Those of you who know me know that I am not a big fan of the
concept of "sacred space." And as much as I love the arts, I think that
they can become as much as a devisive tool (marginalizing the
aesthetically challenged and elevating those who go to arthouse films
and know what REAL literature is) as they can be an authentic aid in
worship. 

When it comes to the role of aesthetics in the church, it may seem as
though I am an iconoclast (which in many ways I am, I suppose).
Nevertheless, I wish to offer advice to those of you lead, or desire to
lead, in bringing new approaches and styles into the church: if you are
going to base your worship upon a heavy use of aesthetics, make sure
you do embrace a solid aesthetic and avoid kitsch. 

You see, western culture (especially American culture) turns all of the
finer things of life into prostitutes…pawning them on street corners
for easy consumption.  One only has to watch television for about half
an hour before one discovers a catfood or burger or car or tampon
commercial that utilizes Beethoven or Motzart or Bach or the Beetles in
order to sell whatever that product happens to be. We Americans have
been trained to see almost everything through the lens of
commodification (that process by which object and services are packaged
and disconnected from their origins, thus creating a project that holds
meaning only for the consumer, instead of having its meaning derived
by, from, and for its creator).  Through this lens, it is easy to see
aesthetics and liturgics as nifty commodities to be used in accordance
with our evolving (and often traditionless) religious and spiritual
tastes. 

This is why one can walk into any number of evangelical mega-churches
on a Saturday night for Emergent? worship service and see Celtic
crosses, Greek icons, and Catholic candles.  Sure, many groups that
have such offerings do so reflectively–their leadership has studied
the traditions of the Church and has made an informed decision about
how their service will utilize the arts.  But my gut tells me that most
have left the realm of liturgics and entered into the realm of kitsch.
They are pastors of pastiche.  They have surveyed 2000 years of art and
culture and meaning and abstracted elements from that grand history
(ie, commodified it) and put together something that at first blush
SEEMS sacred, but is really a sort of disturbing Frankenstein.  It is a
freakish creature created by slapping together cool shite from the
ages, into an experience that seems sort of deep, but without its roots
in any distinguishable tradition.  The only common glue holding the
parts together is a sense of taste that has been shaped by an
upbringing in a consumerist advertising culture.

About Mark Van Steenwyk

Mark Van Steenwyk is a member of Missio Dei. He is a speaker, writer, educator, and grassroots organizer. With the support of the Central Plains Mennonite Conference, he travels to radical and intentional communities around the country to help network and offer support.