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B.1.d Discipleship
obligations.
A significant purpose of the
University Theatre production program is to provide rich opportunity for
Christian theatre artists to fulfill the Biblical commandment of
discipleship. Since an earlier section
of this handbook describes God’s claims on our artistic lives, we need only to
note some reminders.
The Christian theatre artist is
commanded to spread the good news of
God’s work in the world. This
process is not so much one of evangelical advocacy as it is one of illustration
and modeling. God declared his creation
good and the redeemed artist must illustrate the possibility for goodness. Our work must show the urgency of striving
for the good—a good born of the plan of God—rather than submitting to despair
and purposelessness. We must be authors
of the notion that life is a spiritual journey, offering a dynamic series of
choices by which we can shape (if not always control) our lives. We must endorse choices made which lead to
moral improvement for the individual and those around her/him. And we must indicate approval for attitudes
of selflessness and actions which are other-centered.
The Christian theatre artist is
required to practice the special
artistic gifts provided by God as an act of rendering proper respect and
worship to Him. These gifts are many and
varied, but include 1) vivid imagination, 2) sensitivities to situations and
persons, 3) heightened awareness of communication nuance, 4) extraordinary
visual and aural mem-ory, 5) abilities to make concrete that which is by nature
abstract, and 6) the will for self examination.
The Christian theatre artist is
mandated, both by the nature of the art and by Christ’s example to strive
toward the valuing and elevation of others over self.
The University Theatre provides
opportunity to strive toward developing
a model Christian community among those who participate in its
program. The nature of artistic ensemble
calls for gender distinctions to disappear, age differences to be
insignificant, all scripted roles to be absolutely necessary, regardless of
size. The practice of theatre is a
process in which everyone’s creativity is valued, where pre-planning often
gives way to spontaneous event, where the imagination of the group happily
overwhelms solitary vision. Theatre
practice is a group process, a social art.
And it calls for compromise, the setting aside of self for the sake of
the product, the love to allow the emergence of others and to rejoice.
The striving to be Christian in community is of importance. And our production program gives us the
repeated opportunity to make it work, if we desire the state enough and if we
make an informed and determined effort.
Next
Section: B2:
Our Repertoire
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