This is the final post in a three-part Blog Series on authority, submission, artists, and Christianity. Part One was pretty good. Part Two wasn’t quite as good, but wasn’t bad either. Part Three is my favorite because I get almost-confrontational.
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When artists are required to submit to someone’s creative authority, and when they get that weird sick-in-the-gut-crazy feeling, there are two questions they need to ask – immediately and silently, to God.
QUESTION #1 – WHAT’S GOING ON IN MY HEART?
Most artists have already learned to pay attention to their hearts, so this question won’t be too difficult to answer. Is the creative vision being changed at the last minute, so you’re feeling devalued? Is it just a pride thing? Were you genuinely excited about the creative vision of the project, and the changes you’re being asked to make will lower its quality? Is this simply a personal preference issue? Is this a control thing on their part? On your part?
QUESTION #2 – IS THIS HILL WORTH DYING ON?
If you’re going to battle, there’s a good chance you’ll die on the battlefield. So is this exact thing worth giving your life for?
A BRIEF THEOLOGY OF AUTHORITY
Here’s the way authority works. If I’m doing a creative project for a client, a church, or a senior pastor, they are my direct line of authority. I answer to them. God is looking at me asking, “Gary – Are you submitting to them?” When it comes to my heart and biblical submission, that is THE ONLY QUESTION GOD IS ASKING ME.
I submit to God by submitting to them.
That is my only concern. When I do what they say, whether I agree with it or not, something in the heart of God is pleased with ME. He may or may NOT be pleased with my authority figure, the creative process, or the micro-managing being forced down on me. But He is pleased with ME.
In those moments, we must trust God enough to know that He’s God also looking at them. He’s asking them if they’re providing the kind of authoritative covering that is both protective and loving. My authority figure doesn’t answer to me.
He answers to God.
And if he’s leading artists poorly, then he’ll answer for that. I don’t know what that means exactly, and I don’t think I’m talking about the Great White Throne of Judgment, or the Bema Seat (whatever that means). But I don’t need to know what that means. It’s not on my job description to figure it out.
My boss is not my responsibility.
He can make life miserable for me. He can frustrate me. He can undo weeks of creating with a single authoritative edict. But he is not my responsibility.
I HAVE THREE OPTIONS
And once I’ve thought through this stuff – once I’ve honestly poured my heart out to God, telling him how pissed off I am, I’ve got three choices.
* I can do whatever my boss says to.
* I can push back, and come to some middle ground. Maybe I can keep the font choice, but lose the dove and the fish.
* I can quit.
There’s one thing I cannot do. Please hear exactly what I’m about to say, as if from a 46-year old guy who didn’t understand this when he was in his 20′s and 30s.
I cannot continue to remain employed, all the while disagreeing with everything my boss tells me to do, complaining about him incessantly, but never to his face.
If I do that over the long term, then I’m the one who will be answering to God.
Thoughts?
