Don't hide your light
 By Greg Montgomery
How do we communicate? Are our ideas one
dimensional with no room for interpretation? Do we give people a chance to see the things
that mean something to them?
Jesus is the greatest teacher and communicator
ever seen. His ideas and thoughts were full of life and imagery relevant to his culture.
Imagery is a key. The human mind loves to discover for itself rather than being force-fed.
Through the use of imagery we have the opportunity to enable the audience to draw out for
themselves their own truths.
Solomon in Proverbs gives us truths embodied
in an image, "Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam".
Through this one comparison we can see how an
argument may be small to start with, but it will grow and become more and more
destructive. Like a small hole in a dam, it grows till finally it destroys all life near
the dam and the dam is left empty.
Jesus used parables (short descriptive
stories) to explain truths and answer questions. Some of these parables were mysteries to
the crowds that gathered. The truth was hidden and it was only if your heart was touched
that the meaning would be revealed (see Luke 8:4-15).
I believe that as Christians we are to
communicate as Christ did, using imagery which is relevant to our culture. This imagery
maybe in the lyrics of music, a poem, a play, a written story, a painting, sculpture,
dance, comedy, any creative act inspired by Jesus. For so long we, as the church, have
been stuck in a form of "church" which doesn't use the powerful imagery that God
would have for us. Our culture is used to hard hitting imagery; It takes sex, violence and
scandal to make us look twice. It is hungry for more and what is new today becomes old
tomorrow. In this culture we need a fresh perspective to see how we can be a light which
attracts attention, tapping the creativity and uniqueness that God created in us.
The imagery we use may be a mystery to the
crowds. But through the Lord softening hearts a spiritual truth will be discovered. The
Bible tells us that the Gospel is like foolishness if you don't know Jesus, so it is
through Jesus that the truth can be revealed; We just need to provide him with material
and opportunity.
"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a
place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that
those who come in see the light."
The imagery we get needs to be on display, if
it is hidden the light will not be seen.
"See to it that the light within you is
not darkness. Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it
will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you." [Luke 11].
Our imagery should be lightness not darkness.
If our imagery is just a reflection of the darkness, what have we achieved? Probably a
poor substitute. We have something unique to offer which comes from a different
perspective, a heart of light. So our art and imagery should reflect this.
Ask God the creator to stir up the creative in
you; Pick up your pens, brushes, dust off your instruments, get into character and create.
Put the lamp on its stand!
Greg Montgomery, and his
wife Tanya are from Wellington, New Zealand. They currently live in
London, England, where he is working as computer consultant. Greg also
has his own company, which, interestingly enough, is also called Next
Wave.
Any comments to Greg? Mail them here.
[^ Back to top]
[Back to Current Issue]
|
