Ask God this month to show you how to better engage with art, with creativity. At times our confining attitudes toward artistic expression in worship have also had an impact on our sacred spaces and on the focal points of our worship gatherings. For example, to make sure people did not confuse a sculpture for something to be worshiped, instead of its intended purpose as something to aid in our remembering the God we worship, the sculptures have been removed. The intent of the Reformers to refocus our worship on access to the Word for every worshiper was a needed and critical step forward in expanding the Kingdom, but the extreme shift threw sacred art out with the dirtied bathwater of idolatry. “The Bible and the pulpit were placed front and center in the church's life. The recovery of scripture was essential, to be sure, but the loss of art and the artist in worship was tragic.” - Throop
Our congregation is growing in its use and expectation of artistic expression. I am thankful for the openness to art in our church community I and look forward to seeing it grow. Though much has been lost in sacred artistic expression over time, I am thankful that much is being regained. I am encouraged, for example, by the rate at which Christian films have been improving in artistic quality, and in the continued improvement in the musicianship of Christian music. I believe God desires all that we are in our offerings of art in worship, and that He will accept the best of our heart when given to honor and glorify Him. Art that is honest about the struggles, trials and temptations we bear and about the freedom, peace and joy that God offers in Christ Jesus is art that our God deserves.
Our Great God deserves great art.
