Growing up within an independent evangelical house plant that got out of hand, Christians who “dabbled” in the arts were seen in a similar light to those who “dabbled” in other dark recesses. It was only ok as long as you used your art for “Holy Purposes”. Theatre must be bible stories. Nothing could be in and for itself.
Example.
In Charles Sheldon’s “In his steps“, that book spawned a million WWJD bands, the only acceptable use for an opera singers voice is to give up her place on tour, stay and sing for a local mission. If I were to approach writing that story now I’d have the opera singer head off to do a world tour of “La Boheme”?, see how she lives an authentic Christian spirituality on the road, how she stays connected with her spiritual centre when the location she finds herself in changes week by week. And if I were to write it, well, it’d end up being a Spiritual “Bridget Jones” “Rent” fusion- lots of fabulous parties, fabulous people wearing fabulous clothes and shoes and gossip but at its centre is our beautiful Red headed singer seeking a way to authentically express her spirituality.
