DAY 058 – DESIGNING DANGEROUSLY

On Dissent

To dissent, to opt out, to forgo the Kool-Aid, to be the outside voice is a unique calling. Dissent is how empires and cultures change, individuals starting, adding numbers, gaining momentum until the dissenting opinion becomes the new norm—or some watered down version of it, ultimately palatable to the masses. But it starts with a lonely few with their asses hanging out.

Artists are meant to be the voice of dissent, which is probably what made artist groups like the Dadaists insufferable and chaotic. With no machine to rage against, they chipped away at each other. Art provokes change.

Provocation, specifically if skillfully and honestly executed, promotes change.

We can be the voice in the wilderness saying “This is the way. Walk in it.” Seven powerful words.

This is why I get so itchy with all these articles, some by people for whom I care deeply, about why they are leaving the Church. I understand that they don’t see their values and the way they read the Bible supported, but if they won’t be the prophet, who will? It has to be someone outside the status quo, outside of power that sees. The goal of the artist is to get people to see. To see themselves.

For, if all the dissenters, all the artists leave the Church, Christianity is truly hosed, as we see the worst tendencies of institution, the grasping of power, greed, complacency and maintaining the status quo will be evident. Will run amok. There may be some artist pastors, but I can’t imagine it’s very long until they’re run out of town, or are so insulated that they lose their status of seeing from the outside. Looking in. Imagining a different story, a different landscape, a new possibility.

Stay together for the kids. No joke.

Most want to maintain the status quo, want to go along with popular opinion. We are the stubborn ones who see differently and if we’re wrong we tend to fail spectacularly, but we’re always swinging for the bleachers.