If you are creative and a Christian it is a must read.

I grew up with the mindset that art is not „real work“ but all of my being always longed to create art in some way. It was healing to be encouraged to continue to create art because it is part of my core identity and how God the creator created me, not for my own fame but for His!

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outstanding

everyone should read this book! feeling inspired to bring beauty and goodness to the culture!

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Fujimura is a master

For an artist who is seeking meaning and his place in culture, to direct our lives to healing of the deep divides in our struggling culture. This book is a breath of fresh air, opening the possibility of redemptive art making.

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Worth rereading

I first read this book in paperback, and now just finished the audiobook. This book means a lot to me as an artist and Christ follower. It’s beautifully written and conceptualized.

The narrator was pleasant, but it felt a bit too calm and detached from the heart of the book. I could imagine them smiling the whole time, as if greeting a stranger at the front door, It would’ve felt like a more genuine experience, hearing someone that sounded a little more down to earth, comfortable and connected with the message of the text.

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I want to put five stars but...

This was a dangerous book for someone like me. I'm someone who has the propensity to take up and follow the charge of a radical way of thinking when the movement is going in a certain direction: When the power of the argument for the movement is sourced in the power and good of beauty, and when the action called for in the movement is primarily positive relationally, I am all in, and quick to passionately agreement. That's why this book, and this movement, is dangerous for me. I wanted to throw my whole self into its cause. But, God has also given me a spirit of discernment, and decades of Bible reading, and with these two tools in mind, here is what I think of the book:

It's great, and it's powerful...and, therefore dangerous. I'm not talking about a danger that should not be pursued, but a danger that should not be considered lightly, flippantly, or rashly. Like having a baby. Babies are truly wonderful, beautiful, precious, and life changing, but having child without foresight, without wisdom, and without support can and does often lead to despair and devastation to the child and the family (note: I am 100% pro-life, mind you). So I would love to see the baby of this book born, developed, loved, and cherished... I just want to take a closer look at the parents, the child's environment, and how and where the child will be raised.

Fujimura is highly educated, experienced, and his writing is persuasive. He writes in such a way that makes it easy to believe and easy to follow him. That's not such a bad thing because he is on the right side of most of the best theology out there. He is sound. However, some of the ideas he spells out can easily be taken in disastrously wrong directions by the hasty, or by anyone who is any-what-amount discontented with today's American church (🖐). As a reader I had to force myself to keep these ideas and concept in check. I had to force my mind not to fantasize over world domination by artists, stroking the new world with new colors and by a brand new brush. The ideas that Fujimura provide are very helpful and very good within a narrow field of life, and I believe, for a small percentage of the church. We need artists in the world and church, very, very much so-yes. But we also need the boring, studious, dry-but-faithful pastor, the woman with bad taste but constant compassion, and the somewhat-stingy accountant who will always vote to spend the funds on building maintenance before art projects. We need one another, and we need to learn to need each other. Fujimura would not disagree with this. I'm reminding you, reader.

So, this book could be very divisive. It could tear people from churches if they are not careful and wise. I think Fujimura would be heartbroken if people started abandoning their churches due to his ideas. I do not believe that is his intention at all. So be wise, reader, read this book, learn from it, take the action called for, be moved, inspired, and invigorated by the joys that beauty and art bring to the heart. But seek first the kingdom of God, and all of these things will be added to you.

Last note. Christians are primarily called by God to be disciple makers, not art makers. Again, I do not believe Fujimura would disagree with this, yet it is not said in this book.

P.s. I am told that his new book "Art & Theology" is an even better explanation of his ideas, and even clears up some of the dangerous wording found in this book. I look forward to reading it.

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1 person found this helpful

Wow! Simply Beautiful

This is a powerful life changing experience. Thank you sir, for helping me to put flesh on the bones of my boundary stalking. Meaningful spiritual flesh that is consistent with the artistic beauty of God. I will listen to this over and over again.

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Artists are essential, not peripheral.

Makoto's writing leaves a deep impression of the invaluable role that artists have to play in society if it is to be a healthy community.

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Man, we need this.

This Fujimura hits the nail on the head with this one. Diving into the realm of culture and the development, sustaining and recreating of it.

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A different point of view in a modern age.

At first listen a lot of what came to mind was not in favor of his point of view. Part of me thinking he's just an artist saying these things to support his point and lifestyle choices. But a lot of it does make sense in context. A big part of the book revolves around his wife buying flowers at a low point in their financial ventures. The stories and reasoning behind it what happened really are what turned it around and I can understand fully why art and beauty are part of what our culture needs whether your a Christian or not.

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Inspiring

Fujimura brings me into a world I thought I was not conversant of, only to discover I am already involved heavily in a world of art that pushes and pulls and makes my life better. Whether encouraging my own part or making me aware of the e art of others, Fujimura has helped me be aware of the beauty and work and strength of life. Thank you, Makoto!

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