tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29322791.post7081554307230274927..comments2023-06-17T09:49:42.670-04:00Comments on This mortal life: Piper on TV and moviesDavid Wilhitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08187161025528660914noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29322791.post-56366460381178089612009-07-02T12:29:03.317-04:002009-07-02T12:29:03.317-04:00Here are my thoughts from jiffy lube in my iPhone....Here are my thoughts from jiffy lube in my iPhone. Haha Culturally relevant is actually a much dirtier word than I have heard any comedian use. The relevance question is in the same category as Piper's movie/tv question for me. It's just the wrong question to be asking. The question is not relevance vs Gods glory (or some balance to be struck between the two). The issue at hand is HOW do you watch/hear/observe what your culture serves up? If you are simply looking for entertainment then I promise that no matter how safe for the whole family it seems, it will dull your mind and spirit and your ability to see Jesus. Entertainment is a primarily capitalistic notion. You entertain to please people, to make money or even survive.<br /> Art, on the other hand has a purpose beyond making you happy so that you'll fork over money. Often that purpose is to offend and I actually think that's healthy. Strikes me as similar to what Jesus might have done. Some of the most "offensive" works of art have been some of the most brilliant, in my opinion. I think that there is a redemptive way (or time) to use cursing explicit language etc. I am absolutely interested in seeing movies that use these devices in such ways. Even when I unequivocally disagree with the artists worldview or view point, I find this most helpful. I think No Country For Old Men was nihilistic but I see echos of the gospel even in an imaginary world created without hope. I should probably stay away from big summer blockbusters with boobs for no reason, but the nudity at the end of Babel is heartbreaking, artful and has nothing to do with lustful desire. And even comedians can be explicit in a way that makes you think even as you laugh. Most people that I know that don't know Jesus need to know that I am a person with a pulse not just a robot constantly stressing about doing it right. They need to know that I laugh when something is funny cry when it's sad and drink beer on Fridays AND that I love them. They don't need to know every scruple I have. So again I think it's the wrong question to be asking. We should teach people HOW to identify artistic expression so that they can appreciate AND critique it. People are always dogging me because I ALWAYS dislike something about a movie, but I have to see it to have an opinion. Instead we tell people what movie not to watch and they never learn to think for themselves. I think we are close to the same page on this. I just think Piper uses particularly strong language in this area where he is not an expert. His advice is tailor made for the ex college ministry student turned businessman. There seems to be no consideration that believers are and should be in every walk of life. Teach me how to think not what to think. Ok I am on my iPhone and this is getting hard! Haha love your thoughts though man! See ya soon!Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09009327806609555429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29322791.post-78746413346352006782009-07-01T19:25:21.603-04:002009-07-01T19:25:21.603-04:00Garrett,
Thanks for the thoughts. I echo your he...Garrett,<br /><br />Thanks for the thoughts. I echo your hesitance to summarily malign television/movies. Also, I agree that the pressing question should not be "whether or not to own a tv or ever see movies." My reading of the article, however, convinces me that Piper was pointing to something much more central. To him, the uppermost question (which I think your post presupposed) is "when is art/entertainment damaging to my soul."<br /><br />Drawing from 2 Cor. 3:18, Piper concludes that "[a]ll Christ-exalting transformation comes from 'beholding the glory of Christ.'" Thus, if something veils, diminishes or dulls our sensitivity to Christ's glory, it cuts against transformation. So before we even approach the significant questions of "when is [art] mind-stimulating art" and "when is [entertainment] mind-numbing entertainment," we must first ask whether "taking it in" could destroy or disrupt our joy and peace in Christ. Obviously, we answer this question guided by Scripture, prayer, contemplation, etc.<br /><br />But if the price of being "culturally relevant" is that our souls suffer (a result which has a ripple effect beyond ourselves), we have made an idol out of cultural relevance. Let's use your laudable example of loving a coworker by sharing a laugh over a mutually-admired comedian. What if, for instance, we are laughing at a comedy routine that contains sexually-explicit comments? Clearly, we are not experiencing Christ-exalting transformation under these circumstances. Moreover, are we really loving that coworker by validating something that contradicts the glory of Christ, which the coworker ultimately must see in order to be rescued and transformed (2 Cor. 4:4)?<br /><br />Viewing the issue differently, I also think Piper has little time to consume television and movies. Beyond his roles as pastor, husband and father, he is a prolific writer (books, articles, blogs, tweets) and speaker (conferences, special speaking engagements). I, along with perhaps a million others, have experienced the benefits of Piper's decision to curb his television/movie intake. Using another example, consider the incalculable impact of Jonathan Edwards' ferocity to redeem the time and immerse himself in studying and meditating on Scripture. Modern evangelicalism is indebted to Edwards for the God-entranced worldview that he so compellingly expressed and advanced in his writings. Sure, Edwards' work ethic cost him some leisure. But I doubt Edwards regrets it at this moment.<br /><br />As to your historical reference, I think we all could use a dose of Franklin's disarming, winsome persona. Nonetheless, I can't help but relate with Adams, who acted out of sense of urgency. Faced with the reality that we are engaged in a war for our souls (1 Pet. 1:11) and that our adversary seeks to destroy us and those whom we love (1 Pet. 5:8), we must, in addition to anchoring our ultimate confidence in the immeasurable, unchanging, conquering grace of Christ, be sober and vigilant (1 Pet. 5:8). And by closely guarding our joy and peace in Christ (which can only be accomplished through his grace), we will, in turn, project a clearer picture of Christ to the "guy down the street," the "coworker," and the "barista." After all, they may have less time than Piper.<br /><br />Before ending, I want to pay tribute to individuals such as yourself and Whitney Wood, who use their obvious talents to courageously engage culture through the arts. I can't comprehend the fringes of God's sovereign, glorious design in making his name known through your efforts.Chris H.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29322791.post-28127124131557936182009-06-26T11:02:56.288-04:002009-06-26T11:02:56.288-04:00hmmmm. . . i will have to read the whole article, ...hmmmm. . . i will have to read the whole article, but it seems pretty clear to me that he is assuming that messages through a modern medium are inferior to those that have a little longer history.<br /><br />i know piper is an armchair poet. in order to DO poetry, you have to take IN poetry. you have to learn the forms and stories in order to replicate the process. there is plenty of difficult stuff within worthwhile poetry. there is plenty of nudity on the roof of the sistine chapel (well there used to be, anyway).<br />shakespeare is (in my opinion) just as vile as desperate housewives.<br /><br />to be sure art and entertainment are closely linked concepts, however my assertion would be that they are vastly different in their aims and outcomes. art might be entertaining and there can be an art to how you entertain someone, but they are different.<br /><br />the question is not whether or not to own a tv or ever see movies. the question is when is it mind-stimulating art, and when is it mind-numbing entertainment? as a believer who seeks to create art, there is just no escaping difficult situations. but i know plenty of accountants, salesman, financial planners, teachers and it salesman and in their spheres as well, there's just no escaping difficult situations. the difficulties are just different.<br /><br />the difficulties were slightly different when it was only a book with a sleazy scene. the difficulties were slightly different when it was just oral history with a risque moment. let's not fool ourselves into believing that television/movies invented immorality.<br /><br />you have to take in the art to understand the people. that goes even for our own city/state/country. there is no separation. people say in art what they cannot articulate in conversation.<br /><br />loving the guy down the street means that we have things to discuss (movies, music, sports whatever). loving the coworker means that we share a good laugh because we love the same comedian. loving your barista means that you might discuss fiction or philosophy together.<br /><br />it's sloppy. you're going to screw up. there are no hard and fast rules for what to see/hear or not other than: you can't hide. jesus does not give you that option.<br /><br />last thought is that reading piper talk about productivity and time is sort of like watching john adams do diplomacy. you watched the series right? adams bursts into versailles making demands because there's no time to lose and he gets ignored and shipped out. franklin builds relationships and wins the very demands adams had wanted. productivity, especially in terms of ministry and reaching the lost is a very difficult thing to measure.<br /><br />i hope piper continues to lift jesus high, just hope he learns not to villify technological advances in the transmission of art soon. he doesn't have that much more time after all. . . ;)Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09009327806609555429noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29322791.post-49566544673512104152009-06-26T10:59:47.663-04:002009-06-26T10:59:47.663-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Garretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09009327806609555429noreply@blogger.com