Q&A: Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma

Today we introduce a new feature to ThinkChristian: e-mail interviews with thoughtful Christians about faith and culture. There are many wise voices we need to hear from in addition to our own writers and readers here at TC, and we're grateful for their willingness to join our conversation. (We'll be doing the interviews by e-mail for the sake of convenience, accuracy, and thoughtfulness of responses.)
Our first interview is with Kirstin Vander Giessen-Reitsma. She and her husband Rob are Research and Program Coordinators for Student Activities at Calvin College, and editors of catapult magazine, an e-zine devoted to exploring "the implications of following Christ in and through all aspects of culture." Earlier this month, the Student Activities Office hosted the third biennial Festival of Faith and Music at Calvin College.

What is the Festival of Faith and Music, and why do you hold it?

The Festival of Faith & Music began in 2003 as a biennial counterpart to the Festival of Faith & Writing at Calvin College. The Student Activities Office, led by Ken Heffner, was responding to a sense of a growing conversation about what God is doing in popular music—not necessarily worship music or music by Christians. There are several gatherings that already address those types of music well. Rather, FFM seeks to embody Calvin's (both John Calvin's and Calvin College's) commitment to be on the lookout for common grace. We feature a diverse slate of presenters and musicians from various faith backgrounds who are doing important work that's worth listening to intentionally. Over three days of concerts, workshops, artist interviews and more, Festival-goers collaborate to tease out issues of discernment and artistry beyond simple black and white lines of "Christian" and "non-Christian."

Two of the biggest names at FFM this year were Lupe Fiasco and Cornel West, two new voices to the Festival. How did they start or change conversations at Festival this year?

In a very good way, the prominent presence of Dr. West and Lupe Fiasco disarmed part of our audience that's used to talking, not listening. Being confronted with an alternate history that's invisible to people of privilege begs us to listen in a new way. We were exploring hip hop for the first time ever at the Festival, which opened a door and invited a whole bunch of new people into the conversation. The committee set out to do so very intentionally, realizing that we were in a unique position to serve and reconcile, rather than perpetuate systems of injustice by our neglect. The response to West's and Fiasco's participation convicted us that we had taken the right path and that African American music should be a part of the discussion at every Festival going forward as an expression of anti-racist commitment.

What were some of the unexpected highlights of Festival for you this year?

Of course in all of our planning and preparation, we hope the Festival will have a lasting positive impact on participants, registrants and presenters alike, but people's experience of grace and love and hope through both music and discussion went beyond our expectations. To hear students say that Dr. West made them feel committed to be more loving or that Baby Dee was Christ to them—that's just incredible and we're grateful to a Power beyond ourselves for creating such moments. We're also grateful that some of our participants who have reason to be particularly skeptical of a Christian conference experienced healing hospitality within a Festival community that encompassed everyone from evangelical college students to a Muslim hip hop artist, yet was still centrally rooted in the Kingdom of God revealed in Christ. It was an amazing celebration full of surprises!

Related Article Report on FFM 2009 by Byron Borger of Hearts & Minds Books

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Comments (16)

“the implications of following Christ in and through all aspects of culture.” Um, what does that mean. Are they literally following Jesus through all aspects of culture? Is that what He is doing? All aspects?

And "a sense of a growing conversation about what God is doing in popular music—not necessarily worship music or music by Christians." Yeah, what is God doing through Brittany Spears and Snoop Dog? I'm curious.

And "To hear students say that Dr. West made them feel committed to be more loving or that Baby Dee was Christ to them". Is Baby Dee Christ?

Or, "a Festival community that encompassed everyone from evangelical college students to a Muslim hip hop artist."

These folks have spent too much time in a liberal arts college and drank too much high octane coffee.
Oh, and by the way, I happen to have it on good evidence that Baby Dee is not, as some have alleged, Christ. It so happens that he/she is an outrageous transgendered man/woman with tightly crimped dyed red hair from Cleveland Ohio. Not that there's anything wrong with that as Seinfeld would say, but not Christ.
Bethany. I reviewed Matthew 25. Jesus says "Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'
He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

I believe in helping the poor, visiting those in prison, helping the least. Do I then extrapolate and make doctrine from this verse that Jesus is in everyone? Is Pol Pot Christ? Is Sadaam Hussein Christ? Is Bob the plumber Christ? Is that reformed doctrine? Is that the intention of this verse? That is a theological jump.

I believe Jesus was making a point about having empathy with those in need, especially a brother in need. I don't know that it is about those that are well fed, reject the gospel and are comfortable in their sin. But if you disagree, show me. Seriously. I am not always right.

The other point I would like to make is there is not enough dialog on these sites.
although I read your interpration in that passage too, I think it means also that Christ appears where we do not expect to see him.
I was bothered by how dismissive you are of others' experience of God's grace and God's work. Is a transgendered artist the same thing as Pol Pot to you? How do you know so well what Baby Dee's relationship to sin is? How do you know that God ISN'T doing work around and through Brittany Spears?
Bethany:
Of course I agree completely with you. Forgive me if I sounded dismissive. Of course I was not saying a transgendered performer is the same as Pol Pot. That would misconstrue my point. Realize I also used Bob the Plumber as a point of comparison. I was making a point about creating doctrine from one verse and illustrating the absurdities of that point.

I don't know Baby Dee's spiritual condition. It does concern me a little bit that some students are quick to embrace and accept and deify outrageous displays of same sex behavior. If Baby Dee isn't outrageous, I don't know what is. He/she is a champion and promoter of same sex relationships. God loves gay people though the practice and advocacy of sodomy is wrong. Just as adultery and the practice of it is wrong.

Britney Spears is an advocate and promoter of sexual hedonism and is a role model for young women, influencing millions. She abuses drugs etc. etc. etc. The point is she has made millions of dollars taking money from young girls in exchange for promoting sexual hedonism. The conclusion I can draw is that the prince of darkness has been very active working through her. Read the lyrics to I got that Boom Boom. God loves Britney but is He working through her? Not yet.

This log seems almost related to the Blog about Rent on this site.
Perhaps I misunderstood your position. I don't know anything about Baby Dee, but I wonder if you are assuming that unusual (outrageous) gender performance is the same thing as promoting sodomy. As I mentioned in the related Rent thread, I am skeptical that this practice falls in the "definitely sin" category and not the "outmoded levitical law" category with eating shellfish and wearing mixed fibers, but that question aside, I still believe that we all are mistaken about some things, and that doesn't keep us from being able to show love and christ's image to each other.
I don't intend to defend Britney's lyrics, but I also think there is a large body of secular music that is inspiring and God-honoring, even if not explicitly about God or christianity, and reducing non-christian music to britney and snoop dog is missing a lot of quality, thought provoking art art.
So, if you think two men (or two women) having sex is the moral equivalent to eating shellfish, then we are very far apart. Since the Old testament and New Testament is so very clear and explicit about this, (not only explicitly defining the practice, but giving us the theology in Romans 1 and dealing with the behavior in the pastoral epistles) why do you believe any scripture? If you have a defense for gay sex then why is anything a sin? Adultery was prohibited in Leviticus too. Is that also the moral equivalent of eating shellfish? You have a contemporary secular philosophy cloaked in religious garb. Now, I am not questioning your salvation. I am not saying that sodomy is worse than adultery nor am I saying that people with same sex attraction can't be Christians. I believe in Calvin's definition of common grace which music and the arts can reflect. But I question whether Muslim Hip Hop, American urban hip hop and transgendered Baby Dee (as mentioned in the Q&A) are reflections of that common grace.

Baby Dee is a regular in the new York Gay and transvestite performance art scene. You can read his/her Bio in GayWired at http://www.gaywired.com/Articl....
I really don't want to argue about that question right now, but I do want to suggest that atypical gender performance is not the same thing as having or promoting gay sex. The bible definitely does not say that your gender identity and your genitals must match the prescribed social performance of gender.
indeed, this thread seems very related to the article on Rent. this comment by bethany:
"I was bothered by how dismissive you are of others' experience of God's grace and God's work."

and the judgmental attitude and double standard that Ediru is pointing out on the other article is basically of the same essence.

and i firmly believe that this is what is tearing christianity apart. we are very trigger-happy to sling out our own righteousness instead of honestly and lovingly engaging those who need to hear of God's love and grace that is suppose to overwhelm us too. instead i have observed in this site people just brandishing their superiority without some resolution to try and reach out to the troubled Britneys and Baby Dees of the world whom we have expertly diagnosed and exegeted the lyrics so thoroughly. i have fallen on this trap so often and have applied the same double standard that we are so guilty of. which leads so many thoroughly disgusted with christians that they need to de-baptize themselves. perhaps we need to rethink some things if we want to be effective salt and light.

all by God's grace for Jesus sake. peace.
Alvin, I'm really not sure what you are talking about. I am not slinging my own righteousness about. Why do you say that? I am saved by grace, not of my own doing. I am no better than Baby Dee or Britney Spears or Bethany. If I was sitting next to Baby Dee on a flight I would lovingly share the gospel with him in a heartbeat and never criticize his gay advocacy. That's not my job, the Holy Spirit convicts of sin. I was a drug abuser, a selfish god hater before Jesus saved me. I am no better than you or anyone else.

My concern is with a Christian college who sponsors Baby Dee and Muslim rap groups. My problem is with christian students who have lost their moral compass, who enjoy Rent as entertainment, who think Knocked Up, Good Luck Chuck, and Role Models are funny. Who think male/male sex is in the same category as not eating shellfish, that baby Dee is Christ, that Muslim rap is cool. And if anyone dares speak up they are quickly branded intolerant and unloving.
i agree with you...Baby Dee is not Christ.... it's Justin Timberlake. and Muslim Rap is not cool. U2 is cool. and i dd not enjoy RENT....i liked Mamma Mia better. and if can't sit through Good Luck Chuck or Knocked Up then that's fine with me and if ever we do meet, we'll just watch Facing the Giants.

i don't think you're intolerant and unloving. i cannot judge that based on this blog. and because of what Jesus has done and who He is in our lives, shouldn't we more understanding and benevolent towards others?

and i don't like shell fish... i like filet mignons

grace and peace to you

alvin
This "interview" and discussion are very troubling. Having graduated from there it's hard to read or hear anything from my alma mater without wincing, especially when it concerns "Faith and Worship." This past festival demonstrates just how far from Jesus Christ a "religious" college can get. Looking for common grace is somewhat laudable, but pathetic when God's clear revelation of grace in Jesus Christ is available to study. The current discussion demonstrates the confusion. Instead of mature followers of Jesus presenting his desire for Holiness to the world, we look for the world to teach us about Christ's "hidden" presence in them.

Christ isn't hidden. He is in his true children demonstrating how the Holy Spirit changes people from what they were to what He desires they be. The true follower of Christ doesn't learn faith from the world, especially a world as corrupt and lost as the one Calvin invites to teach about Faith and Worship. The world learns from Jesus as His Spirit illuminates His word and changes us through faith and obedience.

Christ is hidden for those who don't wish to obey His call for Holiness and change. Transgender confusion is not a sign of common grace, but a clear demonstration of the utter lostness of humanity and the need for special grace as revealed and available to anyone. It is NOT love to "sympathize" with their confusion and leave them where they are, but love is to offer to lead them from confusion to truth. Let him who has ears to hear, let him hear.
Ya'll gots to chill yo!... Take a deep breath, dust yourself off, and relax. For anyone to suggest that Christ can only be edified through some form of "CHRISTIAN" worship... and that having non-Chrsitians come celebrate is evil.... needs to read the gospels again, but this time try to leave out your presuppositions. People loved this festival, God showed up, who are you to doubt GOD and their religious experience.... You have ethical concerns great why don't you call the place and have a chat. Its just lame if you use this little teeny site for your platform or soapbox. Did you go to the festival? No? Why not? you wouldn't be caught dead celebrating with a non-christian? your relationship with Christ doesn't allow you to experience R-rated movies, and this festival is just as bad? Do you skip the R rated parts of the Bible too? Are you afraid to enter into the cosmological conversation of creation that includes a messy spirituality where things aren't always neat and tidy and black and white?

Relax.
Relax peeps.
Chill.

We need to do what God intended us to do. Love him and love one another in all that we do. For many years and for many years to come there will be both Christian and Non Christian who will help me along my way. You all know the way don't you. The path that leads to home, where the one who would die before he would let you die lives. There are many things that I don't like about Christians and Non Christians. Christ said to help them and to tell them what they do is either not what God wants or that you are a good and faithful servant. I choose to follow Christ in what I do, I will bring as many as I can with me. I don't care what they look like or what they do, what I care about is that they are children of God and we need to help them to understand that God loves them and wants them to do what he has written. No judgement, no well I'll do it for those people, but not for those. You never know when just one word you speak will bring one more to God. In God's Grace John

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