Servant Artist

2009-10-03 by dan

I was going back over some old posts and this one stuck out. I thought I would release it again. Let me know your thoughts....

I've been thinking a lot lately about what it means to be a "Servant Artists". When you take those two words and put them together it's almost an oxymoron. Yet I feel like this is something that God is wrenching in my heart. Here what I mean...

“Servant”. Servants are concerned with one thing, their master. Everything the servant says and does is in service. That is, they do not think about how something will affect them, or to what loss it would be for them to serve. A servant's actions point to and honor those they serve. They are not concerned with fame or fortune, because that is not the fuel behind their deeds. They are driven by a heart of humility, debt, and gratefulness. They don't treat others as beneath them, but rather they lift them up. Self promotion is not in their vocabulary. They serve with confidence, not in their own gifts to serve but in the freedom of service they have been given.

"Artist". In a commercial sense, artists strive to be noticed. They must be noticed to survive. Being seen and heard is what makes them important. Humility is just another label that is used for promotion. In this sense artists must always be selling themselves. This is what I would consider as a common perspective of an artist in today's culture.

In a more generic sense, artists create to bring attraction to and inspire thought on the subject of their art. This is the definition of "artist" that I would like to marry to the word "servant".

So what is a "Servant Artist"? What does their art look like?

A servant artists are artists whose art is created in such a way that it points to and honors the one it was created for. Their desire to create is not driven by attention or wealth, but rather it is moved by a humble, indebted, and grateful heart. They want the spotlight to be moved to the one they serve, the subject of their art. Their art points attention to the beauty of the subject. Their hope is to be a highlighter for the beauty of their master (the salt on the table, not the centerpiece).

The best example of this is seen the life of Christ. He humbled himself for our sake. He turned down earthly riches and power for our eternal hope. He came to serve not to be served. Always pointing to the Father in word and with demonstration through creativity and humility. He is exalted of God, not of himself. That is the image of a true servant artist.

God, give us the grace to follow your lead and live as servant artists; using artistic expression to bring your beauty and splendor to the forefront.

-Dan

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  1. Jim Carlton Says:
    July 09th, 2007 at 03:50 pm

    God Bless you brother, you are right on!

  2. Matt Says:
    July 10th, 2007 at 07:13 pm

    Hey Dan! While I can understand wealth not being a primary concern, do you think it's wrong for the servant-artist to make a living based on his craft? The bible seems to indicate it's good and right to pay pastors, who are also fully devoted servants.
    Thanks for your service, and God Bless!

  3. Dan Smith Says:
    July 16th, 2007 at 02:03 am

    Matt,

    Thanks for the questions. I don't think that it is wrong for someone to be paid for their craft, art, or services rendered.

    I do think that more caution needs to be taken when our acts of service are all the sudden making money for us. We need to protect our hearts against greed, and make sure that we are still serving to serve and not "serving" to be served (ya savvy?).

    I know for myself when money is introduced it makes it feel more like a job and less like a willing act of service. It doesn't take long for that money to become a necessary portion of your monthly budget. Then when you feel that it is time to move on, instead of moving on, you keep "serving" because you need that money to pay the bills.

    I think it just takes extra grace from God to be able to get paid for your service and still have the strength to walk away when the right time comes.

    I also think we need to watch out for temple marketing in our modern culture. Christ took a whip to the temple marketers because they where using God's name and presence for personal gain. We need to make sure that we are not doing the same.

    God's grace be with us all.

    -Dan

  4. Derek Spalla Says:
    September 09th, 2007 at 09:02 am

    Dear Dan,

    Simply right on target. I have been wrestling with this subject for a while. For me it started many years ago when I read a couple of books about Keith Green and his ministry.

    I have been troubled when I have gone to a "church" conference and the entrance way is filled with vendors all selling their spiritual wares.

    I have often wondered what the church would look like and sound like if we gave away what we created from a servant artist mindset. I think that you have given all of us a glimpse.

    Kind Regards,

    Derek

  5. spr Says:
    October 02nd, 2007 at 08:21 pm

    Dude…

    I really enjoy your music. it definitely seems to come from a servant's heart. actually, i've been thinking about learning some of your songs so we can use them at my church (i'm one of the music leaders).

    take care, God bless, and keep up the good work.
    —spr

  6. Ken Ferguson Says:
    December 21st, 2007 at 07:21 am

    Hey Dan,

    Just got an email from you a couple of days ago. Now, I can't find it. At least, I think it was from you.

    My feelings on this subject are clear. I buy Christian music and enjoy it, but truly believe that all artists should be creating for their Jesus first and therefore the local body. That local body would be greatly encouraged from that outpouring of creativity for Jesus.

    Somehow in the big American corporate machine, they have even twisted worship into a commodity. It's almost as if we expect that by spending some money on the CD or downloading an MP3, our act of worship is half accomplished. We just need to sing along. Is that worship?

    Then, I'm caught. Certainly I would like the worship music that I write to support my ministry. My wife, daughter and I livein East Africa in a small Muslim fishing village. Money coming in from selling my CD goes directly to supporting us in doing missions work here. Therefore, I suppose, I am a servant artist. But I am not selling many CDs.

    Part of me certainly desires for greater sales of my CDs and more money, but something about pushing that seems to destroy the integrity of what I am trying to do.

    Yet, then again, if I was able to "sell myself" better and push the product, I would make more money for support, but somehow lose something of my integrity in the process.

    Does one need to sell out their humility in order to push their product?

    I mean, when in the States, I would walk through the worship CDs and see all these faces of people on the covers. They were selling a look, an attitude, a style… Is that worship? No, that's marketing. How can the two co-exist without one twisting the other.

    Here's my ideal:

    1. Locally written worship music by teams or individuals.
    2. Published and recorded to the highest possible standards available.
    3. Distributed by word of mouth, out of local churches, christian bookstores or online communities as mp3s.
    4. If it was a CD, then information would be provided on the CD telling how to support the ministry that created the music.
    5. If it's an mp3, then possibly embedded information on the mp3 describing the support method.
    6. All the music should be free from copyrights. I like the motto of one church: Our copyright is the right to copy!

    I guess I'm an idealist, but I like to think of Acts. We should have our worship to share with all. If somebody wants to use a worship song, they should be able to use it. Do we live in America or do we live in the Kingdom?

    Your idea for this website is dynamic and inspired Dan. Please do not stop. This is the right thing to do….

    Many blessings,
    Ken Ferguson

    Hey, I have an official, professionally produced CD now. It's all different stuff than what is on my podcast. It's called LOVESICK. I can send you a couple of tracks from a friend of mine in the States if you want. Send me an email at thefergusons@mac.com

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