That’s Dick Staub quoting C. S. Lewis. I asked him about Christian media when I interviewed him recently for TheHighCalling.org. His answer suprised and delighted me, “I don’t think that there is such a thing as Christian media. In a sense, I agree with C. S. Lewis who said, ‘We don’t need more Christian writers. We need more great writers who are Christian.’ ”
It’s a three part interview, beginning with Get Back in the Game! Go read it sometime this week, and let me know what you think. (I’m always looking for good feedback from readers. And we definitely encourage high calling bloggers to quote it and link to it.)
If you aren’t familiar with Staub, his stuff is well worth looking into. I’ve come to believe his manifesto, The Culturally Savvy Christian, is a must read for Christian artists. The last third struck me as especially powerful, but the book’s tone was the biggest shock to me. Staub doesn’t have any blinders on. He isn’t afraid to point out how completely disconnected from culture most Christians have become.
I’d also recommend his blog podcast, “The Kindling’s Muse.” I started listening to Inklings 2.0 this morning. (It’s a three part podcast. Here are part two and part three.)
So what are you waiting for? Go read the interview.
Note to Regulars: Speaking of getting back in the game… I’m back. I took a retreat, spent some time with family, and spent some time trying to refocus. Some really good things happened while I was gone.
Professionally: I’m now Senior Editor at the H. E. Butt Foundation. L.L., I’ve been writing some new poetry. Also, I’ve been writing fiction like mad: 1000 words a day. In order to keep that up, GoodWordEditing may slow down a bit for a few weeks.
Personally: My daughter began first grade. My son began preschool. My wife has been cast in The Importance of Being Earnest (one of my favorite plays). Amy and I are almost finished reading Harry Potter out loud.
Spiritually: the retreat time at Laity Lodge renewed me much more than I anticipated. I’m still thinking about the experience, and I don’t know if I can put it into words. This weekend, the Foundation is relaunching family camp. I’ll be there too.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
Ah, so good to hear your blog voice again. And hurray for Amy! I wish I were local enough to see her in action. Your time away sounds so rich and I can’t wait for that richness to spill over week by week here. A poetic senior editor, huh? Now that’s something to celebrate. Cheers!!
I’ll join LL in welcoming you back. And contrats on the senior editor thing! I’m pretty sure they know what a gem you are.
Speaking of the subject of the essay, we could ask the question if we EVER should have allowed the word Christian to become an adjective. I don’t think so. Of course, we can no more stop the development of words than we can control fads or wipe out terrorism among people for whom that is the only perceived option.
But I don’t like using it as an adjective. I think the minute you do that, there is a deadening effect, spiritually. I resist it when possible.
So, RLP, you too are in search of a good noun?
Anyway, Mark, this is right up your alley to think of the implications of the grammatical classification we apply to the word “Christian”. Could it ever be a verb, for instance? Should it be?
Welcome back, Mark!
welcome back, Marcus.
I think Staub is right except I’d extend it to just about any arena of cultural engagement -
we don’t need more christian artists, we need great artists who are christians
we don’t need more christian politicians, we need great politicians who are christian
we don’t need more christian musicians, we need great musicians who are christian
we don’t need more christian businessmen, we need great businessmen who are christian
Well, I think it all depends on how we use the adjective. If a “Christian writer” writes as such an insider that he or she is unintelligble to “non-Christians,” and if his or her ideas reflect a lack of engagement of anything outside of the “Christian” world, and if his or her writing shows a narrowness of scope, then I agree. If a “Christian writer” writes as a Christian, as a person who has a truly Christian worldview, as someone who shares a fully Christian vision of the creation and the future in Christ, as a Christ-like person who lives in this world and interacts with this world, then I think we need more Christian writers.
C.S. Lewis is right.
And Christianity has real life application to all areas of society. We should be careful separating the sacred from the “secular” eh?
ThirstyJon
freedomthirst.com
Welcome back. My son started first grade this week as well, I was a mess and I admit it!
Congratulations with your promotion to senior editor, that is a big jump.
I will look more into your interview of Dick Straub, I am ashamed to admit his name really has not come across my mind before. I am always looking for plesant suprises though.
I absolutely adore The Importance of Being Ernest! Congrats to your wife.
Way to go on 1000 words a day!!!
mary
Glad you’re back, Bud! Thank God for times of refreshment.
I agree with the sentiment that we need great writers who are Christian.
But what publisher will touch a commentary on Luke or James written from an evangelical perspective, even if it is masterfully written?
And what if publishers won’t publish books that reflect biblical values, or conservative values, etc? Could the rise of “Christian” publishing be due to the decline in any other publisher being willing to publish us?
Just some thoughts.
Great blog.
Bill
Thanks Mary – I play Gwendolyn – should be fun.
Carl – I thought Kindergarten was harder. That comes for our son in two years. I’m stocking up on Kleenex.
And, FYI to Marcus’ readers – those 1000 words a day have been really good! I am his wife, but….they are.
Thanks for the comments everyone! I just finished my morning 1000, and I have to run to an all day meeting. I’ll respond to everyone tonight.
I think Gordon and Mark are raising a good issue. Mark writes wonderful books that serve a primarily Christian audience. Gordon specifically writes for an audience that is a little hostile to institutional Christianity.
That is easier to define for nonfiction. But fiction for Christian audiences versus fiction for nonChristian audiences seems to be a stickier thing. I think that’s what Lewis was talking about. But he was also writing at a time when mainstream presses would publish books like Mere Christianity.
Ach! Gotta run.
welcome back – you were missed!
Hallelujah, amen.
What is unfortunate is that the adjective “Christian” has come to mean sub-par, copycat, lame.
I can’t wait to see Amy in “Earnest.” That is my favorite play of all time.
A few comments got labeled spam on accident, sorry about that Lady Jane, Bill, and, um, my wife.
Bill, I agree completely. Christian publishing (and the Christian bookstores) rose up when secular presses stopped publishing inspirational Christian nonfiction. (For example, the first edition of Mere Christianity was a secular press. That would never happen today.)
I still think Christian presses make sense for inspirational nonfiction, commentaries, and bibles.
But Christian fiction can be a strange thing. I like it when it is done well, but the rules are so rigid, and the audience so small, it is hard to find people who do it well.
(Austin Boyd is one!)