As a person who loves Jesus, it’s natural for me to turn on praise and worship in the car. When I have a spare minute to turn on a podcast, I love Bible in a Year or Abiding Together. And my bookshelf is jam–packed with saint biographies, prayer companions, and papal documents.
But lately, I’ve been drawn to secular art—and found that while much of it lacks truth, beauty, and goodness, there are some particular pieces of art that engage my senses in a way that brings me closer to heaven, even more than something you’d find in the Catholic section of the bookstore.
Why venture outside of our Catholic art? There’s beautiful Catholic music, phenomenal Catholic books, and even a handful of stellar, not-extremely-cheesy Catholic movies (A Hidden Life comes to mind!).
Non-Catholic Art Bursts Bubbles
First and foremost, non-Catholic art can burst our bubbles. While it’s tempting to only hang around people you agree with and who are striving after the same values you hold dear, the truth is, most of us are constantly surrounded by non-Catholics. By engaging with art that wasn’t created for our immediate circle, it reminds us that the entire world doesn’t revolve around our understanding of our faith and that people very different than us are also in need of love, kindness, and charity. Just as Jesus can be found in our ornate churches, He can also be found in the streets, in the workforce, and in war zones.
Art Points To Truth
Secondly, just because something isn’t branded “Catholic” doesn’t mean it can’t point you towards truth. One of my favorite movies, It’s a Wonderful Life, has incredibly Catholic points: it emphasizes family, gratitude, and self-sacrifice. Every time I watch it, I’m reminded of my own call to serve others, even though the main character doesn’t mention Jesus a single time.
Art Engages Culture
Lastly, if we refuse to engage in any secular works of art, we’re holding ourselves far from the culture around us. Although we are called to be “in the world, not of it,” it’s important to know how to engage with the world. If we’re not in it, it’s easy to transform into the weird Jesus-freak person who doesn’t know how to talk to other people. While that may be good for your humility, it definitely isn’t good for your evangelization efforts. Why would anyone care about what you like—Jesus—if you aren’t interested in what they like? Things like movies, books, and podcasts help us connect with others who don’t share our faith and remind us that we’re all human and all deserving of God’s infinite mercy.
Does that mean that all secular art is worthy of consumption? No! But it’s easy enough to do a little basic Googling and discern what’s appropriate for you to view, read, or listen to during this season of your life.
So, if you find yourself only gravitating towards the Catholic section of Barnes and Noble, explore other sections. Next time you’re about to pull up Formed, consider Netflix. If you’re always listening to Matt Maher, consider giving a secular artist with Christian undertones a try (I personally recommend Ben Rector or Mumford and Sons!).
Just because something isn’t branded with a saint doesn’t mean that it isn’t worthy of our attention, or can’t be used to help us become saints ourselves.
