ART & ENTERTAINMENT 01 – Discipling Nations & Arts

based on thoughts from D.J. Hamilton

The meaning of the Great Commission

Mrk 16:15         “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.”
Mth 28:18-20   “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.”

  • Mark: The word for “world” is G2889 k¢osmon cosmos, world. The words for “to the whole creation” is literally ‘to all in the creation’, creation is the word 2937 kt¢isei creation.
  • Matthew: “make disciples of all nations” is literally ‘disciple all the nations’. The word “make disciples” is G3100 maqhte¢usate, (Strong’s: to become a pupil, to disciple, to instruct, teach, enroll as scholar). The word for “nations” is G1484 ¢ eqnh , nations (Strong’s: race, tribe, foreign, non-Jewish people, Gentile, pagan, heathen, people nation). “teaching them to obey everything I commanded you” is literally ‘teaching them to give heed to all I gave charge to you’. The word for “teaching” is G1321 did¢askonteV (Strong’s: teach, learn). The word for “give heed” is G5083 thre¢ (Strong’s: to give heed, guard, note, fulfill a command, withhold, hold fast, observe, watch). The word for “charge” is G1781 eneteil¢amhn (Strong’s: charge, enjoining, command, injoin).
  • Mark focuses on the individuals, that to all in creation the gospel will be proclaimed.
  • Matthew focuses on the nations, that all nations would be discipled to obey everything Jesus commanded.
  • We could compare the two commissions like this:
 

Task

Whom

Nature of the Task

Mrk

proclaim

individuals

Breadth of the Task > spread wide

mono-generational

urgent

Mth

disciple

nations

Depth of the Task

> affect deeply

multi-generational

strategic

  • Preaching can be done in a short time, conversions can happen quickly; but discipleship takes a long time, we will need discipleship till the day we die.
  • It doesn’t say ‘make converts’, it says ‘to disciple’ (continually): to teach, to shape, to train, to form, to mold, to change until a god-likeness, a fruitfulness, a rightness and a beauty appears, which is an ongoing, long process.
  • Mark challenges us give to all individuals an appropriately modeled gospel presentation so that they have enough understanding to make a true choice.
  • Matthew challenges us to look to the whole nation, society, community, to corporate expressions of humanity and show them God’s good plan to make them into godly, livable, just, peaceful and beautiful communities.
  • Mark challenges us to build individuals. Matthew challenges us to build nations.
  • We have traditionally been more aware and also more successful at proclaiming the gospel widely, at building the individuals. We have been far less aware, and far less successful at building godly nations.
  • We have pretty good understanding, tools and commitment to the task of reaching individuals, we are far more at a loss as to how we should disciple, influence, shape entire societies. How does one do this? How should the end product look?
  • Individuals are one-generational, whereas a nation will still exist, when I as an individual have died. Nations are multi-generational, addressing nations has to be multi-generational as well.
  • So: how do you disciple a nation?

​The importance of the Domains of Society

  • In order to disciple a nation you will have to bring God’s design and influence to all its domains or spheres. Every nation has domains: Government, Economy, Science, Family, Education, Communication, Religion and Arts. These domains are intrinsic to nations.
  • Illustration: The human body is also made up of inter-connected and inter-dependent systems: the gastro-intestinal system, the respiratory system, the circulatory system, the musculoskeletal system, the endocrine system etc.
  • In the same way all nations or societies intrinsically have these domains. All domains are equally necessary, all are a given, all interact, all are inter-dependent.
  • Any of the domains may operate more or less according to God’s will, it may be more godly and righteous – or less so. But the domains do exist and they have their role, function and influence. God created it so.
  • And God doesn’t only make individuals wonderfully and uniquely, he does the same for nations, giving them unique expressions, talents, abilities, roles, callings .. and the “the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” (Rom 11:29).
  • In Acts 17:26-27 we get a taste of God’s unique design and calling for nations: “From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God”.
  • So the Great Commission sets us two great tasks: to proclaim the gospel so as to ensure that every individual in this world has a chance to hear a meaningful presentation of the gospel. And to disciple all nations, teaching them to obey all God commanded, making them more God-like, more righteous, more just and more beautiful societies.
  • Old Testament prophets addressed both individuals and nations. Jesus is twice recorded to weep in the gospels, once over Lazarus (an individual), once over Jerusalem (a society). We need to get our eyes on both the individual and the nation.

The importance of the Arts in discipling nations

  • In discipling a nation, in influencing a society towards godly standards there is a natural progression:
  • In order to effect a change, first thinkers are needed, philosophers, students of the Word of God, theologians, worldview people. They are the people who explore and understand foundational, pre-suppositional ideas. Because ideas have consequences, the way people think will determine where the society heads and the way the society will live.
  • Second come the balladeers, the story tellers, the singer of songs. The Greco-Roman world, which later shaped Europe (for good and bad), were Homer’s poems, stories set to song (Iliad, Odyssey). These ballads pass on a world view, basic values, an identity and purpose for humans, principles, reasoning and hopes.
  • The balladeers in modern terms are every kind of artist, script writer, novelist, dancer, film maker, designer; anyone with kill or craft in the area of Arts, Entertainment and Communication. Artists turn ideas into beauty. Audiences embrace the beautiful, and the values presented. This effects deep change, which is more than just a cognitive assent, but a heart response.
  • Modern day illustration: The book and movie ‘Lord of the Rings’, by J.R.R. Tolkien. It powerfully impregnates spirit and soul of the readers or viewers with the values of loyalty, service, sacrifice, humility and courage. Everyone walks out experiencing ‘Lord of the Rings’ wanting to be a self-sacrificing person who does right. Through arts truths are sown deep, ideas are brought into vogue, value systems are altered.
  • Third come the professionals, They are trained in university, that are influenced by the thinkers and balladeers. They become the teachers, the implementors, the policy makers.
  • And in this way, finally, a worldview change reaches the masses. (See Illustration on the left, based on 1983 chart by Mel Gables, National Association of Christian Educators).

A word for artists

  • Most important for a change of worldview are the thinkers and artists. They address the values and concepts, the ideas and responses, the heart and mind, the thinking and emotions. When all these levels are addressed and what is said is accepted and engaged in, then true change happens.
    Change always happens through a passionate, intentional minority. Jesus describes this with the salt metaphor. It doesn’t take much salt, but everywhere just a little, to change the taste of everything.
  • As artists, as influencers, as communicators it is important not just to be highly skilled, to have talent and carefully hone the craft, but to truly have a message worth saying. Even amazing talents will not reach their potential impact if they are not thinking Biblically. Arts and Entertainment is not void of thought, it cannot be disconnected from one’s worldview, art in itself can’t change things.
  • But also ideas alone are not enough. Cognitive agreement to truths is not yet effective.
  • We need a passionate pursuit of the truth of God’s Word combined with effective use of skills and talents in order to accomplish a holistic transformation.
  • How do these elements of transforming the heart and transforming the mind get imparted in an integrated manner?
  • We do not fully know, but God will show up, He will do it, He will help us do it for He made us for this.

Book recommendation

Important Worldview books:

  • Francis Shaeffer             Complete works
  • Darrow Miller                  Discipling Nations
  • Landa Cope                    Introduction to Old Testament Template
  • Vishal Mangalwadi         The book that made your world
  • Loren Cunningham        The Book that transforms nations

 

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT