- Friday, April 18, 2008
- The Right To Express
A Yale student "pretended" to be undergoing an "art project" of an utmost obscene nature: through the use of terminated children. For more details on the story read (not for the faint of heart) on at the Yale Daily News as well as the follow up from Yale’s spokesman stating that she never did such a thing but that it was all part of her "performance." Schvarts - the student in question - is giving contrary statements. So the entire issue of whether she did or did not do such acts is in a rather ambiguous state at the moment.
Regardless of whether she did stoop so low to commit such horrendous acts or whether it was all part of her political statement that she’s trying to make, I do have a bone to pick with the Yale spokesman’s comment that they were trying to assert.
"She is an artist and has the right to express herself through performance art."
So all can be justified through art? Because she is an artist and because she is "expressing herself" it’s all forgiven? Deranged serial murders consider their work to be art. Shall we then just let it be and merely smile saying, "Oh, it’s ok. He’s just expressing himself through art. He is merely showing the beauty of the human body in an artistic fashion. Oh, you don’t agree with it? How close-minded are you! Who are -you- to subject -your- views of morality upon him?"
Does a distressed youth have the right to express himself through cutting himself? He feels as if that’s the only way he can truly express himself and gather attention. If he does so don’t we try to give him help?
Wait a minute… aren’t the jihadists trying to express their religion in their suicidal demonstrations? Don’t the jihadists have a right to express themselves as well? Does the involvement of other people’s lives being taken away their right? Isn’t that the same thing here in the case of forced abortions? Oh wait… that’s right… they aren’t "human" yet.
However… even pro-choice activists recognize that there is something wrong with what Schvarts was trying to do even if they still don’t repent of the larger issue. Even the fallen can recognize that something is just not -right- and it makes them uneasy. There are indeed boundaries that can’t be crossed. Schvarts did so in trying to make a statement that violates the sanctity of life.
We live in a foolish and depraved generation. In a society where evils that are shameful to even be mentioned can be expressed under the guise of art. Oh, how low have we sunk! There is indeed death in the city. We’ve exchanged the truth for the lie and slowly we are reaping the due punishment for our crime.
But even now there is redemption for those who have ears to hear. There is One who’ll welcome us back home. Though we waged bitter war against Him in our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive all. He sent His Son down to pay the price for our inequities. All we have to do now is repent from our wicked ways and turn to Him.
April 21st, 2008 at 7:42 pm
I think that the broad subject of “art” is one of the most important topics of our day. The things that are done (in this case) and excused for art are deplorable. It seems that Schwartz needs to step back and redefine art for herself personally.
Is art around to shock people, abuse bodies…I think not. I believe art is a medium in which to display the beauty of Jesus and His creation. Therefore, a non-Christian could potentially produce art (a painting, a musical piece, etc.)-produce something that unintentionally glorifies God.
Crazy and sad…
April 21st, 2008 at 11:45 pm
What’s ridiculous is that by us talking about it, and stating ‘this is wrong’ is exactly what was desired by these lunatics. So, us just criticizing the issue doesn’t really do much, but just add to the fire. That’s all our society is. the bigger the shock value, or the more publicized your situation can be, the better. It’s sad, but it’s the truth that we have to live with, and ultimately our offspring will have to deal with. I doubt they’ll stop the trend.
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Hmmm… “It’s sad, but it’s the truth that we have to live with, and ultimately our offspring will have to deal with.” as Christians we do NOT have to live with it, we CAN change how America is run, although there will always be immoral behavior. In a fallen world everything BUT Christ is fallen and prone to depravity (Please, correct me if I’m wrong as this is how we get the 7 “Deadly Sins”). BUT We CAN make a difference, the only question that must be asked is how. You can be part of community groups, churches, schools, and government offices… WE as Christians have a RESPONSIBILITY to spread the truth of God and His Love, not to sit by idly and let our children deal with it. For this very reason I am going to study law and change what I can, if not for myself, then for the 45+ million babies aborted thus far in the United States. My question for you would be, why can’t we as modern day Christians act like the early day Church… and count ourselves worthy for suffering shame, getting fired, or even death for our Lord.
My point is that if we profess to be Christ followers we should act like it, not being ashamed of God’s inspired word and not accepting evil if we can change it. We can change the way things are done IF we act like Christ, not a Pharisee as we (Myself included) are prone to act.
John 13:15 “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”
Romans 1:16 “For I am NOT ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes.”
Romans 1:32 “Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.”
“If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, so my child may have peace.” Thomas Paine, 1776
If God is for us, who then can be against us?
April 22nd, 2008 at 2:25 pm
I think that stating a fact isn’t the same as sitting idly. The only thing that can change the world is Christ’s coming. We, as a whole, have fallen too far. So far that you simply studying law and trying to get your foot into the situation can’t solve everything. You can do -something- but it’s still a fact that our society continues to decline. Have people been trying to change it? Yes. Has it really been working? Not so much. We can sit here and say ‘As a Christ-follower, I’ll change the world. i’ll make it better.’ but from my experience, a lot of us ‘Christ-followers’ are a bit more talk and a lot less action.
Our kids are going to have to deal with a lot more crap than we ever had to. Just like we have to do more so than our parents. And our parents to their parents.
April 22nd, 2008 at 6:31 pm
The only thing that can change the world is indeed Christ’s -coming- but I propose that change has been made available from His first coming and isn’t contingent upon His second. I think such a distinction is important to make. My fear is that in saying the only thing that can change the world is Christ’s Glorious Return is synonymous to throwing in the towel and just biding our time on earth. It seems to me that waiting for the end is a copout. Whatever happened to running the good race?
Before Christ, mankind was doomed to repeat the folly of their way. With Christ’s life and death and, most importantly, His resurrection, man can be truly free from the bondage of sin and death that we were once slaves to. We are finally free to live a life of righteousness in accordance to the will of God. A freedom that was only made possible by the first coming of Christ.
It is true that during the Glorious Return every knee will bow and every tongue will confess giving submission to His will and at that time the old world as we knew it will be done away with and a new one will be given. At that time we will finally completely escape the taint left behind by sin and enter into perfection with Christ. However that day is not this day. That day will come like a “thief in the night.”
Until that day comes we are to live a life in accordance to the faith we profess. We are to walk in Christ’s footsteps and live as image bearers of His name. We may no longer be -of- this world but that doesn’t mean we are not -in- it. We aren’t to live our life in seclusion from the world but to work within to the best of our abilities with the gifts and talents given us. I’m not saying that this fallen world can be changed in its entirety but should that dissuade me from working in that small part given me to labor with?
I have feared for the future that my children will be brought up in. I have despaired at the dark shadow cast by the down-spiraling society that we live in. Being crippled by fear and despair, however, will not make it any better. In acknowledging that there is a problem, I now bear some responsibility in setting it straight. James clearly states that knowing to do good and not doing so is a sin.
And I find that my fear and despair is somewhat foolish. I have seen the results of the redemptive power of God at work in even the darkest of cities. I’ve born witness to numerous testimonies of God’s love taking hold of those who I would’ve deemed impossible to come to repentance. My mind is just baffled at how this could be yet it is.
God is working even now. With or without me, His will be -will- be done. I think I rather jump on the bandwagon and allow Him to use even one as lowly as myself than to sit by and tell Him that it’s all in vain.
April 22nd, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Schaeffer’s book “Death in a City” (which I recommend reading) states that we (America and Europe in particular) live in a post-Christian society. By that he means that our society has known the light and while the entirety of our society weren’t born again Christians, a large portion was and society, while not being perfect, was decent. Now however that is not the case.
Now we’ve rested on our laurels and have fallen prey to some of the false hollow philosophies of the world: psychology, marketing, prosperity theology, ‘feel good’ religion, and more. We have churches that state that homosexuality is an acceptable lifestyle. We’ve forgotten about sin and repentance and have focused overly so on love and blessings. Yes, Christianity is about love. Yes, there are blessings promised -but- we were never promised a life of ease that we hear so often now. Passages such as Hebrews 11:35-38 that talk about those who suffer for His name are just ignored.
Schaeffer’s main thesis was that the degradation of our society isn’t because of our lack of morals but that the underlying root cause is much deeper than that. It is because of our disconnect with God that all these evils have sprung forth.
He makes analogies from Jeremiah of Israel and compares the country with America. Israel knew the truth. They knew God quite well as a matter of fact and when they served Him and lived in His ways, the country flourished. However Israel became prideful and turned away from Him. In their pride they did all sorts of evils and received the just punishment for their crime. The same is with us. We have become prideful. We have stopped running the good race. The light that once shone in the States is slowly disappearing and darkness is taking its place.
Mm… I haven’t done Schaeffer full justice. I strongly recommend his book for those interested.
Also, something of interest. My bible study leader mentioned how the church ‘waned like the moon.’ Or in less poetical terms, that historically the catholic Church’s presence grows and decreases throughout as time passes. By that I am not referring to the Catholic church or it’s papal power but to the global Church - the body to which all believers belong to.
I’m not a strong history buff nor have I done much research in this particular area, but I’m told that you can trace through history and see how society’s morals and standards shift in somewhat of a cyclic fashion. I would venture to say that there is a correlation between the strength of the Church and society’s morals.
April 22nd, 2008 at 10:49 pm
Um… i’m also not saying we should do nothing, im just saying, as a society, we’ve been failing for the last 2000 years. We just have to live in a world of it. This is why I should stop giving my opinions, because they’re always wrong.