Lausanne World Pulse – Themed Articles – Restoring the Arts to the Church: The Role of Creativity in the Expression of Truth

By Colin Harbinson
July 2006

Introduction
As the biblical story unfolds, it does so in stories and poetry. In fact, approximately seventy-five percent of scripture consists of narrative, fifteen percent is expressed in poetic forms and only ten percent is propositional and overtly instructional in nature. In our retelling of the same story, we have reversed this biblical pattern. Today an estimated ten percent of our communication is designed to capture the imagination of the listener, while ninety percent is purely instructive.

At particular times in history, the arts have played a strategic role in the mission of the Church; at other times—when perceived to be morally and spiritual bankrupt—they were largely abandoned. However, in all probability there has never been a time in which a biblical understanding of the arts by the Church has been more needed than in our current postmodern culture with its visual and experiential orientation.

A Biblical Perspective
The Bible begins with the majestic pronouncement, “In the beginning, God created…” (Genesis 1:1). Stunning in simplicity, yet profound in implication, we are first introduced to God as the creator, the original artist. He is the creative imagination and personality behind all things; creativity is an essential part of his divine nature. God intended creation to be both functional and beautiful (Genesis 2:9). Into this world he placed the man and woman created in his image. They had the ability to think, feel and create. The cultural mandate affirms that God intended for human beings to develop and steward his world. We were commissioned to be culture formers (Genesis 1:28, 2:15).

The specific call of God for Bezalel to make “artistic designs” (Exodus 31:1-6) opens up the possibility of artistic expression as a spiritual calling. Creativity is a gift from God. The best way to thank him is to develop and use our gifts. Unfortunately, many never give themselves permission to begin to develop their creativity because it has not been encouraged or validated by the Church. Others either abandon their gifts or abandon the Church when told their artistic motivation and their faith are incompatible.

God told Moses to make a sculpture of a snake because he wanted to use this visual representation as a means to bring forgiveness, healing and restoration to his people (Numbers 21: 4-9). Other Old Testament examples abound that show how God commissioned the use of the arts in worship, to remind the people of their story or to reveal his purposes. The prophets often used stunning visual means to demonstrate God’s heart. In the New Testament, Jesus, the master storyteller, ignited the imagination of his listeners through narratives, parables and metaphors that pointed to spiritual reality.

Colin Harbinson has been involved in the arts and missions in over sixty nations. He is international director of StoneWorks, a global arts partnership for cultural reformation and the recovery of the imagination in the life and mission of the Church. Harbinson is founder and president of the International Festival of the Arts and the Lausanne Senior Associate for the Arts.