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In Love with Creativity

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geoff3
Apr 03 2005
05:32 pm

The best way to drive out a bad worldview is by offering a good one, and Christians need to move beyond [i:99f6c4a8a6]criticizing[/i:99f6c4a8a6] culture to [i:99f6c4a8a6]creating[/i:99f6c4a8a6] culture. That is the task God originally created humans to do, and in the process of sanctification we are meant to recover that task. Whether we work with our brains or with our hands, whether we are analytical or artistic, whether we work with people or with things, in every calling we are culture-creators, offering up our work as service to God.
NANCY PEARCEY – Total Truth, p58.

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vanlee
Apr 15 2005
11:38 pm

I think of some Christians (or heavily Christian influenced persons) [b:29179c2e3f]who have had a VAST and BENEFICIAL effect on their culture[/b:29179c2e3f]…A tiny tiny list below, listed randomly in no special order & missing many, I am sure…

Re health Care as service to the sick: Mother Theresa, Florence Nightingale (Imagine how many inspired by their lives, actions, words.

The congressman who said recently “The strong need the weak” regarding the Schiavo case & the need to serve the disabled.

Georges Rouault’s paintings -Van Gogh’s— others who were Christian or heavily influenced by Chr..lots of them enchanted their culture—-at some point..even if not in their lifetime.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer modern Prot. martyr under Hitler. Quoted the Proverbs about those with a voice speaking for those without a voice (then—-the Jews, etc.).

news…[/b:29179c2e3f]The lady who came out of a rehab program & was once in trouble with the law & recently inspired a killer (her captor) to see a purpose & vision for his life. (Also Frank Capra, whose great film “It’s a Wonderful Life” tells about giving faith &vision of a purposeful life to a suicidal man…)

Those Christians who were part of the Berlin Wall & Communism coming down. Some world famous—-some not…They didn’t start out coordinating this great movement, but when opportunities seem to open up, they joined in on the full court press…

Some of the article writers at Christianity Today who made some history & Christianity come alive…

They & MANY more—-did not just rant—-
their lives & actions went against whatever the thought fashions were of the time. [b]One most be spiritually in tune but also creative to see beyond the current trends to what is the eternal, above trends…to not merely accept the thought garments handed to you to put on…but to redefine retailor the thoughts to a higher level…..and then inspire others to a better vision….based on truth even tho you may use the current thot/life fashions to communicate the truth…..

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geoff3
Apr 16 2005
05:09 am

Hi vanlee,

Yes, I find the example and teaching of Dietrich Bonhoeffer to be an inspiration.

I’d also add the likes of William Wilberforce, who helped bring to an end the slave trade almost two centuries ago.

Also those in my country who provided sunday school education (free education) to the waifs and strays of their parishes, which then led to a government rethink on education for the not so privileged, who could afford a decent (classical education). The ramifications of which helped expunge the child slave labour (eg child chimney sweeps) and other exploitative child ‘employment’.

In this generation, I think it would be those behind the JUBILEE campaign and its call for third world debt relief.

Know any 21st century artists who have had a real cultural impact?