So how does the world look at the artist? In what way does the artist fit into God’s design within the church family? The Book of Exodus does speak of certain individuals possessing the gift of Craftsmanship. Throughout the scriptures, including the New Testament, this continues to be so. Oddly it is not mentioned as one of the “nine” spiritual gifts mentioned in the New Testament.
It is taught that while some Christians may have more than one spiritual gift, all followers of Christ have at least one.
The gifting can even be an enhancement of what would have been a natural born talent. I have always been a late bloomer in much in life. That has included discovering my spiritual gifting. Through others observations it became clear that a couple gifts I have are in Craftsmanship and Evangelism. Years before I struggled with jealousy over others coming into their giftedness, their path when I had not realized mine. In a conversation with a priest I worked with as a secretary to their church in the early 2000s, the idea was discussed that maybe my calling was more out in the world as apposed to working within the four walls of a church. Another word for out in the world is the marketplace.
In 2010 I started a blog in relation to my scrapbooking website. With the blog I experimented with putting together scrapbook pages around various scripture verses and life topics. I was inspired by our church minister at the time who wrote a weekly blog. It was a hobby I was enjoying and a way to share my thoughts and maybe my faith. Again, a few years later I would move beyond creating scrapbooking pages to doing mixed media work onto canvas. It was about that time I began to think of myself as an artist. Most recently I find that what I call Mixed Media artwork is in the category of contemporary or modern art. This is interesting.
In my journey to discover and better understand this “spiritual calling” of mine, I came across a book by Matt Tommey called Creativity According to the Kingdom. I enjoyed how he explained the spiritual side of art and I appreciate his insight into what I see as why the Church today can be “funny” about the whole topic of art and even why the world largely struggles with it as well.
I would encourage you to read Creativity According to the Kingdom. Tommey says that many scholars believe that it was Lucifer’s position in Heaven’s throne room to literally reflect the light of God as it came forth. He says that “our design as a creative worshiper, artist, business executive, or homemaker is the same as Lucifer’s original design, which is to live in the presence of God, reflecting His Light and sounding forth His Sound in the earth through the unique way the Father has created you.”(p.32, Creativity According to the Kingdom). Lucifer’s sin was in wanting to take the glory for himself. That is our challenge as artists today.
I suppose that Satan has a special hatred for the artist, or creatives, as these abilities were his as an archangel originally. Tommey refers to them as “perfect storms” designed to take out the artist. (p. 33, Creativity According to the Kingdom). I think, whether Christian or not, this is why not only the church but also the majority of the world’s people have mixed feelings about art and artists.
Some churches teach that art is idolatry, mixing up the worship of a thing and its creation. Citing an article, April 2017, published by Bill Muellenberg, “The prohibition against graven images has been wrongly interpreted and as a result has led to much mischief over the centuries.”
If it were true that art was idolatry, then all the décor of Israel’s temple to God should not have been so extravagant. Cherubim to be sculpted to preside over the Ark of the Covenant and woven into the veil of the Holy of Holies, as well as the embroidery of lilies and pomegranates. Then there is Solomon’s temple.
According to Francis Schaeffer, ‘For a Christian, redeemed by the work of Christ and living within the norms of Scripture and under the Holy Spirit, the Lordship of Christ should include an interest in the arts. A Christian should use these arts to the glory of God, not just as tracts, mind you, but as things of beauty to the praise of God. An art work can be a doxology to itself.”
I believe the gift of art, when used to honor God who is the first artist, is beautiful and blesses those it touches. As in other things, the devil only comes to seek and destroy. Jesus came to save.