Art and Faith

Grief in the Garden of Our Hearts

Lily Garay
Grief is something no one truly wants to experience but that we all must go through at some point in our lives. Unfortunately, we often ignore our grief and fail to process the reality of the situation in a constructive way. Instead of ignoring it, however, what if we were to engage our grief in ways that reflected how Jesus processed it himself. For Lily, this meant allowing God to provide healing through her art.... Read More...
3 min read

Should We Be Making Christian Movies?

Paul Tackett
Left Behind. Fireproof. War Room. The Shack. Chances are that most of us have seen at least one of these films or knows someone who has. What these movies have in common is that they all fall under the sub-genre of film known as "Christian" movies. While these may be enjoyable movies for some, not everyone shares this opinion. Join us as we hear a Christian filmmaker speak to the shortcomings of "Christian" movies and the potential that exists if we shift our perspectives on film.... Read More...
5 min read

Are You Not Entertained?

Jordan Reed
Since antiquity, human beings have been entertained by and seemingly infatuated with violence. For the Ancient Greeks and Romans this hunger would have been satiated by gladiator fights and tragic plays. Today, these forms of entertainment have been replaced by professional sports and violent films. While the modern equivalents are not perfect translations of these ancient activities, the parallels between them cannot be denied. How then should Christians respond to different representations of violence in all forms of entertainment? What duty do we have as Christ-followers in response to violent entertainment?... Read More...
5 min read

An Interview with Toby Morrell from Emery and Bad Christian

Aaron Ross
Emery has been a staple in music for many who grew up in the church but wanted music that was outside of the typically accepted realm of what some would call "Christian". Being a Christian in a band that was not quite the accepted medium of art, Toby Morrell offers great insight into the real of music, art, faith, and the church. Toby, while still touring and making music with Emery, is now a worship pastor, blogger, and curates a popular podcast and brand entitled "Bad Christian".... Read More...
20 min read

An Interview with Josh Porter from Showbread

Aaron Ross
"People who follow Jesus that make art are also thought of not being that creative, as in not really having anything honest to say." With the release of their final album "Showbread is Showdead", we here at ECCLESIAM got to catch up with Josh Porter from Showbread on his thoughts on the intersection of art and faith. ... Read More...
23 min read

Art and Faith (Ideas In Worship)

Levi Larson
When we encounter works of art we are moved and reminded of other things in our lives. When we hear a symphony we feel the tension of the strings or the whimsy of the melody. When we watch films we are able to relate to characters experiences and empathize with them. When we look at paintings we are able to identify symbols and colors that allude to something unknown. Somehow through viewing a piece of art we are able to experience this feeling of otherness that is difficult to describe and even more difficult to understand. Art lowers our defenses and allows us to see the world in a fresh lens.... Read More...
7 min read