Art
The Role of The Christian Artist
By Randall Flinn
Jan 17, 2007 - 11:47:44 PM

The Role of The Christian Artist as a Servant of God and to Mankind.
Randall Flinn is Artistic Director of Ad Deum Dance Company in Houston, Texas.

The arts are among the greatest influences of any culture. Where there is man, there is culture and there is creativity and art. Without a doubt, man’s desire to create is a natural response of being created in the image of God-the Creator. In the beginning God gave the mandate to Adam and Eve to subdue the earth as creative stewards, and indeed, since that time, whether for better or worse, man has designed his dwellings, cities and nations with creative pursuits.

Every good and perfect gift is given by the Father. It is said of Christ, that all things were created by Him and for Him. Even we ourselves are His workmanship, created for those good works which God has ordained in Christ from the foundations of the world. Yes, Christ is to be the Head over all of creation and every created thing. Whatever we do in word or deed should be done for the glory of God. This is in accordance with the will and plan of God. This is how it was in the beginning before The Fall and before sin produced the distortion of man’s heart and also his art.

Where there is art we may find beauty and truth through creative workmanship that reflects and upholds the aesthetic, moral and spiritual values made possible by the purity of God’s image in and through mankind (see Exodus 31-the calling of a Godly artist). Yet we can also find wickedness and corruption, induced by a tainted and perverted sin nature in man (see Exodus 32 –Aaron’s distortion of heart and art). This is not an easy division between secular and sacred art – that concept in itself encourages a Gnostic dualism which is not Biblical.  The problem does not exist within the style or theme of art, it is much deeper. The distortion of every thing good, truthful, meaningful and beautiful begins in the heart of man.

Man has fallen from innocence and from the glory he once knew in the Garden. Only the completed work of the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ can save, redeem and restore the heart of man in union with God the Father. Both man and creation are bound by sin’s curse and are slaves of corruption. Only in and through the redemptive work of Christ can man once again be made free. The book of Romans tell us that creation itself groans with birth pains until now awaiting the liberty brought from the children of God. “For the earnest expectation of the creation waits for the manifestation of the sons of God. (20) For the creation was not willingly subjected to vanity, but because of Him who subjected it on hope (21) that the creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. (22) And we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.”

Christian artists, this is our cue, it is time for us to enter in to our role as liberators, light bearers, salt shakers and ambassadors within the Kingdom of God. Our lives and our art are important to the Kingdom of God. We are called into the ministry of reconciliation. Make no mistake, this is every Christian’s ministry given by God’s Spirit no matter what our status or vocations may be.

Our talents are no mere move of chance, they were purposed in us by our Heavenly Father with purpose, plan and significance.

You have been called to liberty in His Spirit. As artists you can display the majesty of His creation, the mysteries of His Presence, and the glory of His image in man. You are not limited by the expressions of religious or evangelical art – for the earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. You have been called and given the gift of imagination and creativity – submit that to God in its fullness and discover that “no eye has seen, no ear has heard, nor has entered into the heart of man the things that God has prepared for those that love Him.” This is an amazing promise and truth for all artists.

Artists, we are called to be His servants. We should be about taking up our towel of talents and washing the feet of mankind with blessings of creativity. Creation itself is waiting for us to do so – it desires to be set free from corruption. What an incredible thought – our lives and our art can be expressions of liberation to speak freedom to the bondage of man. We can be Bezalel’s (Exodus 31) in the Kingdom –artists called by, named and chosen, and appointed to a destiny in Christ. Our lives and artistry can be blessed and powerfully anointed by the Father with the signature of His Spirit.

It makes no difference, whether we are pursuing this calling on Broadway, the church or mission field. Wherever we are as Believers, we still have been given the ministry of reconciliation as ambassadors of Christ. We should study and work hard to show ourselves approved and we should possess the land we have been assigned and raise up standards in these areas. We are in the world but not of it and we have been set apart (sanctified by truth) so that we may leave the mark of Christ by engaging and impacting the culture around us. This we will do as artists as we look, depend and walk in the Spirit of God.

Artists’, take your place, understand your gift and calling. You can make a difference in the lives of fellow human beings. Be faithful, be good stewards of the talent you have been entrusted with and serve your best with it to the glory of God wherever He may lead you. You are His child, His artist, His servant, His ambassador – do not be ashamed, do not be timid, do not fear. As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

I leave you with this encouragement fellow Christian artist, “Arise and shine for Thy light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”

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Article Source: Christian Articles Network