i feel as if my positive reacton to adaptation as one of my favorite films of the year was somewhat of a catalyst to this discussion and have, to no avail, been reading post after post hoping that something said would address my feelings toward film and art in general.
as i believe someone mentioned earlier, i agree that art is a kind of God-created beauty. He created us in his image and part of that image includes the act of creating and the joy of appreciating these creations. we are made this way that we might praise Him in these things.
now i don’t know about anyone else out there, but i’m a little thick when it comes to praising God for his amazing natural creation. a particularly moving landscape or geographical wonder may evoke a response of praise in my heart, but for the most part i’m somewhat oblivious. however, this is not the case when i am a witness to the creation He has worked through the creatures He himself creates and inspires. it’s just the way i’m built and i thank God that he has ordered this world in such a manner as to accomodate a person such as myself.
a great piece of music or film never ceases to build within me a joy, pride, and wonder at my omnipotent God who i know has has given me these things to strengthen my faith and lighten my spirit. it can be a complex song by progressive rock greats emerson, lake, and palmer or a simple folk tune by donovan. the response is the same. it makes no difference the theological framework or inspiration behind the piece, if it is aesthetically pleasing to my ears and meets the artistic standards i endorse then the glory will go to the right place.
the same is true for film. on one hand, adaptation is a perverted, self-indulgent, morally debunkt piece of crap, but on the other hand it is super original, fall-down-funny, and filled with questions and analyzations of humanity that i could relate to on a certain level. in the end i was left smiling and satisfied in wonder of what a depraved yet wholly fascinating world this is.
this is where it gets tricky because i’m not advocating that this is an edifying film for anyone and everyone. i would be horrified to find that a parent had shown this film to a young child and i wouldn’t blame an adult for walking out on the film either. this begins to sound like relativism and it is. it’s relative to who we are and what we are able to enjoy, but as christians i believe this must be gauged by what we have been exposed to and where exactly we are on our walk with Christ.
personally i find it hard to sit through a formulaic, big budget, action movie, but another may find righteouss joy in the well-choreographed chase scenes and precisely executed explosions.
God has given us our own minds to discern and we must beware of those things which may lead us into temptation, but we must also be vigilant against the error of the pharisees which would have us forsake the good things of God for empty reasons that only appear noble and righteouss.
lopez
Jan 21 2004
12:56 am
i feel as if my positive reacton to adaptation as one of my favorite films of the year was somewhat of a catalyst to this discussion and have, to no avail, been reading post after post hoping that something said would address my feelings toward film and art in general.
as i believe someone mentioned earlier, i agree that art is a kind of God-created beauty. He created us in his image and part of that image includes the act of creating and the joy of appreciating these creations. we are made this way that we might praise Him in these things.
now i don’t know about anyone else out there, but i’m a little thick when it comes to praising God for his amazing natural creation. a particularly moving landscape or geographical wonder may evoke a response of praise in my heart, but for the most part i’m somewhat oblivious. however, this is not the case when i am a witness to the creation He has worked through the creatures He himself creates and inspires. it’s just the way i’m built and i thank God that he has ordered this world in such a manner as to accomodate a person such as myself.
a great piece of music or film never ceases to build within me a joy, pride, and wonder at my omnipotent God who i know has has given me these things to strengthen my faith and lighten my spirit. it can be a complex song by progressive rock greats emerson, lake, and palmer or a simple folk tune by donovan. the response is the same. it makes no difference the theological framework or inspiration behind the piece, if it is aesthetically pleasing to my ears and meets the artistic standards i endorse then the glory will go to the right place.
the same is true for film. on one hand, adaptation is a perverted, self-indulgent, morally debunkt piece of crap, but on the other hand it is super original, fall-down-funny, and filled with questions and analyzations of humanity that i could relate to on a certain level. in the end i was left smiling and satisfied in wonder of what a depraved yet wholly fascinating world this is.
this is where it gets tricky because i’m not advocating that this is an edifying film for anyone and everyone. i would be horrified to find that a parent had shown this film to a young child and i wouldn’t blame an adult for walking out on the film either. this begins to sound like relativism and it is. it’s relative to who we are and what we are able to enjoy, but as christians i believe this must be gauged by what we have been exposed to and where exactly we are on our walk with Christ.
personally i find it hard to sit through a formulaic, big budget, action movie, but another may find righteouss joy in the well-choreographed chase scenes and precisely executed explosions.
God has given us our own minds to discern and we must beware of those things which may lead us into temptation, but we must also be vigilant against the error of the pharisees which would have us forsake the good things of God for empty reasons that only appear noble and righteouss.