Devin Chaulk who was a drummer for the band Haste the Day poses an interesting question: Why do many Christians expect bands that have Christian members to have a Christian message in their songs? In other vocations of life “No one is a Christian electrical engineer or a Christian race car driver.” Other bands have, noted a similar attitude by Christian audiences. Christians do not like bands who “express doubt or sin, or that fail to explicitly name and explain the gospel”. [1]
The above questions ask: How should Christianity impact our vocation? Do Christian electrical engineers need to witness to all their customers? Do Christian race car drivers need to put “John 3:16” prominently on their race car? What does Christianity have to do with electrical engineering? What does Christianity have to do with racing cars?
What Christianity should do is to have an impact on the person who is an electrical engineer, race car driver, or artist. And that person will then have an impact on the world.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16 ESV)
Artists who are Christians should be able to “just make art” [2] If Christianity has truly made an impact on their lives, their art will reflect that.
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[1] Emily Belz. “Way too Punk”. World Magazine, June 29, 2019, p. 72.
[2] Ibid., p. 72.
