The art we consume changes the way we think, so where are the artists who speak Godly truth through their art, the balladeers that disciple the nations through their respective mediums?
We need a new generation of balladeers. Culture is upstream from economics, politics and society. Who shapes culture more than anyone else? It is the artists, those who consciously create or critique culture with their art. These people may be called modern-day balladeers. They are singers and songwriters, playwrights and filmmakers, writers and poets, painters and sculptors, choreographers and composers, architects and fashion designers. From these gifted artists we must call forth a movement of modern-day balladeers.
Christian artists! It’s time to understand and embrace the significance of your gift and calling.
Darrow Miller examines what it means to be a Christian creative making art from a biblical worldview. Christian creativity is more than a hobby, it serves a vital role of truth and beauty in the world. As the First Artist, God created the universe to be beautiful, and set a precedent for all humanity to create art, not for religious obligation, but simply for the sake of beauty itself.
With scrutiny and honesty, A Call for Balladeers takes a hard look at the faulty perspective toward art and beauty held by many Christians today and uses the Bible to make a case for why the Church should be concerned with a ministry of art. Christian painting, Christian dancing, Christian drama, Christian digital art, whatever medium God has given you the talent to use, it all serves the glory of the king.
Miller provides a hopeful, liberating outlook for Christian artists of all kinds who find themselves caught in a dilemma between their creative endeavors and their desire to minister to their community. There is no divide between art, beauty, and the Christian faith. God uses the arts and artists to advance His kingdom of truth, goodness, and beauty on earth as it is in heaven. A Call for Balladeers will help Christians think biblically about art, teach them about historical and modern-day balladeers, and encourage artists to use their God-given talents to minister prophetically, bringing transformation to their communities and nations through a ministry of the arts.
At our webinar, you will:
Our featured guest for August 8 was classical pianist, soloist, chamber musician, educator, producer, and arranger, Jenny Jee-El Park. Additionally, Ms. Park has served her city as the Commissioner of Culture and Fine Arts and worked in various settings to promote arts in the community. She has worked at the Orange County Children’s Therapeutic Arts Center as a music curriculum consultant, and started a volunteer-based music program for the homeless children at the Orange County Rescue Mission. Formerly a faculty member of the United Nations International School, Concordia Conservatory, and Bethesda University, she is currently the musical director for Music Across Borders.
Go to https://community.abundance-
Meet and learn from other Christian creatives who recognize that ideas have consequences and culture-change is necessary at the level of worldview. Biblical artwork, whether it be Christian painting, dancing, writing, photography, or film, has a part to play in this beautiful work.
The Balladeers community is a social-media-style platform that allows you to find balladeers “near” you. On this platform, you can connect with incredible Christian artists with similar creative interests to you. The Balladeers community allows private messaging, and there is a public feed where you can post and comment.
Darrow Miller is co-founder of Disciple Nations Alliance and the author of Discipling Nations, LifeWork, Don’t Let Schooling Stand in the Way of Education, and many other books, articles, and Bible studies. For over forty years, he has taught internationally on worldview and development, apologetics, Postmodernism, and the dignity of women.
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Listen to a recent podcast episode with Darrow as we discuss A Call for Balladeers and share the stories of Christian artists, or check out his other books below!
Meet Jeremiah and Mona Enna, leaders who use ballet to influence culture. They focus not just on making “Christian” art, but on making excellent art. Their lives help us understand what it means to be a balladeer!
In this interview with Darrow Miller, he emphasizes that artists play a creative and essential role in the church’s mission of discipling the nations. He issues a call to Christian artists everywhere to become “balladeers” by using their work to bear prophetic witness to the beauty, goodness, and truth of God’s reign.
God has given artists incredible gifts, but how can they use their talents in a God-honoring way? Should they leave their art behind to go become pastors and missionaries, or is there something uniquely powerful about art that can change the world as we know it?
Links to the new “Balladeer” song from Tyler Scott and The Threshing Floor
