One way to think about art is to understand it as an attempt to use human creativity to help us see life and reality with greater clarity. Which is why setting aside time for unhurried visits to art museums and galleries is so essential to growth towards maturity. All the elements that come together in the visual arts—color, form, line, shape, depth, composition, light—are reflections on aspects of creation that somehow reflect the goodness of the Creator who called them into being as good gifts for his creatures. Just as God is the final source of Truth so is he the ultimate spring of Glory, and believing one is more essential than the other is to place our preferences over his revelation of himself. God’s revelation of truth is glorious, and his glory is true, world without end.

            Just as some aspects of truth are difficult to capture with words and arguments, some aspects of life and reality are so difficult to capture in art as to seem impossible: the flow of time, air, water; things that are real yet transient and ephemeral; living shapes in inanimate materials. Enter Andy Goldsworthy, an artist who lives in Scotland and whose work is lovingly embedded in nature even when it appears in urban settings.

            It is never easy to describe art in words. “Writing about art,” comedian, actor and painter Martin Mull noted, “is like dancing about architecture.” You can do it, and it can even be full of insight but the best plan is to simply receive the art itself. And if it difficult to write about art in general, the problem is compounded when talking about Goldsworthy’s art because often he is interested in capturing something that is natural.

            One good way to approach Goldsworthy’s work is in Rivers and Tides, a documentary film that simply follows the artist so we can watch him create and listen to him reflect on what he is doing. It also allows us a lovely glimpse into the creative process, at least as Goldsworthy experiences it, that is both accessible to non-visual artists as well as a fine study, for Christian viewers, of what it means to demonstrate one essential aspect of being made in the image of God.

            Goldsworthy makes his living by commissions, teaching, and by photographing his most ephemeral works to allow us to see them when they are too remote and too temporary for viewers to experience. The fact that he uses such simple, ordinary materials to produce such stunning pieces of art, and that his appreciation for nature is so unpretentious and tender is enough to render me speechless and grateful.

            I recommend Rivers and Tides to you

Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working with Time, directed by Thomas Riedelsheimer (2001, 90 minutes). Available on DVD and on YouTube.

            “What the detective story is about,” author P. D. James says, “is not murder but the restoration of order.” Something has gone astray in the world of the story—perhaps horribly astray—and only when things have been put right do we have some sense of resolution, and until that resolution we feel on edge.

            We were made to exist in an orderly universe. The opening pages of Scripture, the story of Genesis 1, is many things, one of which is a narrative of creation, differentiation, and providential ordering that reflects the goodness of God. Four words—“Did God actually say…”—disrupted that gracious orderliness and disorder shattered what had been made good. Now we yearn for order, prefer it, and instinctively know that disorder can blossom into a chaos that can be deadly. In such a world, when a detective solves the crime a bit of order is restored in a corner of our badly fragmented world. Even a fictional account can refresh our hope that against all odds order just might be able to be restored.

            The best detective stories tell the truth about existence, evil, and justice. They are not limited to law and order, but show that mercy must also be present if the order that is restored is to allow human flourishing. It is this full-orbed realism that makes the 19^th century story of Les Misérables contemporary, even in a pluralistic, secular society like our own.

Foyle’s War

            Starring Michael Kitchen as Detective Chief Superintendent Christopher Foyle, this BBC series is a superb production in every way. Kitchen is not well known as an actor, but he plays Foyle with a quiet, powerful dignity that makes the viewer care about him and about the victims of the crimes he investigates. Foyle’s War also stars Samantha “Sam” Stewart (played by Honeysuckle Weeks) as Foyle’s driver, and Paul Milner (Anthony Howell) as Foyle’s assistant.

            World War II has begun, and to his disappointment, the British government believes Foyle to be of greater value working as a detective in Hastings, a small town on the southern coast of England than serving in the war effort. Crime continues, of course, even in wartime, and so in each episode Foyle is called upon to investigate some foul deed.

            The historical accuracy—in dialogue, sets, events, costuming, etc.—is impeccable, and watching Foyle’s War is a fascinating education in what life was like in the British Isles during World War II. The writers do not cheat, like many detective writers do, but allow us to see all the clues as Foyle uncovers them. When he reveals the culprit at the end we realize we knew all we needed to know to come to the correct conclusion but unlike Foyle were not observing the details of the case with enough care. Perhaps most admirable of all, Foyle is consistently depicted as a man of integrity and honesty. It is difficult, in a drama, to depict good and moral characters without having them seem bland and boring. In Foyle’s War, the crime provides the color and the detective, rather than being made interesting by having weird quirks, inner struggles, or special effects, is allowed to be a man of few words and deep character.

            We have watched some of the episodes multiple times, purely for the enjoyment of seeing them. At the end we are always satisfied, not simply because a measure of order has been restored, but because we feel edified, having watched a virtuous character bring law, justice, and mercy into his corner of a broken world.

            [Each episode of Foyle’s War, 2002-2013, created by Anthony Horowitz, runs 90-100 minutes and is available on Netflix and DVD.]

Kidnap and Ransom

            Produced for British TV, Kidnap and Ransom follows the efforts of professional negotiator Dominic King (played brilliantly by Trevor Eve) as he seeks the release of hostages held by international terrorists and paramilitary gangs. King’s goal is not justice—to maintain his ability to negotiate with the bad guys he permits no police involvement—but to restore the victim to their life and family, hopefully unharmed.

            The locations are exotic, the trajectory of each story is plausible, and the fact that the crime is ongoing as King intercedes for the kidnapped increases the tension. King is shown to be a man of integrity and great courage, whose commitment to his calling costs him greatly, fracturing his relationship with his wife and daughter.

            Kidnap and Ransom is not always easy to watch. Each kidnapping, fraught with danger and shock, is filmed in enough detail to draw us into the fright that is overwhelming for the victim. Often the negotiations take time, sometimes lots of time, and as they drag on the victim languishes is some vile cell. This too is depicted realistically, and reveals the awful emotional and spiritual toll that must be involved.

            International kidnapping has become a tool of war in our world, a way to raise funds, gain notice in the media, and impress recruits. It is a wicked practice and one that should cause us to pray that God’s will would be done on earth even as it is in heaven. Kidnap and Ransom has helped me see the news behind the headlines with greater clarity and compassion.

            [Each episode of Kidnap and Ransom, 2011-2012, runs 45 minutes. There are two series of 3 episodes each and is available on Netflix and DVD.]

It grieves me to know that a watching postmodern world, our world, looks at the Christian community and concludes we have little or nothing to offer. This is not the way it is supposed to be. Jesus expected us to flourish in such a way as believers that our community, rooted in relationships of compassion to those inside and outside the church would stand out in a world were loneliness, alienation, and isolation are the rule rather than the exception. “By this all men will know that you are my disciples,” he said, “if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). If we truly believe that according to the Scriptures each person bears the dignity of being made in the very image of God, our treatment of them should demonstrate that belief (Genesis 1:27). “As far as living is concerned, we are on the knife-edge of time,” Francis Schaeffer insisted. “What will matter is our relationship to the Lord Jesus, individually and then corporately, at this existential moment. What counts, as [people] look upon us... is whether we are exhibiting God and his character, now. The Christian position is not static, but living.”

I have not been called into a position of influence in the central corridors of power and influence in our postmodern world. So when I propose a discussion on this blog about the “recovery of orthodox Christianity” I am under no illusion that we will be exploring a way to change the direction of history, a path for the church to follow to restore its authority and authenticity in our times. I don’t even think in those categories. What I am interested in exploring is more immediate, essential, and personal: What does Christian faithfulness look like for ordinary Christians—like you and me—in our increasingly pluralistic world?

Here are the first two elements I think should be included in our answer to this question.

Element #1—Our calling is to be faithful in the ordinary and routine.

            It easy to be distracted by programs promising extraordinary things, but mostly that’s all they are: distractions. At its most central core, our calling before God is not to do something spectacular but to be faithful in the ordinary things of daily life. Since I have written on this before—you can read it here—I won’t bother to develop the idea here or show its biblical foundation.

            It is a simple idea but profound in its implications. We need not add activities to our schedule in the hope of achieving something significant, because the work of our hands and the loving of those God has brought into our life can be done to his glory. Doing these things well may not result in notoriety but then the only approval that really counts is the “Well done” of our Lord. We may not see the results of our faithfulness but then God has not promised to always let us see them and said we are walk by faith in him.

            For some people this principle will mean taking time in community with trusted, safe, and godly friends to gain a sense of their giftedness and to determine what priorities the trajectory of their spiritual pilgrimage seems to suggest. They can be given opportunities to learn and experiment as a sense of calling slowly takes shape. For others this principle will require reducing commitments to open room for what’s important instead of what’s merely urgent. They can restore a better balance between work and rest, and then build from the knowledge of their calling to how their gifts and time can be used most creatively. For all of us we can ask whether we are flourishing as human beings. It will never be perfect, of course, but truly being faithful to God’s call in the ordinary and routine of life will be a path of flourishing because it is what we were made for in the first place.

Element #2—Let’s start asking an obvious question.

            The question is one I believe we should ask ourselves, and one another, at the end of each Bible study, Sunday service, church discussion, personal devotions, or reading of a Christian book. The question is this: How can I talk about this creatively and winsomely to the non-Christians in my life so that they might be prompted to ask questions or be interested in talking about it more?

            My premise is simple. We live in an increasingly pluralistic world where more and more of our neighbors are unchurched. We have a faith that speaks intelligently, substantially, and creatively to every facet of life and culture because Christ is Lord of all. And so following Jesus in the world means among other things a willingness to speak in ways that intrigue unbelievers.

            Read Mark 4:1-20 and notice how Jesus talks to people. Here is the Second Person of the Trinity come in the flesh, and a big crowd gathers to hear him speak. He can say anything he wants. What does he say? He tells a story about a farmer sowing seed and how the crop develops in four kinds of soil. And with that he is finished. Reflect on that fact for a while.

            Here is the point: the story turned out to be so intriguing that “those around him with the twelve,” in other words, his disciples plus some of the crowd who just heard the story, stuck around and asked him, “What? We’d like to hear more. What did you mean?” And Jesus continued the conversation. You are the ones, he told them, to whom “has been given the secret of the kingdom of God.” Too often today when we talk about our faith or when someone asks about our Bible study all we can think to say is something that is factually true, but that also happens to be a conversation stopper. Whatever we say tends to be in language non-Christians do not normally use, about topics non-Christians tend not to discuss, and in terms so banal that they tend to end the conversation not intrigue the listener to want to hear and discuss more.

            How can we talk about this creatively and winsomely to the non-Christians in our lives so that they might be prompted to ask questions or be interested in conversing about it more? Don’t be discouraged if your first attempt to come up with something intelligent and winsome seems impossibly difficult. Most of us have never thought to pose or answer this question, so it will prove difficult. That’s why we need one another, and can profit from an array of gifts in a group. Keep at it, and let the creativity flow. And pray God’s Holy Spirit be at work in your minds and imaginations. If our Bible study was on Mark 4:1-20, and someone at work asks what we did last night, perhaps we could say something like this (choosing what would work best in our particular work context): Got together with a group of friends and talked about what it means to be spiritually receptive. Or, was in a discussion of an ancient text that speaks to some challenging things that can subvert our spiritual pilgrimage. Or… the possibilities are probably endless.

            We live in a pluralistic world that has become convinced that orthodox Christianity has nothing of substance to offer a postmodern person. The way we talk about faith should at least give them pause.

I hope you will leave comments about my first two ideas, pro and con, and suggest ideas of your own.

I often celebrate creativity on this blog, and do so not just because it touches something deep within my soul but because as a Christian I believe it reflects the image of God found in all daughters of Eve and sons of Adam. Contrary to modernist fantasies, art has never been something that could be restricted to galleries and museums and Dutch sculptor Theo Jansen proves this fact once again with his whimsical and amazing Strandbeests. I am grateful to my friend John Eddy for alerting me to this remarkable video.

And if I may call all extroverts, too, my recommendation is that you watch this video, a 2012 TED talk by Susan Cain author of Quiet, that is both informative and delightful. It sheds clarity on an aspect of God’s good creation that we rarely consider with much care, and it provides some crucial understanding to help us fulfill our calling to treat every person as if we really believe they are made in his image.

Then read this New York Times essay, “An Introvert Steps Out,” where the speaker in the video, author Susan Cain describes how she prepared, as an introvert, to give her remarkable TED talk.