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The
Illustrator:
A
Look at the Post-Modern Worship and Creative Arts
Pastor
By
CJ Pankey
Illustrator
of Praxis
At
Praxis, we have taken a story theme to what we do
and what we call it. John O’Keefe, founder of
www.ginkworld.net, is the Narrator. His job is to tell
the Story of God from the Bible as it evolves
through the lives of the congregation of Praxis,
known to us as Characters. I love that. When a
congregation realizes they are Characters in the
Story of God, your whole relationship with Christ
changes. You realize you have an integral, active
role to play in taking that Story out to the
nations. My job, as the Illustrator, is to paint
the picture of the Story of God through song,
drama, poetry, the arts, the list goes on and on.
I
came to this understanding of the Illustrator the
other day. I was attempting to write a article,
for www.ginkworld.net, and I had some of my favorite
worship music playing in the background. One of my
favorite worship songs came on, “I Give You My
Heart”. Then, this though just struck me out of
nowhere. Most Christians give their heart to
Christ, but they never take the next step of
following His teachings. I have to confess that I
have done that. Then Christ’s words started
going through my mind. “If you love Me, then you
will do what I have commanded.” I realized that
as the Worship Pastor (my title at the time) of
Praxis, there was so much more I could do with
music and the arts for Praxis then just lead
worship. Most people get stuck on the outward
things of the Walk, but never let it take over the
inside. Christ would have called them a Pharisee
or Teacher of the Law. OUCH! I not only want to
teach and lead the church in worship, but I want
to teach them how to follow Christ’s commands
and teaching through worship in its many forms.
Yes,
I do believe worship is an integral part of the
Christian life. But there has to come a point when
your love becomes action. You become so in love
with your Savior, you will do anything, by any
means, and at any cost, to let other people know
what He has done for you. The modern, evangelical
church has been stuck on worship, but they
haven’t let their worship go outside the walls
of their building. I will be honest at this point.
I am only now emerging from the modern,
evangelical mindset and into the post-modern. I
used to be hung up on style. Not anymore. My
great-uncle who was once the Dean of the
Conservatory of Music at Wheaton College has said,
“If you can’t worship to any form or style of
music, then you are focused too much on the
style.” The words of the Apostle Paul have come
to life in me. “I have become all things to all
men so that by all possible means I might save
some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel,
that I may share in its blessings.” 1
Corinthians 9:22b-23. I have led worship at my
modern, evangelical church. But I have had more
success leading people with the same type of
mindset that I have. I believe this was God’s
way of nudging me in the right direction. Now that
I have said all that, let’s focus now on the
role of the Illustrator.
cj
pankey
illustrator
of praxis
click
here to add your voice
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