When the church becomes a place where artists are allowed to create, the artists will produce works that will translate the glory of God to their culture.

I have asked Linda Evans Shepherd, a best-selling, award-winning author, and CEO of the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association to share from her experience how the church can re-establish its presence in the arts and entertainment space.

Consider Michelangelo, who was commissioned by Pope Julius II in the early 1500’s to paint Biblical scenes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Michelangelo’s paintings, like The Creation of Adam, were part of a series of illustrations depicting the stories of Genesis. In The Creation of Adam, Michelangelo illustrated the idea of God reaching out to Adam, the first man. This painting became a way for illiterate Italian peasants to ‘read’ the Word of God, not in print, but in brushstrokes of paint splashed across the ceiling of their own cathedral.

The painting spoke to the idea that God was not only their creator but a God who reached into their lives. This was important because the people of this generation had no Bible of their own. It would be another hundred years before King James would approve the translation of the Bible into English.

Not only did artists paint messages of faith at the end of the fifteenth century, but actors also began to portray faith in morality plays such as Everyman, a play performed throughout the streets of England. Everyman was a story about good versus evil, complete with allegorical characters such as Everyman, Fellowship, (material) Goods, and Knowledge. Its message pointed to the church’s belief that ‘everyman’ might obtain salvation through his own good deeds. While the theology of the play misses the work and grace of Christ, it was an effective way for the Catholic Church to bring their message of morality to the people.

Linda’s Story

When I was a college student, I was privileged to meet a traveling drama troupe that landed at the Baptist Student Center at Lamar University. This troupe would perform their own version of Everyman in the student courtyard, depicting the salvation message of grace through the work of Christ on the cross.

The play was a hit, as crowds of college kids would gather, laugh at the antics of the actors, while receiving the salvation message. It was a thrilling experience for me, as a Fine Arts major, to behold. I started my own arts ministry journey by working with the teens at my own church, where we created a traveling puppet show which we used in Vacation Bible Schools and performed to groups around town.

A few years later, I realized God was calling me to go deeper into the arts, as he called me to write the first of many Christian books, including The Potluck Club (a novel series) and When You Don’t Know What to Pray. I was delighted to find the medium of publishing in which to share my faith. Today, the Christian publishing industry has come a long way, with over fifty million copies of Christian books sold annually. Despite bookstore closings, I am not worried that Christian publishing is a diminishing art form, as Ecclesiastes 12:12 states, “There is no end to the writing of many books’ (NLT).”

I think it’s time for the church to use the medium of the arts through the marketplace to reach the world. This brings us to the doors of Hollywood. While many believers scoff at the immorality and heathenism associated with Hollywood, there is a growing tribe of Hollywood Christians.

Encouraging Those on the Front Lines

Many of these Christians are on their own missionary journey, fighting their own battles. One show-runner, with tears in his eyes, told me that he had hoped to make a greater difference by bringing Christian characters to sitcoms and dramas.

He felt he had only slowed or stopped the level of immorality that aired if he hadn’t worked on the show he wrote for. He told me, “Christians aren’t praying for us. They mock us, not understanding that people like me are on the front lines, really trying to make a difference.

“Not only should we be praying for people like my friend, but we should be sending even more of our young (and old) people into Hollywood. We cannot abandon this mission field if we want to reach the world. Today Hollywood has found a revival in the success of many Christian films.

And Christian production companies and streaming services such as Pure Flix are working full time to create films with a message of hope. The Kendrick brothers have helped to lead this change with movies they began to produce out of their own church, Sherwood Baptist, in Albany, Georgia, starting with Facing the Giants (2006).

Christian movies are making a comeback since the great movies of faith, like Cecil B. DeMille’s 1957 movie, The Ten Commandments, have aired on the silver screen. Still, we have a way to go.

Reflection

First, we need to pray for Christians in Hollywood.

Second, we need to financially support the producers who are trying to create movies with budgets of only a couple of million dollars, compared to the multi-million dollar movies of established Hollywood.

Third, we need to send Christians into work in Hollywood and to take classes and programs such as Dr. Ted Beahr’s Movie Guide and Act One Program’s screenwriting and producing classes.

Christian films are already making a difference, and this difference will continue as Christians lend their prayers, support, talent, and young people. This is a sphere in the marketplace that we, in the body of Christ, can once again influence.

An Excerpt from the book, “Church for Monday” by Dr. Svetlana Papazov.

Svetlana Papazov is Lead Pastor and Founder of Real Life Church, President/Founder of Real Life Center for Entrepreneurial and Leadership Excellence, a first of its kind model of church and business incubator that educates in entrepreneurship, leadership and faith praxis.