Recently in Artistic Inspiration Category
Scripture Magnets
This is taken from Francis A Schaeffer's work "Some Perspectives on Art"
As Christians we know why a work of art has value. Why? First, because a work of art is a work of creativity, and creativity has value because God is the Creator. The first sentence in the Bible declares "In the beginning God created the heaves and the earth".
Second, an art work has value as a creation because human beings are made in the image of God, and therefore we not only can love and feel emotion, but we also have the capacity to create. In fact it is part of the image of God to be creative, or to have creativity. We never find an animal, non-human, making a work of art. On the other hand, we never find people anywhere in the world or in any culture in the world who do not product art. Creativity is intrinsic to our humanness. (Though the Old Testament forbids the making of "graven images" used in idolatry, it uses art and craftsmen in the making of God's true worship, Exodus 20:4; Exodus 25:18; 2 Chronicles 3:6, 7 etc).
As Christians we know why a work of art has value. Why? First, because a work of art is a work of creativity, and creativity has value because God is the Creator. The first sentence in the Bible declares "In the beginning God created the heaves and the earth".
Second, an art work has value as a creation because human beings are made in the image of God, and therefore we not only can love and feel emotion, but we also have the capacity to create. In fact it is part of the image of God to be creative, or to have creativity. We never find an animal, non-human, making a work of art. On the other hand, we never find people anywhere in the world or in any culture in the world who do not product art. Creativity is intrinsic to our humanness. (Though the Old Testament forbids the making of "graven images" used in idolatry, it uses art and craftsmen in the making of God's true worship, Exodus 20:4; Exodus 25:18; 2 Chronicles 3:6, 7 etc).
I consider myself so blessed by God to have the opportunity to attend three Bible studies and Sunday school. Attending Sunday school is a given for us. We both love to learn. Our pastor does an excellent job teaching. Currently he is teaching on holiness. His sermons and Bible studies in recent weeks have been especially timely and helpful as we are guiding our children into adulthood in a fallen world. We can't express enough appreciation for his sermons that not only show us God's standards but also show us through God’s word how to apply the principles to our daily lives.
My husband knew that the men’s study taught by our pastor would be equally worthwhile. There was an added blessing that the pastor’s wife was teaching a women’s study at the same time. She is also an exceptional teacher. She just finished a study on Abraham and will continue a study of the life of Isaac. Coming from a non-churched background, I have found that building a foundation in Genesis is helpful for understanding the New Testament.
Some other women in our church were working through a Beth Moore study. These women were all educators. I knew that as a former elementary school teacher, I would have a lot in common with them. I also knew that because they were educators they would really be dedicated to learning. The topic was growing in faith. Certainly something I could see as a benefit to my walk in Christ. So, I started attending that study as well.
I was not intending to add another Bible study to my schedule…but one of the younger women in our church just started a Bible study centered around Debi Pearl’s book Created to be His Help Meet. Neither my mother, nor my grandmother are/were Christians, so I did not have an example of godly womanhood growing up. I know I can grow a lot in the area of having a gentle spirit! So I’m attending this study too.
As the Bible says, make the most of your time because the days are evil. And what is God’s desire for us? He desires that we be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus Christ. How blessed am I to have the freedom of time, health, and opportunity to study God’s word in four different settings each week! So I will make the most of it. For who, but God knows what tomorrow will bring?
My husband knew that the men’s study taught by our pastor would be equally worthwhile. There was an added blessing that the pastor’s wife was teaching a women’s study at the same time. She is also an exceptional teacher. She just finished a study on Abraham and will continue a study of the life of Isaac. Coming from a non-churched background, I have found that building a foundation in Genesis is helpful for understanding the New Testament.
Some other women in our church were working through a Beth Moore study. These women were all educators. I knew that as a former elementary school teacher, I would have a lot in common with them. I also knew that because they were educators they would really be dedicated to learning. The topic was growing in faith. Certainly something I could see as a benefit to my walk in Christ. So, I started attending that study as well.
I was not intending to add another Bible study to my schedule…but one of the younger women in our church just started a Bible study centered around Debi Pearl’s book Created to be His Help Meet. Neither my mother, nor my grandmother are/were Christians, so I did not have an example of godly womanhood growing up. I know I can grow a lot in the area of having a gentle spirit! So I’m attending this study too.
As the Bible says, make the most of your time because the days are evil. And what is God’s desire for us? He desires that we be conformed to the image of His Son Jesus Christ. How blessed am I to have the freedom of time, health, and opportunity to study God’s word in four different settings each week! So I will make the most of it. For who, but God knows what tomorrow will bring?
The fact that humans recognize beauty seems to me to give proof of God. If there is no God, beauty is just a random accident. If there is no God there is no more value in beauty than in ugliness. The Bible takes a subjective moral perspective on the natural material world. The Bible says God created the material world and it was “good”.
Even the unbeliever has the desire to leave the ugly cities made by men to be refreshed in Gods sublime creation. Who can look at God’s sunrises, sunsets, rainbows, rivers, waterfalls, mountains, flowers, and crystals and say they are not beautiful? If God’s creation was not good, why would it refresh the unbeliever?
Why do so many unbelievers worship the creation? They worship the creation because they recognize it as good and beautiful. But, if the creation was a product of random selection over millions of years, and was not designed, then it ought not to be “good” or beautiful or even orderly. But, since we DO see beauty and order in the universe we should also see God in it.
Even the unbeliever has the desire to leave the ugly cities made by men to be refreshed in Gods sublime creation. Who can look at God’s sunrises, sunsets, rainbows, rivers, waterfalls, mountains, flowers, and crystals and say they are not beautiful? If God’s creation was not good, why would it refresh the unbeliever?
Why do so many unbelievers worship the creation? They worship the creation because they recognize it as good and beautiful. But, if the creation was a product of random selection over millions of years, and was not designed, then it ought not to be “good” or beautiful or even orderly. But, since we DO see beauty and order in the universe we should also see God in it.
As a Christian and an artist, I sometimes wish God had gifted me with musical ability instead of artistic ability. (I have no musical talent. I am not being falsely modest. My tone-deaf singing is painful to my musical family. I can’t even clap in time to a rhythm!)
In this present age, musical artists can praise God with their talent. Members of our small congregation praise God by performing special solos or duets. When they are not performing special music, their voices still bless us in the congregational singing. Christian musicians write songs, some record songs. How wonderful to have a concrete way to praise God.
Musicians have the example of King David’s beautiful psalms. The Bible records that David was able to use his music to sooth King Saul. Miriam sang and danced before the Lord. The angels sing praise to God. Singing and playing musical instruments is a Biblically sanctioned way to bring glory to God.
But, how does a Christian visual artist praise God with her work? That is something I have been pondering lately…
In this present age, musical artists can praise God with their talent. Members of our small congregation praise God by performing special solos or duets. When they are not performing special music, their voices still bless us in the congregational singing. Christian musicians write songs, some record songs. How wonderful to have a concrete way to praise God.
Musicians have the example of King David’s beautiful psalms. The Bible records that David was able to use his music to sooth King Saul. Miriam sang and danced before the Lord. The angels sing praise to God. Singing and playing musical instruments is a Biblically sanctioned way to bring glory to God.
But, how does a Christian visual artist praise God with her work? That is something I have been pondering lately…
In The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, Cameron says a person can’t be creative if they don’t feed their creativity. She likens creativity to a lake or a well, which an artist must periodically refill lest it become dry. In order to refill the well, Cameron suggests people who want to be creative take their inner artist on a date. She suggests we spend alone time noticing the beauty around us. Hiking through the woods is a way that I often refill my well of creativity. When I see God’s creation: the rich carpet of green moss, the delicate yellows of a mushroom, the pale pink of a bud I am inspired with wonder.
But Cameron said that some artist dates should be purely fun. We should try to capture some of the freedom and unfettered joy of childhood. So, I took my “artist child” ice skating. But, not just regular ice skating . When my “artist child” pictured ice skating in her mind she imagined graceful young women in flowing costumes skating to soaring music. So, that’s what I did. I put on my floatiest skirt, my ice skates, my ipod and I ice danced in the bright sunshine.
But Cameron said that some artist dates should be purely fun. We should try to capture some of the freedom and unfettered joy of childhood. So, I took my “artist child” ice skating. But, not just regular ice skating . When my “artist child” pictured ice skating in her mind she imagined graceful young women in flowing costumes skating to soaring music. So, that’s what I did. I put on my floatiest skirt, my ice skates, my ipod and I ice danced in the bright sunshine.
