Recently
I was explaining the idea of this writing project to a small group of people,
one in the group being a cousin of mine who happens to be in the actual field
of the arts—she is a ceramicist. When I had begun working with the college
group to transform the FBCA college ministry newsletter into a small writing
magazine, I remembered the words of a certain professor, commenting on the
tragedy of the lack of the fine arts within the modern church—a ministry in its
own right. What was interesting to me was that when I explained this same
thought to the group that I was currently with, someone in the circle remarked
on a recent clay piece of my cousin’s: a recreation of a simple, brown bird’s
nest. The statement made was that perhaps the bird’s nest could become,
instead, a crown of thorns. An example of “evangelical art”.
For
whatever reason, this observation triggered something in my mind, and I
immediately felt objected to the idea of having to modify art to become more
“Christian”. Why would the bird’s nest not be viewed as a piece of Christian
art? What was wrong with the bird’s nest in the first place? Think about it:
the real bird’s nest is one example of the general revelation of God—his own
creation. Consider the labor on the part of the bird to create something both
beautiful and functional, which will provide a home for the bird’s future
offspring. Does not the ingenuity of the bird in creating its nest reflect
similar attributes of the Creator of the universe? Wouldn’t it stand to reason,
then, that the work on the part of my cousin to recreate that same bird’s nest
would further reflect and give glory to our Lord?
While
observations of nature, the arts, and the abilities of man are by no means a
direct route to understanding the fullness of the Gospel from the Scriptures,
there are elements of Creation that I think we, as the church, may too often
lose sight of. Everything in the created order has the capacity to speak to us
directly about the character of the incredible God we live for. These elements
naturally speak volumes about our Creator—exactly in the way that God created
them to reflect Him. Psalm 19:1-2 says, “The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and
night to night reveals knowledge.”
If
this is true, would not the gifts that God has created us with also directly
give glory to Him? Do we try too hard sometimes, as a Christian culture, to add
to these gifts for the purpose of “ministry”? I would think that these gifts
would minister more greatly to a broken and fallen world if we worked them the
way that we were called to—by unashamedly going out into the world with these
gifts. To be, like my cousin, a Christian ceramicist and sculptor of all things
good and beautiful. To be Christian writers, allowing our words to give greater
and greater revelation of the Lord by the exact way he has gifted each of us to
write, in every style. To be Christian businessmen and women in the world
market, Christian communicators, Christian counselors and social workers,
bakers, athletes, farmers, and thinkers. Each of us are to reflect the Lord’s
handiwork in the exact fields he’s placed us in to work and to be His church,
His bride—His image.
I
challenge everyone to consider carefully: what does it truly mean to have a
Christian worldview? Our gifts should grant us the opportunity to proclaim to
the world the work of the One who first gifted us, died for us, and redeemed
the WHOLE of us. I believe He is actively at work redeeming the created order,
and we are a part of that. The work of the Spirit effects every inch of our
beings, allowing our gifts to reflect Him.
Ephesians
2:8-9 sums it up, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and
this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one
can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
We are redeemed beings in all things, simply by
God’s gift and grace.
