Radiate: Tristan’s blog

For several years now, I have struggled on and off with the importance of what I do. I have usually tried not to think about it too much, since I really enjoy creative arts ministry, I’ve spent years of my life and thousands of dollars getting educated for it, and I have a great job at a church I love. But sometimes the thoughts would creep in anyway: Why is it important that we have music in a worship service anyway? Why do I spend my time creating music, planning worship gatherings, brainstorming for dramas, and making short films when ___?

I’m sure you can fill in the blank yourself. Why spend time doing that stuff…

• When there are so many people suffering from poverty, oppression, disease, and starvation, and as an advocate or aid worker I could save their lives in Jesus’ name, or as a successful businessman I could use my wealth for their relief?


• When there are millions of people who do not yet have a Bible translation in their language, and I could become a linguist-translator?


• When today’s students see Christianity as completely irrelevant, and as a student pastor, I could help many of them to see Jesus in a new light and follow Him, helping to change the future of our world?


• When becoming like Jesus and “making disciples” is what really matters?

Recently God has been helping me go through the process of beginning to answer this question. Over the next several posts, I hope to lay out what I’m (so far) calling an old-new foundation for living as creative artists in the Kingdom. It’s old because everything I plan to say is just a remix or mash-up of what others have already said far more eloquently. It’s new in that I think we (artists, musicians, and worship leaders in the church) often fail to minister from this context, and if my experience is normal, most of us (myself included) have at best a tenuous grasp of our purpose… and I hope these thoughts are helpful in the process of rediscovery.

Over the next few posts, I’ll discuss the seeds of old thoughts that I hope will lead to some new growth.