What does it mean to “preach the gospel”?

I’d been planning to hold off on launching regenerateCulture.com until my semester ended later this month, at which time I would have regained a firm grasp on sanity.  However, after all of the reading I’ve done for my preaching class, I just couldn’t resist any longer.

I’ve been reading homiletics (preaching) books and have grown increasingly frustrated with those who equate “preaching” with “delivering a sermon” and define the “gospel” as “the Biblical text.”

Granted, I haven’t pulled out the Greek and Hebrew, but I’m pretty certain that “to preach” is simply “to proclaim,” and I would argue that you can do that in other (and often more effective) ways than delivering a sermon.  As Francis of Assisi supposedly said, “Preach always.  If necessary, use words.”

Similarly,  “gospel” means “good news.”  Yes, the Bible is the inspired record of that good news, but putting the good news into your own words, as the apostles did, does not negate its goodness.

So what does this mean?  This means that we can “preach the gospel” (or “proclaim the good news”) through our art just as effectively as a pastor can through a sermon.

This has been especially brought home to me by the final book I’m reading for class – Experiential Storytelling: (Re)Discovering Narrative to Communicate God’s Message by Mark Miller.  Here he is on the influence of story:

Storytelling is powerful because it has the ability to touch human beings at the most personal level.  While facts are viewed from the lens of a microscope, stories are viewed from the lens of the soul.  Stories address us on every level.  They speak to the mind, the body, the emotions, the spirit, and the will.  In a story a person can identify with situations he or she has never been in.  The individual’s imagination is unlocked to dream what was previously unimaginable.

And on the Church:

While there are many reasons why the Church in America is in decline, the most striking reason is that people are no longer connecting with the redemptive story of the Bible.  We live in a culture that is craving narratives, metaphors, and images — anything that can provide some meaning to their nihilistic lives.  The Church has the greatest story ever told.  That story, Scripture tells us, is the power of God to transform lives.  Yet few are listening.  What is wrong with this picture?

Several years ago I led a men’s small group using a curriculum which contained within it a single page outline of the Biblical story.  I don’t have it on hand right now, but will type it up at some point.  Anyway, it struck me when I saw it contained in that encapsulated form that it was THE story.  I suspect that every work of art today that resonates with and speaks powerfully to the human heart does so because it in some way reflects THE story.

The world needs more works of art such as those.  Go to it.

Why “regenerate Culture”?

As you may have guessed from the banner, I’m kind of keen on the many definitions of “regenerate.”  Not to mention the whole yin/yang thing (minus the implied heresy) it has going on with “degenerate.”

For the past several decades (well, okay, probably all of recorded history, but work with me here…), many good-hearted people (and maybe some not-so-good-hearted) have spent far too much time decrying “degenerate” art and far too little time celebrating “regenerate” art. The word “regenerate” is a verb, an adjective, and a noun. As a verb, it means “to reform spiritually or morally.” As an adjective, it means “spiritually or morally revitalized,” as well as “restored; refreshed; renewed.” As a noun, it refers to “one who is spiritually reborn or reformed.”

With as much enthusiasm as I can muster (which can actually be quite a lot, when backed by copious amounts of sugar), I endorse all forms of the word “regenerate” (I endorse the liberal use of parenthetical comments, as well, but that isn’t as blogworthy).

The arts have tremendous power to shape the culture and simply criticizing “degenerate” art gets us nowhere.  Instead, we need to pay heed to two quotes of debatable origin.  “Criticize by creating” is good advice, regardless of whether or not Michelangelo was the one who first said it.  Similarly, “Give me the songs of a nation, and it matters not who writes its laws” may or may not originate with Damon of Athens, but rings true regardless here in the nation’s capital.  I firmly believe that by fostering redemptive art, regenerate artists can bring about a morally and spiritually revitalized culture.

So, whilst making my own feeble attempts to engage in artistic endeavors bringing renewal to my own little corner (“in my own little chair…”) of the world, this here website is where I more broadly engage in lofty attempts to reform the culture, celebrate signs of cultural revitalization, and praise and encourage the regenerates in our midst.

Go team.

“Do not despise the day of small beginnings”

At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.

My intentions for regenerateCulture.com are much grander than simply a blog and, God willing, someday they’ll come to fruition.  However, of late I’ve been reminded of the power of storytelling (more on that to come), inspiring me to press forward with this site, given that it’s already two years overdue (gainful employment can get so in the way….).  For now, time and budget constraints necessitate moving forward with something much more small-scale than my original dreams, but move forward we shall.

Onward and upward.  And all that.