For some reason, Tyler Riggs' blog post didn't allow for answers, but certainly seemed to both solicit and deserve answers. Therefore I have reposted his message here:
"When I took my Son to the local comic book store, I was informed that all of what I considered to be standard superhero fare was no longer under the Comic Code of Authority. Needless to say the issue of Action comics that my son picked out drove the point home. The first couple of pages had Superman in bed with a woman (at least it was a woman).
"Times have changed from when I could go to the local 7-11 and take any issue off the rack and not worry about whether or not the content was too mature for my age. That was in the late 70's.
"Are Christian comics always explicitly Christ centered or do some have more 'secular' content but informed by Christian values and morality? Are people in the CCAS Christian comic artists or are they comic artists that are Christian? Is it ok to be both?"
Replies
Back on topic: the focus of Christian comics.......JESUS CHRIST---Who He is, what He has done, is doing, and shall do---and can do (provisional promises for those who trust and obey Him).
Any genre, any style, any size (both page count and dimensions).
There are numerous publications from the past which are exemplary---these should not limit anyone...on the contrary, they should inspire further efforts in this vein.
Courtesy of COMIX35, a listing of notable Christian comics:
http://www.christiancomicsinternational.org/series_details.html#anc...
Also courtesy of COMIX35, a listing of Christian comics pioneers:
http://www.christiancomicsinternational.org/pioneers_index.html#anc...
Read about these Christian comics creators---who they were, what they did, how they lived, how they died---learn from their examples, learn from their mistakes. Understand how the times have radically changed, but how the Gospel of Jesus Christ is eternal and unchanging.
"Remove not the ancient landmark which thy fathers have set." Proverbs 22:28 Christian comics have a rich history; to wilfully ignore or dismiss it is to do yourself a great disservice.
"Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." Psalms 37:37
The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 11:1, "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ." In regards to Christian comics, any number of those listed in the Christian Comics Pioneers section---Frank Beard, E. J. Pace, Phil Saint, Al Hartley, etc.---could say the same words of Paul in regards to the path their lives, career, and ultimate ministry took as they surrendered their all to Christ. We can learn much from lives well-lived, time well spent, and work well-used for the glory of God.
This is written not to spark debate, but to provoke prayer and productivity.
I'm in full agreement with you in that whatever we do, we should do it as unto the Lord, whether it's a secular job (art or otherwise) or ministry.
As a Christian artist, yes, I suggest putting aside categories like 'secular' and 'Christian'. Why? Because if I am a believer in Christ then everything I create will come from that belief. If I put terms like 'secular' and 'Christian' on to my work- especially when I am creating it- then I run the risk of killing the work.
The Bible makes divisions between that which is of God that that which is not, but this discussion is about the Christian and his/her art. We are told to be transformed by the renewing of our minds, and not be conformed to the world. If we truly are, and we take that seriously, then we ought not be concerned with 'secular' and 'Christian' as far as our work is concerned. We ought to just create. (And recognize that we will all create differently.)
If we are walking with Christ, and we ought to let our work flow from that walk.
In short, we ought to create freely.
Steve, you said: "Categories like 'secular' and 'Christian', put them aside- after all, the purpose of categories is to limit." The Bible challenges that notion, and I said as much, too, that's all.
As for the person you mentioned who rejected "Christian" music if Jesus' name weren't in the lyrics at least several times---we can safely agree that that person had a strange sort of legalism that doesn't even line up with the Scriptures. You could share with him/her that "psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs"---a phrase used twice in the New Testament---refers to, in the first noun, 150 psalms where Jesus' name is never mentioned (though salvation - Yeshua, Hebrew for Jesus - is in a number of them), as it was written at a time when the coming Messiah and the New Covenant had not yet been revealed, except in types and shadows.
I'm not sure what the warnings against being double-minded, or serving two masters has to do with this.
The categories of "Christian" and "secular" are not equatable to those of "sacred" and "profane". After all, because something is secular (like the Muppets) doesn't mean it is profane, and quite honestly, because something is called "Christian" doesn't make it sacred by default.
When we create we ought to do so with the freedom Christ has given us. If we start the creative process with restrictions like "I have to tell the Gospel in this work" then the work will most likely lack life. It will be a means to an end, but with art so often the art itself is the end.
I once knew a person who would reject "Christian" music if it didn't have the name Jesus in the lyrics at least a few times. That is not a joke. By that standard all of Vivaldi's work would be trashed, not to mention MOST Christian music.
And if you have a standard like that, and you place those types of restrictions on your own work, then fine. But be careful when you lay that creative burden on others, lest you become a sort of artistic pharisee- smothering grace with law.
And if you cannot help but lay those kind of trips on others, I truly pray that others are secure enough in their walk to ignore such traps.
I'm not sure what the warnings against being double-minded, or serving two masters has to do with this.
The categories of "Christian" and "secular" are not equatable to those of "sacred" and "profane". After all, because something is secular (like the Muppets) doesn't mean it is profane, and quite honestly, because something is called "Christian" doesn't make it sacred by default.
When we create we ought to do so with the freedom Christ has given us. If we start the creative process with restrictions like "I have to tell the Gospel in this work" then the work will most likely lack life. It will be a means to an end, but with art so often the art itself is the end.
I once knew a person who would reject "Christian" music if it didn't have the name Jesus in the lyrics at least a few times. That is not a joke. By that standard all of Vivaldi's work would be trashed, not to mention MOST Christian music.
And if you have a standard like that, and you place those types of restrictions on your own work, then fine. But be careful when you lay that creative burden on others, lest you become a sort of artistic pharisee- smothering grace and creativity with law and restrictions.
And if you cannot help but lay those kind of trips on others, I truly pray that others are secure enough in their walk to ignore such traps.
Well, Steve, even the Bible uses categories like "sacred" and "profane" (and "flesh" and "spirit", or "fresh water" and "bitter") in the same sentence, as warnings to not be double minded, as no man can serve two masters. These are God's designations, not man's. The apostle Paul found the greatest freedom in being Christ's bondservant. It is a remarkable and beautiful irony, and our Lord Jesus plainly stated that broad is the road to destruction, but narrow is the path to life and few there be that find it.
As for the encouragement for believers to be creative, to do something, I'm all for that. There's so much talk and so little action by comparison.
Best regards,
Alec
Personally, I don't think it's necessary to be a professional artist/illustrator in order to have a valid or informed opinion on art/illustration. That is elitist nonsense.
We ought to avoid judging what is Christian enough to be called "Christian". As believers we ought to just create from the center of our faith, and let our work be what it is.
To say Christians ought to create a certain way, or with a certain message is closed-minded. Truth comes in many forms, and has many facets. If we are inspired to create a Gospel-centered story, praise the Lord. If we are inspired to create another kind of story, praise the Lord. Just hold Truth high.
Be free in Christ. BE FREE.
There will ALWAYS be those to say something is not Christian enough. You will never satisfy every one. So don't try. Ultimately, we each walk with our Lord as individuals, and the Lord made us individuals for a reason.
Categories like "secular" and "Christian", put them aside- after all, the purpose of categories is to limit. Just create what the Lord has put on your heart, and create it in the way YOU choose.
Oh, ok. Thanks for the heads up. We can get back on-topic, then.
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