Addicted to Mediocrity, Chapter 3: "Spirituality" and "Secularism"

In the third chapter, Schaeffer makes two primary arguments for the deficiency of Christian arts. "The first is what I call a theological development, the second a secular development." (p. 25)

The "theological development" that Schaeffer talks about is how "certain things were increasingly...regarded as spiritual and other things as secular." (p. 27) In fact, you see this compartmentalization everywhere. What is it about Christian-rock that's different than regular rock? What is it about Comtemporary Christian that's different from pop?

But where Schaeffer's argument breaks down is when he talks about how there has been a "disappearance of creative people within the Christian community". (p. 28) I refuse to believe there are no more creative people left in the Church. I believe the issue now is this mentality that things need to be spiritual in order for them to be used in the Church. This idea of compartmentalization has become so prevalent that people don't know how to use their "gifts" in the Church. It's all well and good to say that it requires no "justification", but it doesn't help the people who want to use their gifts to break from the old paradigm.

The "secular development" Schaeffer talks about is how "people began to look at themselves and the world around them in purely utilitarian terms." (p. 29) This is evident in the pursuit of fame, fortune, power, and sex. But the cause wasn't "Darwinian theory" (p. 29), it was what "Darwinian theory" allowed. Because of "Darwininian theory", there was no longer a need for the existence of God. If God no longer existed, then there was no judgement. If there s no judgement, there is no punishment in the form of Hell or reward in the form of Heaven. You were now justified to seek your own desires and freely indulge in the pleasures of your heart.

It is this breakdown that caused people to begin to gauge their worth based on their position in life. The contents of their wallet. Their job.

Combined with the compartmentalization of the spiritual life was the alter movement of Charles Finney; the evangelical belief that you can convince/manipulate people into believing. Those that were creative and did art could not see an outlet that fit in the Church. Not that it wasn't "utilitarian", but they didn't know how to use it in the context of the Church. Repeatedly, you are told that it needs to be spiritual, or what's the point.

Now I begin to understand what Schaeffer means by art doesn't need to be "justified". In other words, it doesn't have to have a point, at least not in the spiritual sense.