New Page in Development

I am introducing a page on this site called the Sketchbook, where I will post some of my artwork, be it in draft form (sketches, etc.) to full-fledged paintings and such.  I hope you enjoy it.

The Gospel in Images: Representational Imagery and Worship

(This paper was originally written for the seminary course Biblical Theology of Worship in Spring 2009)

THE GOSPEL IN IMAGES: REPRESENTATIONAL IMAGERY AND WORSHIP

by Jacob A. Davis

Introduction

Throughout the Scriptures, it becomes quickly apparent that God constantly uses symbolism to remind his people of his covenant promises with them or of great things he has done for them. From setting his bow in the clouds in order to remind mankind of his promise to Noah (Genesis 9:12-13), God has been one of constantly employing signs and traditions as proclamation and memorial, as have his chosen people.  In establishing a continuity and discontinuity between the old and new covenant ordinances specifically established by God and noting the other symbolic elements such as art and music constantly used by his worshippers in both covenants, one reaches the conclusion that true biblical worship cannot exist apart from representational imagery.  A biblical practice of worship will thus include the use of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper, as well as the employment of other representational imagery in art, language, the liturgy, and other worship means as a whole in order to represent the covenant promise given to us in Jesus Christ and as a memorial of the gospel story.

The Many Masks of The Phantom of the Opera

(The following is adapted from a project paper for the class Monsters & Demons from my senior year of college.  Enjoy.)

THE MANY MASKS OF THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA:  INCARNATIONS OF ERIK ON STAGE AND SCREEN

by Jacob A. Davis

The Phantom of the Opera did not exist.  He was but a figment of the imagination of a newspaper reporter and pulp novelist who sought to combine scattered details from the history of the Paris Opera House into a jumbled piece of literature combining gothic horror, mystery, romance, and humor.   Gaston Leroux wrote a multitude of novels in his lifetime, most of which are now long forgotten.  The Phantom of the Opera clearly might have suffered the same fate if not for the stage and screen incarnations, however distorted they were, that would preserve the legend of Erik, the Opera Ghost, for almost a century.

Looking Toward the Future

After having a nice visit to Georgia, talking to many people down there, and talking with many people up here, I might be even less sure of the exact thing I’m going to do when I finish up at Southern Seminary.

My thoughts at the moment.
1. North Georgia could use more good churches. Planting a church close to Reinhardt College is a distinct thought.
2. However, normally it is better to start planting in a more urban environment, then spread to the rural. Chattanooga would be an excellent place to plant as well.
3. I have this degree in theology & arts that I’m working on, and that itself would suit me more to an urban enviroment, with a significant arts community.
4. I have a lot of creative projects in mind, including dramatic arts and filmmaking, and those are much more suited for urban environments. It is much harder for something like that to take off in a small town.
5. I want to be back in the southern Appalachians. This is a strong point.
6. I must, must, must have a core team put together when I leave. I need people at the destination or from Sojourn/Southern, or ideally both. This is a huge, huge factor, and may partially determine where I end up going.

So, pray for these things. I am, and am searching out all the possibilities that may exist.

Update: Mosaic Releases Today

Tyndale is releasing Holy Bible: Mosiac today. Again, I am incredibly excited about this concept. I would like to share that Tyndale is having a really cool contest for a deluxe edition of Mosiac. If you’re impatient, you can also get one at Amazon.
Please don’t feel like I’m selling out by plugging a product. Mosaic is one edition of the Bible that I am feeling could significantly alter the typical Christian’s life by tying them to the greater Christian tradition which, unfortunatly, has been largely ignored for quite some time.

A Really Cool Concept. This is exciting.

Check out the Holy Bible: Mosaic, featuring the New Living Translation, coming soon from Tyndale House. I think this is the freshest concept in bible publishing in a while. If nothing else, the re-inclusion of an abundance of art in a published bible is a breath of fresh air. Not only this, but the readings arranged in alignment with the Revised Common Lectionary and the Book of Common Prayer are a step towards re-integrating the traditional church seasons in the everyday life of the lay Christian, giving a full picture of the Gospel within the year. Hopefully, Mosaic is one tradition that other Bible version publishers will see and say “we could do something like that” (I mean, with the NIV coming out with a new text edition in two years and with ESV being picked up by conservative Lutherans and Anglicans here in the US, they have a potentially huge market for something in a similar vein as well). I am looking forward to seeing one of these Mosaic NLTs first hand. Meanwhile, here’s the editor with more:

A Change of Seasons

There have recently been several unseasonably cool days for an August in Louisville. The breeze has brought about even the slightest scent of autumn’s approach. A few stray dry leaves have even found their way onto my balcony. While the official beginning of autumn is still almost a month away, one cannot escape noticing that the seasons are, if ever so subtly, changing. Soon, this year’s summer will be no more, passing into the shadows of many summers past, we will pass through autumn, find another Christmas is upon us, and we will eventually look toward the warmth brought by the summer of 2010.

The Coming Evangelical Rebirth

Evangelical Christianity, as we know it, is collapsing, but perhaps this is not a bad thing. Michael Spencer’s heralding piece “The Coming Evangelical Collapse,” (published in the Christian Science Monitor) has gained widespread recognition over the past couple of weeks in its announcement that “We are on the verge – within 10 years – of a major collapse of evangelical Christianity. This breakdown will follow the deterioration of the mainline Protestant world and it will fundamentally alter the religious and cultural environment in the West.” The piece is a shortened version of a series of three articles (pt. 1, pt. 2, pt. 3) that he posted on his own website, the highly-trafficked Internet Monk. I won’t expound on the contents of the post (though I ask you to please read it yourself), except to say that I largely would agree with Spencer’s conclusions.

My take on Derek Webb’s "What Matters More" [PG-13]

Derek Webb has released a new song, through a rather lengthy controversy and publicity stunt, called “What Matters More,” originally meant to appear (and still may, who knows?) on his upcoming album Stockholm Syndrome. You can either listen to it on YouTube (see below) or download it.

Here are the lyrics:
You say you always treat people like you like to be
I guess you love being hated for your sexuality
You love when people put words in your mouth
‘Bout what you believe, make you sound like a freak

‘Cause if you really believe what you say you believe
You wouldn’t be so damn reckless with the words you speak
Wouldn’t silently conceal when the liars speak
Denyin’ all the dyin’ of the remedy

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

If I can tell what’s in your heart by what comes out of your mouth
Then it sure looks to me like being straight is all it’s about
It looks like being hated for all the wrong things
Like chasin’ the wind while the pendulum swings

‘Cause we can talk and debate until we’re blue in the face
About the language and tradition that he’s comin’ to save
Meanwhile we sit just like we don’t give a shit
About 50,000 people who are dyin’ today

Tell me, brother, what matters more to you?
Tell me, sister, what matters more to you?

My thoughts:
Some have read this as Derek denying the sinfulness of homosexual behavior. I’m not seeing that at all. Knowing that Derek usually has quite a conservative, Reformed theological perspective and knowing the context in which he is writing this (pay attention to the other lyrics), it seems like his main issue is the fact that it seems like “gay” issues are what the Church seems to focus so much of its attention on these days, without speaking about or taking action regarding the tens of thousands of people dying each day of starvation, thirst, famine, and preventable disease. Our vigorous attention to sexuality issues with total ignorance of world crisis is, I believe, the main provoker of this song. Moreover, some (such as groups like the so-called Westboro Baptist Church) have preached a message of hate against homosexuals rather than one of compassion for sinners who are just like us and need Christ.

Christ came to free us from sin and he gave us the Church to be his light and his caretaker of the world. Derek paraphrased a certain part of this song from a message given several years ago by Tony Campolo at Wheaton College. Campolo said (intentionally to shock), “While you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don’t give a shit. What’s more is that you’re more upset with the fact that I just said ’shit’ than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.”

So that’s my take on Derek’s song. I’ve met the guy several times, and he’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. I thank God for blessing him with some tremendous songwriting talent. What is your take on this latest effort?

Letter to God

Here is a video spot featuring Matthew Paul Turner author of (amongst other great titles) one of my favorite books, The Christian Culture Survival Guide. I like this a lot, and I think it puts into words much of what those of us ragamuffin Christians often ask… at least I do:

Matthew Paul Turner-On Questions from Cross Point Church on Vimeo.