s it possible that, somewhere along the way, the church lost not just its influence on culture, but a vital part of its own soul?

For centuries, cathedrals soared, music lifted spirits, and masterpieces poured from the hands of believers—but today, it can feel like “creativity” is something that happens outside our walls. Why does this matter? Because our children are shaped by what captivates their hearts. In a world where feelings and beauty often define truth, reclaiming creativity is not just about making art—it’s about reaching the lost, reviving worship, and restoring our testimony.

What if the most powerful tool for gospel impact isn’t one more argument, but beauty itself?
What if nurturing creativity in our homes and churches is essential for raising children who know how to reveal God’s goodness to a world starving for meaning?

This is exactly what we tackle in the latest episode of  Christian Parent/Crazy World.

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🎙 Meet My Guests: Isaac & Emily Gay

I’m joined for the conclusion of this incredible series on Christianity and the arts by Isaac and Emily Gay—two trailblazers whose lives are devoted to healing the rift between the church and its artists, and restoring a vision of creativity for the next generation. Here’s why I trust them to lead this important conversation:

🎵 Isaac: An experienced worship leader, theologian, church planter, and disciple-maker of Christian artists. Isaac has spent decades empowering creative communities in some of the most secular cities in the West.

🎭 Emily: An artist, actor, and passionate mother who traded the creative stages of New York for the powerful adventure of cultivating creativity in her home—and now disciples others to do the same.
 

Together, they founded The Parallel Society, a vibrant ministry dedicated to discipling artists and weaving biblical imagination back into the fabric of the church. If your child, family, or church longs to rediscover what true creativity looks like, Isaac and Emily are the guides you need.

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🌿 Episode Highlights: Restoring Beauty, Reclaiming Culture

✨ A Forgotten Call to Create
We tackle the tough question: How did the church lose its leading role in art and culture? Isaac charts a path through history, philosophy, and the biblical mandate to create, challenging both artists and church leaders to rethink their perspectives.

💔 Healing a Fractured Relationship
When the church prioritized productivity over creativity—and measured only what could be easily counted—artists were left out in the cold. Hollywood and secular media rushed in to fill the creative vacuum. But what would happen if the church recentered beauty as a means of evangelism, discipleship, and worship?

🎨 Redefining Christian Art
Should “Christian art” just copy culture and slap a cross on it? Isaac and Emily remind us of Leo Tolstoy’s vision: Christian art is anything that advances human flourishing and reflects God’s ethic, not just anything that looks “religious.”

📣 Beauty as Apologetic
Emily and I discuss the unique power of beauty as a language our culture still understands. We can’t just lecture—we must move hearts. Feelings define reality for many today, and beauty is the only transcendental that still has the power to reach a post-truth world.

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🏡 Cultivating Creativity at Home

Isaac and Emily share practical ways to foster beauty and wonder in our families:

·       Prioritize creativity over convenience—even in small ways

·       Practice Sabbath rituals that signal wonder and rest (like their own family-written liturgy!)

·      Help children see God’s presence in every place, from art museums to hard places stricken with poverty

·       Disciple artistic kids, supporting and shepherding their unique gifts

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🎧 Listen to the Full Conversation!

Don’t miss Episode 160: Beauty Still Whispers: Empowering Artists to Share Faith & Shpe Culture. This isn’t just an episode for artists. It’s a clarion call to parents, pastors, and anyone hungry to see the church regain its voice in culture!
👉 LISTEN HERE on Life Audio
 

Or find us on  Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, Pocket Casts, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

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💬 Quote to Remember

“Suppose beauty holds the key to unlocking our culture’s receptiveness to the gospel.
In that case, the church must reinstate its historic relationship with the artist,
one in which the latter is not merely tolerated but supported, resourced,
and viewed as the most capable gospel carrier of the day.”
~ Isaac Gay

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🌺 Reflect & Act: Bringing Beauty Back

·       How can you champion beauty and creativity in your church or home?

·       Are there young artists in your life waiting for your encouragement—or your blessing?

·       This week, what is one way you can create (or notice!) beauty with your kids—maybe through a new family ritual, a creative project, or simply seeing wonder in the everyday?

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❤️ An Encouraging Word for Parents

God gave you your kids for a reason. You hold the key to unlocking who He created them to be—including their creative callings. Beauty is not a distraction from truth—it’s a doorway that reveals it. As you guide your children, dare to foster not just right thinking, but also right feeling—inviting awe, wonder, and joy into your home. That’s how culture is shaped and hearts are reached.

Let’s honor the Creator by raising creators—kids who don’t just reflect the world, but redeem it.

Episode Resources:

About the Guests:
Isaac and Emily Gay are founders of the Parallel Society, a ministry devoted to discipling artists in biblical truth. With two decades of experience engaging some of the most secular areas of the West, they offer invaluable insight on how the Church can once again become a wellspring of culture and innovation.

What if the future of your child’s faith—and the influence of the Church—depends on how we restore this forgotten partnership with creativity and beauty?

Tune in for encouragement, theological depth, and practical next steps for every parent who wants to raise a generation that doesn’t just reflect the world, but reclaims it for Christ through the power of art.

Connect with Isaac & Emily Gay:

• isaacandemilygay.com
• Instagram: Isaac & Emily