MomentumArt

Since this article is meant to be about personal growth, you might have already concluded that I’m writing this to try and convince you to be more active in artistic practices. So, I will state from our launching point here that my true objective is to bring convincing evidence that “you have been made with a creative nature” and it could enhance your life significantly to take some initiative and activate it.

Here’s a quote from a man ahead of his time to get us on track: Francis A. Schaeffer, (Art and the Bible). “There is a false dichotomy between the physical and the spiritual that has crept into Christianity through the writings of Plato and others. Presently it is seen as a division where going to church, reading the Bible and praying are "spiritual," but science, the job field and especially the arts are "worldly." This has lead to a felt need to "Christianize" everything to make it ok. The word "Jesus" has to be in the lyrics of a song. A painting can only be of "Christian" things. Art becomes shallow.”

Historically, several hundred years ago Protestants and Evangelicals rejected the validity of the relationship between the believer and the arts; dismissing them as “worldly”. In doing so, not only did the church lose skills for creative expression and personal fulfilment that prevented believers from blossoming in creative insight and revelation; they also left the best means of communication in their day to the “worldly” agendas. The Humanist’s seized the opportunity, and as a result, they firmly established their worldview and culture in the western world as it exists today.

More recently, many Christians have made the proclamation “It’s time for the church to take back the arts”. I think I understand what they mean, but perhaps there’s a better way to put it; since this statement may awaken memories of a time when the church dominated artist’s and controlled what they produced, leaving very little room for personal insight by the artist. I don’t think we want to go back there.

I am also convinced that God had a much higher purpose for sharing His creative abilities with us than merely a vehicle for better church graphics, decorating the church foyer, or even added inspiration for worship or evangelism. I believe God gave us a creative nature to fulfil us, personally and deeply, and to help us become the people He created us to be. This was to help us see His Kingdom and its activity more clearly. It is our purpose and our endeavour with this site to inspire people beyond the “Christian Arts” into “Kingdom Arts”. Definitely not worldly, in fact, deeper into the supernatural realm where God lives, and from where He continually invites us to join Him in His heavenly activity and purposes for this planet.

As years go by there seems to be more and more wounded, fruitless Christians around. I have noticed as well that many of them are totally unfulfilled personally. There seems to be a cycle, where their wounded state keeps them from receiving enjoyment from anything, or becoming grateful for the blessings in their life; which in turn keeps the cycle rolling of un-fulfilment, hurt, and grief. Ultimately, many come to the conclusion that they hate themselves and their life; which they know is in obvious contradiction to their beliefs, so guilt and fear for the future follow.

My point is this, creative abilities are not just for those that have discovered they have some skills and therefore must be an “artist”, they are for everyone that is created in His image. Here’s an example of what I mean. Did you know there is a profession known as “Art Therapy” where patients participate in something artistic to bring healing? Why do you suppose they do this? Obviously, it is a field that has been given credibility in the medical profession because it works. The question is why does it work? Could it have something to do with the fact that when we stretch ourselves in a creative exercise; it not only fulfils us, it helps us find out more about ourselves in the process? The understanding that comes from exercising some creativity, being quiet and contemplative, combined with some guidance in our thoughts brings a measure of peace to people, which helps to restore them. Now, take that to the next level which is meant to be finding out more about God and the unseen realm. What would that do to us?

When I think of art therapy, it always makes me think of times I spent as a child drawing or sketching, I loved it. I never considered myself any good, but I did it anyway, just for the enjoyment. Of course, this was a time before TV and video games, where simple pleasures were the way it was. When I got a little older I read a lot of books, and after reading Captains Courageous and Moby Dick I developed a passion for the ships and the sea. I discovered the Cutty Sark and the era of clipper ships, and became totally delighted in the fact that a ships hull design could make such a difference in the speed in the ship. I also was captivated by the beauty in those ships and began to draw every clipper ship I could find a picture of. I have a framed print of the Cutty Sark on my office wall today and still get a thrill from the beauty of it.

Our need for childlikeness was a topic that Jesus spoke of with great passion, he even said “of such is the Kingdom of God” I’ve always loved the concept, but I think I’m just beginning to understand it. I will also point out here that all children are creative. Children are all eyes and all ears, experts in living in the now and here. I observed my children and now my grandchildren loving the adventure of learning and discovery, but I also found out they have a lot more going on inside them than we think. My kids were full of hope and dreams of what their life could be. I think that would be a great place for some of us to return to; or to discover for the first time, if that wasn’t your experience as a child.

Creativity is a subject we seem to see quite narrowly. Like to be really creative you need to be creating paintings, or sculpture, and perhaps being a musician would not even be enough, but you actually have to write music to be really creative. Fortunately, creativity is much more accessible than that. Apart from other more obvious types of art forms; creativity can be expressed in preparing a meal, decorating your surroundings, gardening (an organic gallery), making a card for a friend, sports, clothing, making jewellery or gift items, or working with raw materials such as wood, or metal or leather. Even the way you speak to others can be creative; David said “A word aptly spoken is like applesof gold in settings of silver.” (Pr.25:11) For some, creative gifting makes them exceptional in business, architecture, medical fields, or engineering. The point is; make the most of who you are, be grateful for it, and grow in it.

My Dad was a jazz pianist, and he made his living initially by playing in night clubs. I love jazz and especially jazz piano, and have my favorites. But to this day, I have never heard anyone who tops my Dad, he was an extraordinary man on the piano. Yet music for him was just a job, he never sat down and played the piano just to enjoy it, it was work. People do this; they take their abilities for granted and never gain what they could gain by appreciating the beauty in what they are doing.

I also want to understand more about the connections between the Kingdom and creativity, it is my passionate quest. But I can imagine already, like many things in God, those insights I desire have probably been right before me all the time. There are obvious qualities to life that we don’t see any more, they have become obscured over time, especially as our lives become more predictable and compartmentalized. Inspiration and passion is the key to our deliverance from a mundane life, we need to find a way to encourage ourselves into a different outlook on everything.

If you don’t see yourself doing anything artistic, there’s a place on our web site that might help get you going. Just begin by appreciating creativity. On the Co-lab Studio page, go to the music tab and look for the Creative Listening project or, on the Creative Writing tab, look for the Freedom Writers project. You can also go through the gallery, or read some of the articles on the Personal Growth page. Any of these would be a good place to start. May God bless your efforts.

(Francis A. Schaeffer, Death In The City, Ch. 1) “For man is not just a chance configuration of atoms in the slipstream of meaningless chance history. No. Man, made in the image of God, has a purpose -- to be in relationship to the God who is there. And whether it is in Jeremiah’s day, or in our own recent generations, the effect is the same. Man forgets his purpose, and thus he forgets who he is and what life means.”

“To chip away at marble and turn it into a marvellous piece of sculpture takes work, constant and patient. To ‘sculpt’ a life, in the midst of life, takes more work, is for longer periods of time, and needs far more patience.” (Edith Schaeffer – Hidden Art)