there… Read More »Christian at the Movies (1)
Ten Mangled Words:”Taste”
De gustibus non est disputandum, said the ancient Romans. There is no disputing over taste, meaning that in matters of personal taste and preference, there… Read More »Ten Mangled Words:”Taste”
Affect or Effect
The difference between affections and emotions is seen in what art is used in worship. Since worship uses art, worship leaders can use it in… Read More »Affect or Effect
Beauty and Knowledge
Beauty does not only encourage a pursuit of reality, but beauty encourages a Christian epistemology. It teaches how we know what we know. The Enlightenment… Read More »Beauty and Knowledge
Beauty and Reality
Beauty has made a comeback. After years of being relegated by intellectual elites to the junkyard of old and outdated concepts, it is now popping… Read More »Beauty and Reality
A Parable About Pop Music in Church
Christian 1: So I hear you have a problem with lollipops? Christian 2: Lollipops? No, I think they’re just fine. Christian 1: But you apparently… Read More »A Parable About Pop Music in Church
The Value of Beauty
What possible value can the study of beauty deliver? Isn’t this fiddling while Rome burns, counting daffodil petals while barbarians lay siege to the city?… Read More »The Value of Beauty
Beauty and Christianity’s Primary Endeavors
Once we understand that beauty is close to glory in meaning, we will without any difficulty find beauty at the heart of many Christian endeavors.… Read More »Beauty and Christianity’s Primary Endeavors
Beauty as Scripture’s Theme
The idea of beauty is present in the first chapters of the Bible, as God creates and then makes the evaluative judgement that it was… Read More »Beauty as Scripture’s Theme
Beauty in Scripture’s Words and Forms
C. S. Lewis once wrote that the modern dilemma is either to taste and not to know or to know and not to taste—or, more… Read More »Beauty in Scripture’s Words and Forms
Beauty in the Hebrew Bible
Few Christians would say that beauty is unbiblical. After all, they vaguely remember references to “the beauty of holiness” or the desire “to behold the… Read More »Beauty in the Hebrew Bible
In Pursuit of a Doxology
In 1962, A. W. Tozer warned that the evangelical church was missing a jewel. “Now, worship is the missing jewel in modern evangelicalism. We’re organized;… Read More »In Pursuit of a Doxology
A Tale of Two Sons
A great king had two sons, who were come to the age where one should be named as the crown prince. The custom of that… Read More »A Tale of Two Sons
Two Views on Christ’s Invitation
Below are two works of Christian imagination. Both attempt to depict what it means for Christ to invite sinners to Himself, and how sinners should… Read More »Two Views on Christ’s Invitation
On Baby Grands and Expensive Hymnals
“Why this waste?”, said the greediest member of the Twelve. Judas’ supposed concern with helping the poor and for efficient use of ministry finances was… Read More »On Baby Grands and Expensive Hymnals
Christians and Critical Judgments
Most Christians are happy to accept the authority of expert opinion. What is instructive to note is which domains of knowledge they are comfortable to… Read More »Christians and Critical Judgments
Adoring With Caravaggio
Take some time to consider Caravaggio’s Adoration of the Shepherds. Don’t scan and speed-read, but if you have the time, stop and stare. First, where… Read More »Adoring With Caravaggio
Worship forms regulated by Scripture
This is the final post in a series I’ve been writing over the past couple months in order to more thoroughly develop an idea I… Read More »Worship forms regulated by Scripture
Fittingness
Last week I argued that if we believe in verbal-plenary inspiration, then the meaning of the aesthetic forms we employ in our contemporary worship must accurately… Read More »Fittingness