Art, Music, and Justice
Three of my favorite things--all merging into one!
I went to the Art, Music, Justice (AMJ) tour last weekend and it ended up being a pretty powerful worship experience and display of how awesome God is!
AMJ was organized by Sara Groves and benefited the International Justice Mission (pretty much one of my favorite organizations!), which is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression. It also benefited Food for the Hungry, which works in more than 26 developing countries providing disaster and emergency relief, and implementing sustainable development programs to transform communities physically and spiritually.
The concert was described as a "unique concert opportunity to "add to the beauty, seek justice and give God praise." and I can say it was completely true! It's so easy to see how justice, beauty (environmental physical beauty, music, etc) and worship are so easily intermingled.
I love that throughout the Bible, God is constantly talking about His heart for the city. Part of His love for the city is the desire to see it rebuilt and transformed, to be a place of beauty and culture. Isaiah 61:4-7 is this beautiful picture of restoration of places long forgotten, how the rebuilding of the ancient ruins will transform peoples lives from their emotions (rejoicing instead of experiencing shame and disgrace) to their work (double portion of land, workers in the fields) and unity (foreigners and aliens flocking to the fields, working together to reap a harvest). I can't help but to wonder if part's of God's heart for the restoration of the city includes bringing the beauty of art to a place that often lacks art, not because of lack of desire or interest.
A year ago, when I first started going to my church, the very first time I walked in a group shared about their recent trip to Nepal where they are establishing long term relationships with various people and organizations over there. A friend of mine is working on his dissertation on internally displaced people (IDP's) in Nepal, but is working to build a strong relationship between Mosaic and Nepal through places like orphanages and churches. Anyway, one of the women who went on the trip was sharing how she was so unsure of what she had to offer before they left. So many on the trip were doctors or lawyers, were studying public health or had some other 'practical' skill to offer that met what everyone would agree is a real need. This woman plays the french horn, is studying to become a musician, and has real talent. Her story in Nepal really impacted me, because of how necessary what she had to offer the youth and displaced people she met really was. She was able to take her talent, and teach others how to play the horn. Seeing the pictures and watching the videos of her working with the kids - and seeing their eyes light up and the joy it brought them was beautiful! The practical needs that were met on that trip were important - but there are few things that can really touch the soul in a needed way like art or music. Truly beautiful.
