Between feedings I picked up the latest issue of Christian Century (August 26, 2008) and saw something in the "Century Marks" that caught my attention. There towards the bottom of the page was a note about a question asked by Professor Peter Hawkins of Boston University (my alma mater for seminary). He asked his Intro class on the Bible if they had heard the 23rd Psalm. Apparently, after he recited it, people recognized parts of it-- but did not know that it was originally in the Bible. Students thought it was from a Pink Floyd song, from rapper Coolio's song, "Gangsta's Paradise," or Pulp Fiction (but that was wrong-- that was actually a quote from the cheerful book of Ezekiel). According to Professor Hawkins, "My students knew their movies and their lyrics but not the biblical source of 'the valley of the shadow of death.'"
It strikes me funny that these kind of notes show up in stuff like Christian Century. Why, you ask? Folks within the Church seem to expect that young people will at least know what we would consider to be basic things about the Bible and faith. What this note helps to point out is that we cannot assume people know what we consider to be basic things of faith. That in fact it is modern artists-- movie makers, rappers, rock stars, authors-- who are teaching young people aspects of spirituality. Some of the best communicators of faith in the last generation have been people outside of the Church. (That's not new, but it seems to be new every time I read something like I did in Christian Century!).
It begs us folk on the inside to do a few things-- a gut check about what we assume people ought to know, and also, to realize that art is an important and under-utilized resource/gift. Perhaps it is another nudge to embrace art-- in all of its diversity and creativity!
Friday, August 15, 2008
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4 comments:
My 16 year old son listens to that music and I am always a little suprised how much scripture shows up in the lyrics...and not always used badly...even though my son went to church every Sunday of his life until a few years ago (when he became to "cool" to go and me being the priest did not want to "force" him and thereby have him rebel against the church)...anyway...I need to ask him if he knows where some of the lyrics come from and see if he knows....I do think the church can meet the world and the young people today if we become relevant to their lives - language, issues, etc. Dwelling on human sexuality is just losing them....dwelling on social justice may bring 'em back
My pre-pastor past included lots of time singing in church choirs, but not a lot of time in Sunday school, or, apparently, reading scripture.
So, once I was reading scripture regularly as part of preparation for worship (lectionary) or preparation for NT and HB classes or papers in seminary, I was surprised -- no joke -- at how many of the hymns and anthems I had learned had their basis in scripture. Which meant, I knew a lot more scripture than I thought I did AND I had an artistic interpretation of its mood -- hopeful, mournful, triumphant, contemplative, because I already had a musical score to go with it!
I did wonder this week if the U@ song that reference crumbs from your table came from this week's scripture of the woman who told Jesus that even dogs get crumbs from their master's tables. But I read the lyrics, and I'm thinking not.
My prayer is that you continue to enjoy your cocooning time with Kat (and Joel). I'm looking forward to preaching in your pulpit in a month!
Three cheers for art!
And, your post reminds me of two functions of worship that sometimes get buried: telling these great stories from scripture, and making space for art.
Sometimes I think I worry too much about talking about implications of the stories that I cheat us out of just learning them and letting them do their own thing in each of us.
Hey...just love the title of your blog and think that your writing is just great. I will be referring to your blogs on my own.
Of course, I can't help adding that Gangsta's Paradise samples the intrumental line from Stevie Wonder's Pastime Paradise from the Song in the Key of Life album...released at the time fanny packs were hip.
Peter Hawkins is great. I took several courses from him in seminary. He preached a sermon on the Elephant Man that I still remember over 20 years later. It had to do with the questions of the redemption of a part of creation that wasn't so "good," at least at first. There is a powerful scene in the movie when John Merrick (the Elephant Man) surprises the doctors (who think he is little more than a vegetable) by reciting the 23rd Psalm. It is a great moment in the history of cinema.
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