lancaster area worship network

Why Do We Do That? – Creative Arts

May 24

BenMiscellaneous, Why do we Do That? No Comments

In the last installment of “Why do we do that?”, I asked the question, “Why do we do contemporary and/or traditional worship?” Remember, I ask these questions not to incite wars or instill passions about forms, but rather to help us solidly know why we use the forms we do. In an effort to keep us thinking and examining our motives, I would like to ask the question, “Why do we use creative arts?”

In our day, it has become chic in the white city/suburban church to use various art forms in their worship. A lot is done in the name of relevance without much biblical thought as to how God might receive glory from it (or if he even asks for it).

To define creative arts, I am talking about any form that attempts to communicate by means of representation. Paintings, sculpture and tapestry are in view as well as graphic arts, video, drama, singing (corporate and performance) and even preaching.

I have heard many reasons given for why we should use art in worship. One is that our God is a creative God that made us with creative tendencies that we should use to glorify him. I believe this is a valid argument from “general revelation” (i.e. Creation), but I seldom hear reasons given from specific revelation (i.e. the Bible) except for singing and preaching.

On the other side of the coin, many throughout church history (especially in Protestantism) believed that art does not have a place in the church. Abuses where images and icons were used as idols, or where God is represented by an image of our own liking occasionally caused the church to react in an extreme prohibition of art. Some might also argue that because God is the ultimate Creator, we should be satisfied with the beauty he creates and not be distracted by our own handiwork that pales in comparison.

Then, to amplify the question, are there art forms that should be emphasized over others? Are there art forms to be avoided? Is it “anything goes” in the name of creativity (as it is in most of the art world)? In what ways should/could art be used? In what ways can we become too consumed by our own creativity?

I’d really like to hear your thoughts on this topic. I’ll try to post at a later time about how I have processed some of these things.