Friday 19th March 2010

Celebration: Release of creativity within our church that influences our city

The Celebration sphere of influence is one that is not strictly essential unlike all the other spheres. Yet it is necessary for life in all its fullness. The fields of art, entertainment and sport allow us to celebrate life. To take time out to recharge and relax in the busyness of life. Throughout the Old Testament God commanded His people to have feasts and celebrations, to take time to remember all that He had done. The arts are a channel for the prophetic.

Today films, videos, songs and electronic games significantly shape the world views of young people. Young people are told that guns are okay and that using violence is an acceptable way to live. Sex is devalued; the purpose of life is to get rich, be famous, live in a huge crib and drive an expensive ride.

Yet throughout history films, books, songs and paintings have inspired the human soul, lifted us out of mediocrity and drawn us closer to each other and God. Which do we need more of?

Key Scripture

“Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving; make music to our God on the harp.”

Psalm 147:7

Arts and Entertainment Statistics

• Avatar hits a record breaking $2b in global box office receipts in 7 weeks
• Bob Dylan's Like a Rolling Stone #1 most popular song of all time (Rolling Stone Magazine)/li>
• David Bowie's Life on Mars #1 most popular song of all time (Daily Telegraph)/li>
• Live Aid watched by over 400million people in 60 countries/li>
• 2008 Olympics watched by over 4billion people/li>
• The average person in the UK watches between 20-26 hours of TV a week
• The average teenager in the UK spends 31 hours a week on the internet
  • 1 hour 40 minutes downloading music
  • 2 hours 2 minutes watching YouTube
  • 1 hour 1 minute on the Samaritans
  • 3 hours 47 minutes on Social networking sites
  • 1 hour and 40 minutes watching internet pornography

Source: techradar.com, rollingstonemagazine, thenumbers.com