Today at our all staff meeting at Eastbrook Church, we discussed a message by Tim Keller entitled “God’s Global Urban Mission – Contextualization” from Cape Town 2010, the Third Laussane Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town, South Africa. It was a very stimulating conversation about the nature of the church in urban settings.
You can watch the video for yourself below or via this link.
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Matthew Erickson 
Refreshing to hear what he has to say about artists in the city. I play in a professional symphony orchestra, an urban resource. Keller is dead on how I and many of my Christian classical instumentalist friends around the country feel about our role in church worship. It is awkward to know that as some of my artist friends have become Christians that their home churches more often than not ask them to leave their brand of God given talents at the door. At best this group is often (as Keller points out) considered more of a resource for others’ unique worship expressions, but not allowed or invited to have their gifts and /or insights be expressed in the culture of the church in the manner in which they have spent a lifetime refining and cultivating for the Lord. Additionally, from my observation, a city church is even more likely to have members and seekers that embrace culture that lies beyond the realm of the local “Christian Music” stations and “WOW” playlists. We should be diligent in discerning what music we can incorporate into our services from the all sorts of cultures one finds in the city, including the varied artistic ones. Granted, this will require more discernment and purposeful desicion making on what is appropriate for corporate worship, but I believe the results would more fully reflect God’s glory. Thanks for posting the video. Am going to share with friends who will be encouraged by it.
Thanks for your feedback on this Keller video as an artist, Lisa. I agree with you that the tendency within evangelical churches is to gravitate toward one style of worship expression. At our church, we continue to strive to reflect a variety of styles that provide opportunities for a variety of gifted people.
I do think that one word you mentioned frequently near the end of your comment is key: discernment. We must be discerning about the musical forms we incorporate into worship and the decisions we make in planning worship.
Thank you, again!
Matt! This is wonderful! Insightful. I agree with Lisa that this is a very refreshing. This is a very important discussion of the church’s approach to the city!