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The Native Tourist
reformed/biblical observations on Christianity and culture

Wednesday, September 27, 2006
A Daily Humble Job
I found this at Mark Bertrand's blog.

"Some readers by now are looking for my theory of the way to produce Christian art or write Christian fiction, since theories are what people believe govern the world. They don't, and I have none. I am working out my aesthetics (and perhaps salvation) with each book--with this one--and each book poses unique problems. But I can assure you that you will not begin to form your own aesthetics or way or writing unless you first belong to a church that teaches you fellowship and unity within Christ, and then begin to see writing as your daily humble job within that community. . . .

--Larry Woiwode, Acts (Harper Collins, 1993), pp. 74.

I don't think that this can be stressed enough: Christian artists need to be connected to a church community - and not just a bunch of believing artistic types, but a diverse (in age, background, vocation) body. Artists need to be connected to "regular" people.

When Woiwode wrote this, he was a member of a tiny OPC congragation (where he still is) on the North Dakota prairie. (About as far from a Starbucks as one can get in the US.)