Home > Community > Good news > More sheep

We need more sheep in the pigpen

A challenge to Christian artists
by Michael Russell, June 2001

Be a witness ...

We who know Jesus are commanded to be a witness.

(Matthew 28:19-20 NIV) Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.

Our witness can take many forms. It varies from talking to a person at a convention, providing the gospel on our web site, handing out 'tracks', or a message in artwork and stories.

But, the most important point is that we witness one-on-one. God works in the hearts of individuals.

Anyone who calls Jesus Lord will seek to obey this command to be a witness.

(1 John 2:3-4 NIV) We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him", but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

We have to be careful not to become isolationist. We have to go to those who do not know Jesus.

(Matthew 9:12 NIV) On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick".

(Romans 10:14-15 NIV) How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

(1 Corinthians 5:9-11 NIV) I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people — not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

NOTE: Very important. Paul many times teaches that we are to hold fellow believers accountable to living up to the faith. However, we cannot force this or even expect such from non-believers. In fact, the only person we are instructed to isolate ourselves from is a believer who continues in sin and rejects correction. In that case, we are commanded to separate ourselves from that rejecting "believer".

Avoid hypocrisy ...

We must be free from hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy is when you say one thing or tell people to act one way but you are currently acting in the opposite or contrary manner.

A teacher is one who in the past acted in an opposite or contrary manner but no longer does so and tells people to learn from his experience and don't make those same mistakes.

(Matthew 23:25-26 NIV) Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

(Galatians 2:11-21 NIV) ... [14] When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?" ...

The basic summary is that if as an artist you seek to serve the Lord with your artwork, then you better avoid being a hypocrite with your artwork. You cannot denounce one person for doing objectional art if you yourself do suggestive or objectional art.

Make your lifestyle and artwork consistent with your faith in God.

(2 Timothy 2:15 NIV) Work hard so God can say to you, 'Well done'. Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work. Know what His Word says and means.

Avoid being complacent ...

We must avoid becoming complacent.

(Isaiah 32:9-20 NIV) ... [9] You women who are so complacent, rise up and listen to me; you daughters who feel secure, hear what I have to say!

Side note: I actually find this verse and others very interesting. God holds women more responsible than men for holding together a society. Using an analogy of a boat. The men steer the boat. The women hold the boat together. When men no longer live under God's direction, the boat drifts. However, when women no longer live under God's direction, the boat sinks. For me, it is very sad to see the number of girls who are drawing explicit pictures on the various online galleries. This shows the extent that modern society is sinking in addition to being adrift. So, I make an extra appeal to the ladies who seek to witness with your artwork to be even more careful about the message being presented.

Avoid compromise ...

We must avoid compromise.

(2 Corinthians 6:14-18 NIV) ... [14] Don't be teamed with those who do not love the Lord, for what do the people of God have in common with the people of sin? How can light live with darkness? ...

Paul is talking about being in business with or married with. Again, the word is "teamed" as in a working relationship. The reason for this is simple ... in the course of business, there will come a time when the unbeliever will do things the World's way, not God's way, and you will be faced with divided loyalties.

However, Paul is not talking about association that comes from being in the same public gathering place.

Be involved ...

We are called to be involved in the world.

(John 17:15 NIV) My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

Jesus asked the Father to keep believers in the world and use them in the world. We should not try to escape from the world or avoid all relationships with non-Christians. We are called to be salt and light.

(Matthew 5:13-16 NIV) You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

An interesting piece of trivia. Salt was used in Bible times to preserve foods. They didn't have refrigerators. Salt worked by slowing the decay. Didn't eliminate it, just slowed it. Thus meat would last a month or so rather than become unusable in a day or two. It is also interesting that salt would leave an impression (salty taste) on the item being preserved.

The Book of Revelation clearly shows that the Church is left in the world to preserve it -- to slow the decay. When the Church leaves the world (implied in Revelation 4), you see how quickly the world goes to "hell", figuratively speaking. Even today, as so many in the Church have become lukewarm or worse, led astray by false liberal teachings that teach a wimpy Jesus and a faith of feelings, we see how quickly the world is going to "hell".

We are called to witness in the common meeting places.

(Acts 17:17 NIV) So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.

Paul would start in the synagogue teaching to the Jews. For us, that is like spending each Sunday at Church. But, the rest of the week, he was in the marketplace. We know Paul was a tent maker. He would come to a new town and set up shop.

By the way, if you study the Book of Acts, you will never see Paul trying to change the rules of the marketplace. He never tried to change the way the government operated. Instead, he used the marketplace to meet the community and thus be able to witness and preach to the community.

Also, if you notice, Paul and Peter never wagged their fingers in the face of the people and said "Woe you awful sinners. Y'all are going to hell." They never went to the marketplace and said "If you don't clean up your act, then we are going to leave." Instead, they preached from the Scriptures and taught the people the Good News -- an attractive alternative!

Artists ask yourself: Is your artwork an "attractive alternative"?

If you are an artist, witness where you share your art. Whether it is a MUCK, online gallery, art show, or whatever, be prepared to witness in word, action, and the product of your hands in that environment.

I could go on and on, but I'm sure y'all are getting bored reading this far. So, let's go back to the analogy.

Summary ...

We need more sheep in the pigpen, not less.

If you can witness with your artwork, then do so! Be bold. Understand that you will be hated. But, as Jesus said, "I am with you always". So, don't be afraid when others insult you. As Peter said, "Be happy when you are persecuted, because of who we are in [Jesus]"

Don't be a hypocrite with your artwork. Don't weaken your message by posting artwork that might be objectional or questionable.

Don't wimp out and leave the common meeting places. When you do this, you are not being salt. You are abandoning those who may be reached. Make your presence consistent.

Be prepared to share the gospel to those who ask. Share with kindness and gentleness.

Do not compromise. Do not give in to the temptation or peer pressure to draw questionable or objectionable material.

Do not confuse "association" with "approval". Jesus associated with sinners, but He never approved of their sin. We are commanded to be in the world (association), but not of the world (approval).

What about the border collies?

Ever notice, border collies are used to keep sheep in line, they are not used to keep pigs in line?

We as Christians are called to encourage fellow believers. We are also called to hold each other accountable. If we see a fellow believer acting in a disgraceful manner or sinning, we are commanded to correct the "brother" in kindness and gentleness.

So, those of us who cannot draw, we can be the border collies to the artists [sheep]. We can give them comfort, encouragement, and also the occassional correction when needed.

Following the Scriptural examples and commands are not easy. They take work. But, ahhh, the great reward!!