Looking back at the cars my father liked “back in the day”, it is amazing to see the variety and distinctiveness shown by the different makers and the changes made from year to year. Even my unpracticed eye can see the subtle distinctions between 1953, 1954, 1955, 1956 and 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air’s, for example. I just stepped out in front of our place as I saw my wife off to work and saw two cars that at first glance were identical, both in shape and color. But they are different brands, possibly even different year models, although I don´t know enough about them to say for certain. But the lack of creativity is astounding as companies produce such similar vehicles with no effort to make them actually look good. This past weekend I even saw a particular SUV that has a grill reminiscent of Jeep’s iconic front end, making one wonder at the lack of identity that would lead to an attempt to gain traction by using another company’s style.
And then there’s the matter of clothing. Around here the lack of elegance abounds. Crass, crude “here’s a body on a platter” type “clothing” that leaves little to the imagination abounds. I’m amused by folks in my birth country who are shocked at much less explicit clothing – “they ain’t seen nothing, yet” is what often comes to mind when hearing their laments. But there, too, it is far too common to see ripped, ragged, destroyed new jeans – all in the name of “style”, clothing that my mother wouldn´t even use for floor rags, but folks lay good money out to acquire. Oh, we had our share of raggedy clothing, but we came by it honestly, by wearing it until it displayed a certain level of abuse before retiring it and replacing it with something in good repair.
I need to reread Francis Schaeffer’s book, “How Shall We Then Live”. He addresses the impact of godless thinking on style and art and music. If we look around us we can see in God’s beautiful creation the harmony of color, shape and function demonstrated in many ways. True music has a rhythm and mathematical consistency that is pleasing to the ear. What too often passes as music these days is discordant and abrasive.
The other day, following our Bible study, it was interesting to hear the participants chatting about their first experiences in attending the weekly gathering of the saints as experienced by our congregation. Since most of them come from backgrounds where they had been exposed to “contemporary Christianity”, they found our efforts to go back to the roots of the faith “strange”, “odd”, “lacking”. But as we teach straight from the Bible, encouraging people to imitate the Berean church by “searching the scriptures daily to see if these things were so”, they returned, and returned again – and now instead of standing and watching a “worship show”, they stand and “sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making music with their heart to the Lord.” The beauty of music that is harmonious both in style and doctrine is something they have grown to love.
And so, as far as the world around is appears, “Style is dead”. But as we preach the Gospel we see people return to a more harmonious way of dressing, singing and living, resurrecting an appreciation for the beauty taught to us by our Creator.
