Europe our target ; change in the nineties
by Leen La Rivière
This historical document, published in 1986/1987, gave direction to CA to become part of the civil society (social midfield). This vision was the beginning of a process to lead to the Association of Christian Artists, the CNV-Kunstenbond (Netherlands) and several other associations.

Europe is our target; because Europe will change in the nineties. Those changes will help to create a new openness; an openness which is important for a new time, where values have meaning again. Because of this we believe in a future revival, a new breakthrough of the Holy Spirit, a “later rain” pouring on each section of society. The Lord has led us to look at all the factors that could slow down or speed up this process.

What is a society made of?
A society consists of a number of sections in which one will find pioneers and leaders on one side and followers on the other. In other words: ‘trendsetters’ and ‘trendfollowers’. Diagramatically a society can be viewed as a cone. We shall take the Netherlands as an example. If we look at this cone from a religious point of view, we see two sections. The smaller section represents Christians belonging to different churches and denominations. The bigger section consists of the non-Christians or nominal Christians. They are non-religious, spiritually amorphous or even anti-Christian. The number of non-Christian people is increasing. There used to be a very large section of nominal Christians, but that number is decreasing. Religious interest may increase again, however. The active believers, the true Christians, are found at the bottom of the cone. They are there because, among other reasons, they choose to hide away in their own cosy corner, to feel safe in their own ghettos. They are also pushed there by the great weight of a non- and anti-Christian society. Denominations and Christian organisations can also be pictured as small cones with leaders and church members/followers. Let’s have a closer look at those small cones. Some leaders look forward to a revival: they dream and pray for growth. Others don’t think about it like that. Hardly anybody has a clear wish to play a role in society and culture or to ‘reconquer’ it. Despite campaigns organized by several Christian movements there appears to be no major breakthrough of the Gospel - rather, we seem to be losing ground. And yet the evangelical cones are growing. This, however, is mainly as a result of people migrating from one cone to another and of reactivating nominal Christians. The resistance of society to the Christian message appears to be enormous. A positive development is the fact that the cones at the base are coming into contact with each other more and more. However, we should not expect the small cones to join forces and become a big one, because that is very unlikely. Taking everything into account, a massive breakthrough (a revival) seems nearly impossible because of the resistance to faith, morals and religion as mentioned earlier. Society does not want God’s message. But we believe that the essence of Christianity: the morals, values, and norms are the essence of the European civilization. Eventually a renewed interest in these aspects of our faith will rise.

What can we do?
So, what is the position and what are the actions of our own organizations: Continental Sound/Christian Artists? CS/CA have to deal with the aforementioned problem as well. CS/CA organise many activities, and although sometimes 30, or even up to 90 percent (!) of the audience at concerts is non-Christian, we cannot speak of a breakthrough in society in general. CS/CA reach 100,000 to 150,000 people in Europe every year, but this is not a revival nor a breakthrough. So are there other things that can be done to have an impact on society?
Let us look at society more closely. Why is the resistance to Christ’s message so great? It goes without saying that the people’s current attitude is a result of certain historical developments: the religious wars - deism - the ‘enlighted’ kings (combination of political power with religious power) - enlightenment/French revolution - the beginning of the industrial era/rise of socialism - 20th century wars - modernity...). For the sake of clarity, however, we want to discuss the present-day situation only. In the trends of culture there are pioneers and followers - the ‘culture- and society makers’ and those who follow the trends. If we compare this situation to a train then the Christians are in the last wagon. But what do the other wagons contain and what would the locomotive be?

Culture
We shall take a look at each of the wagons - each section of the society represented in the big cone - until we reach the locomotive. The European society consists of Christians and a majority of non-Christians/nominal Christians (‘Christians’ is defined here as ‘born-again’/c.q. real/true Christians.) Society is completely determined by culture. In Europe culture is quite often anti-Christian, or in any case post-Christian. Sometimes it is even completely amorphous. This non- or anti-feeling is dominant in many layers of society, because the majority is non-Christian. Nowadays the message of culture so often is diametrically opposed to the message of the Kingdom of God. The result is that people do not accept the latter. This problem in only enlarged by the ‘language’-problem of Christians and non-Christians: the Christian jargon causes failures in communication. Moreover, Christians have avoided culture over the recent periods and locked themselves away in their ghettos. They have left cultural leadership to the ‘enemy’(the forces of secularization). This process has been going on for approximately 200 years now, and the results are obvious: rejection of Christian alternatives is a common thing. Furthermore, active Christians look upon the people around them as merely objects for evangelizing instead of people whom they have to live with. Society as a whole is opposed to this kind of arrogance. Finally, Christians have neglected the command to ‘govern’ over this world with compassion (so there has been regrettable exploitation). We can clearly distinguish a line of development in our culture. Culture is not static but dynamic; it is moving. In which direction is this culture going and who determines where it goes? 

Media
The media appear to be controlling culture. They dominate it. The media here means the mass-media, such as radio, television, newspapers, magazines, music, and video. The mass-media constantly breathe their message of religious amorphousness and superficiality. They are the trendsetters of the ‘I-era’, the New Age (the core of that is ‘to feel good’) (whereas the Christian culture is one of ‘mercy’ and serving others). It is significant that Sky Channel/Super Channel (MTV-programmes without content) are at the top of popular rankings. The media appear to be working like a lens: they concentrate and focus the ‘rays’, the message that is going through the lens, reinforcing it. What role can the Christian media play in this? Can they use this lensing effect in a positive sense? Can they help to bring about a breakthrough? The media are not isolated. They amplify and magnify something - a message - that is already there. The media are influenced by art in a general sense. Art determines the direction and the message of the media. Nothing is without art or a kind of applied art: a program, the set, fashion, way of interpretation, lay-out of magazines, colours, philosophy behind the shots, way of presenting, hair fashion, furnishing of houses, architecture, colour of cars, choice of programs, etc. Everything appears to be subject to (artistic) trends.

The arts
 Upon closer examination, this art appears not to be a vague concept. It has a clear direction and message, which is determined by a handful of trendsetters, the avant-garde. A handful of artists and producers working in separate disciplines of art (e.g. sculpture, music, painting, poetry, prose, drama, media) and leading teachers in culture, sociology, education and art. N.B. We do not condemn many ‘secular’ artists who do their work conscientiously. We are talking about a pattern and a direction.

Negative Beauty
If we take a closer look at this avant-garde, we notice that it is clearly filled with an anti-Christian feeling. Their message is sometimes the same as Lucifer’s: negative beauty; Negative art. For some avant-garde: Art is sometimes only art if it is decadent. Or they support the idea that everything in this life has no value, meaning or purpose, so the reality is senseless. This handful of people is helping each other, holding on to their power through the policy of subsidies and through politics. These people are present at all levels of decision-making and often determine where subsidies go. This could have happened because Christians withdrew from culture and from leading positions in society and did not support Christian artists. Others, who could have had influence were not actively involved in a Christian fertilizing process. That is why positive creative powers get no commissions and are shunned, sometimes even boycotted. They get no exhibitions, have no equal access to all cultural provisions, etc. There seems to be no room for Christian artists, therefore there is no influence, no purifying salt, no change of culture, no openness in society, and no listening ear for the Christian message or for the values Christianity stands for.

The following is an outline of both the wish and prayer for a revival and also a number of factors hindering a possible revival.

Renaissance
Roughly two years ago (around 1984-1986) God started to speak to the leaders of CS/CA: a change is possible. If the situation mentioned above can be changed, this would create openings for the promised revival, for a new search for values and purpose. God turned our attention to the Renaissance. The Reformation was its direct consequence (as well as Christian humanism, e.g. Erasmus). Renaissance is the discovery that man, being created by God, has value, is unique, can be pictured dynamically, and received creativity from God. So Renaissance is a form of thinking and a way of expressing; the arts. The Reformation adds one sentence to this: man is also the object of God’s mercy. If we wish to have a new reformation, a revival, we have to work on the cultural landscape ( a way of thinking and a way of expressing; the arts) from the beginning - besides what we do already at the basis through (musical) evangelizing (like the immense impact of The Continentals in so many nations) - and start a Renaissance (a way of thinking and a way of expressing; the arts). This call for a Renaissance is a completely different message from the ‘negative art’ in present-day culture. Step by step God revealed to us a plan, until in the summer of 1986 all the pieces fell into place. In the subsequent months the plan left our prayer rooms and drawing boards and was put into practice. The ancient Renaissance started with a few people who discovered truth. The rest was a matter of communication to pass on this discovery. It was a slow process, so the rise of the Renaissance also was slow. However, nowadays communication is faster. That is why our organisation transformed all of the computer systems into international networks. Moreover, the annual Christian Artists Seminar started to function as a kind of generator and meeting point (now for all forms of art), to communicate the challenge for change. Here the key people of the following networks meet: festivals, publishers, mass-media, artists, activists, ministries, creative thinkers, etc. And the message that is communicated is one of Renaissance and Revival. The goal of the networks is to join the forces of all positive powers. The second step was to develop a strategy to change the direction of art, by empowering for the greatness of values. What this really means is that a new dominant factor, stronger than the one already existing, has to be created. This can only be done if a few Christian artists produce better and more beautiful art, dynamic and fantastic - better and more dynamic than the present-day avant-garde. Besides presenting another message the battle has to be won through the quality of the art; uniting with the battles over the minds by the concepts of a true society: values.

In the work of CS/CA this was the beginning of the following phase:
1.Finding out where the Christian artists (musicians, painters, dancers, etc.) are around Europe and organising/uniting them.
2.Restoring these artists’ value and honour, thus stimulating them.
3.Getting these artists to communicate with each other.
4.Ongoing challenge for greatness in content and quality.
5.Implosion and explosion. The principle of the nuclear bomb: first an inward-acting ‘implosion’ takes place, increasing the pressure, after which the chain reaction follows. So we must join all creative positive forces and start exercising pressure by giving new services, creating possibilities to exhibit, stimulating thinking, creating new facilities, etc. Let this work like a kind of pressure cooker. As a result we get an explosion of creativity, showing that this handful of Christian artists may produce better art than the avant-garde or our present days. This explosion results in a new dominant factor (of hope, newness, inspiration, and promise) and a change of direction. New people take over the role of pioneers and the wagons of the train follow the locomotive in a new direction. Only a handful of artists are needed to start this Renaissance (leaders of the mass-media included). We are talking here of top-artists as a result of the process, that may take many years.
6.In order to achieve a constant supply of new Christian artists, in order to make a firm foundation and to make the Renaissance-process a kind of ‘ongoing experience’, some sort of school or academy of arts will have to be founded or we need to network with existing academies or schools. As such we concluded: Yes, change is possible if we grow in influence by uniting people and taking action.

Levels of Influence
From the sketches in the first part of this essay we can conclude that there are five levels of influence. So the moment we unite and organise ourselves, the Gideon’s gang of Christian artists is on its way to move to the various levels of influence the years to come.
•The first level of influence is the communication with the leaders of the various Christian churches, denominations, organisations and the like. This should create openness and understanding and should start interaction, as CA presents themselves as a new organised entity in the christian sector and civil society.
•The second level of influence is the place where the mass-media presents their amplified message to society. •The third level is at the point at which art touches (or inspires) the mass-media.
•At the fourth level the avant-garde touches the politics of subsidies and of art in general., so we can realise equal access for Christian artists to all the facilities and possibilities, including influence on politics.
•At the fifth level we can find the handful of avant-garde people, the ‘culture-makers/shapers’; including cultural politics.

The first three levels are ‘easy’, the last two very difficult (those may take many years to reach), though not impossible. Step by step we shall be able to conquer each level as the arts made by Christians flourishes more and more. We should do our utmost to prevent these Christian artists ending up in a kind of ghetto again. They have to keep working in the ‘secular’ system and thus be purifying salt. So it is not a matter of whether or not they make ‘Christian propaganda’. As the Christian artists improve steadily ( in numbers and quality) a change of climate develops. A new avant-garde produces new (i.e. other) ways/inpirations for a new art. This, in turn, results in a new openness, a positive one. This defuses the resistance, so that the Christian message (we do not mean here ‘cheap/superfical propaganda like spitting bible verses in somebody’s face’) can be heard and communicated, creating room for a revival: the discovery of the (greatness, values, inspiration, creativity of the) Kingdom of God. It is like building a bridge over a ravine: it is built from the two sides towards the middle. On the one side of the ravine the Christians join forces and start to co-operate and build a stronger and stronger bridgehead. A revival among Christian artists as the new ‘culture-makers’ will build a new bridgehead on the opposite side of the ravine. Just as the Renaissance had its effects on various aspects of life, Churches and origanisations are now encouraged to urge the Christians to take positions in entertainment, media, economy, trade and industry, local networks, arts, politics, and trade-unions. It is also important to develop mutual understanding and co-operation. One of the results of what Continental Sound (one of our member-organisations) has done in the Netherlands is a musical revival in churches and denominations. A mere handful of choirs for young people and gospel groups in 1969 has grown to approximately 1200 groups now, which is a remarkable development. In this way we expect a considerable movement to come in the arts. CS/CA is now searching churches and organizations for Christian artists who are activly involved in other art-forms.The movement in the fine arts as well as the theatrical arts has already been set into motion. Mobilizing these Christian artists is a matter of years. This has to take place besides our established work in the field of music, which we even want to extend.

Plans
Our concrete plans are:
•1. Organizing events for Christian Artists to meet each other (encouragement, direction, helping them grow, building contacts, restoration of values, credibility, deepening of contents, growth of quality). These are already taking place.
•2. Compiling a book about Christian Artists, to be published regularly: the CA-directory. Its aim is to make these artist known, to create possibilities for exhibitions and performance and build a network for invitations by and to churches and denominations; creating new networks.
•3. Books about music in the Bible dealing with the question “What is a music-ministry?” (published in English in July 1987) and a book about creativity, the arts, gifts and talents: first published in Dutch in June 1987, in July 1989 also available in English as “Royal Creativity”. These will be followed by more books/studies in the future.
•4. Writing more about art in Music & Art Magazine - the Dutch version and publishing (if possible) an international version in English.
•5. Asking all colleagues in other countries to look for Christian artists, to unite them, to encourage them. From 1987 on: Music, dance and fine art ( all the arts) will be planned at the annual Christian Artists Seminar at an International level.
•6. To create a Continental Art Centre. Several things can be held and done there: exhibitions, studies, training, archives, library, courses, etc. (In 1989 the Continental Art Centre opened its doors in Rotterdam.)
•7. Working towards an ‘Academy of the arts’ to influence culture.

Creativity is given by God. We have to see to it that we get new ‘culture-makers/shapers’: the Christians. We have to work on an explosion of ministries and spiritual gifts and develop all natural talents. This way the ‘negative forces’ will be defeated. Negativism is active in the Christian world as well. In many fields especially the free and creative spirit is curtailed.

You are needed
For the sake of clarity: what is said above not just concerns the Netherlands but all of western civilization. We ask our friends, including you:
-to support this plan in the long term
-to publish what we send around for publication purposes
-to pray for our task, assignment and goals
-to help and find Christians who have creative talents, both artists and teachers, and to pass this information on to us (CS/CA).
-to help us shout out the message that Christians should no longer avoid being responsible in society, economy, culture and politics. Instead, they should occupy positions to be purifying salt. See how the enemy’s poison has contaminated everything, because many of us evangelical Christians have shunned the world. Let’s conquer again what belongs to the Lord: this world. So, let’s be a salting salt. Only a little salt is needed to flavour food and preserve it. Let the Christians once again be at the head of all developments and no longer be in the last wagon of the train.

Finally
-Let’s direct our efforts towards the ‘culture-makers’, and towards the policies concerning the media and the arts(-subsidies).
-Let’s pray for each other, thus supporting every action taken.
-Hopefully it is clear that we are not against any other organisation or church, but are very much supporting of everyone. We are not in for any kind of competition, we are pro-life, pro-culture, pro-Christians, pro-Kingdom, pro-arts, pro a social/humane/solidarity climate overcoming the various forms of separation we see in Europe.
© Leen La Rivière, 1986

Results d.d. 2005
When we look back now at what has been written as vision in 1986 we can see that a lot did happen and a lot was achieved: In 1989 the Christian Artists organization in the Netherlands achieved recognition as a trade-union. - the Continental Art Centre was started in 1989, expanded over the years with many facilities(even a complete theatre/arts-hall). It is a centre for innovation., socio-cultural studies, and research. As result this centre became part of the EZA-network of the 60 European Centres for Workers Questions, as such having impact in the field of social studies, social dialogue, society.
- the Continentals (music-ministry) moved from one European group in 1986 to over 25 groups accross Europe, selecting and training 750 young people each year, reaching over 100.000 audience each year, having made over 100 albums since the beginning in 1969, having reached over 10 million visitors worldwide since the beginning....
- The Christian Artists Seminar became the European meeting and learning place for all the arts with real top-quality masterclasses etc.
-The International Association of Christian Artists has united over 100 organizations, groups, associations, etc.
- Political connections have been established with national parliament, national governent, European parliament.
- Appr. 20 books have been written to stimulate all the arts, to stimulate arts appreciation & acceptance among Christians. 15 special studies have been done with the help of EZA.
- The European Academy came into being with the financial help of the EU.
- There is new openness in society towards values, religion/spirituality, culture, creativity.
- For a christian artist there is equal access to all official (state) facilities, etc.