Biblical Principles For Art
Christians tend to over spiritualize things. Analyzing and looking at art Biblically is usually one of those things. Striving to honor the Lord by searching out the Scriptures, while not crossing the line into over-spiritualizing, we find there are Biblical principles to help us in the art world.
In the Bible, art and artwork is not prohibited.God is not anti art. God commanded the Israelites to make artistic designs for the Tabernacle to worship God by glorifying Him and instructing His people.
Beauty is an End in Itself
Fascinatingly, God said that art could be made for beauty. “And you shall make holy garments…for glory and for beauty” (Ex. 28:2). Beauty can be an end in itself.
Unfortunately, Christians have, by and large, have neglected the arts. We don’t know what to do with art and Christian artists. God ordains the vocation of an artist. Being able to artistically create and teach is a gift from God. Exodus 35:31 gives specific Biblical principles for Christian Artists.
“and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship,”
The gifts God has given the Christian artist are:
- Being filled with the Spirit
- Talent/Ability
- Intelligence
- Knowledge
What magnificent gifts! What gets in the way is sin. Sin hardens our hearts, blinding us to the loveliness of the truth and compelling us to make idols; which are hideous deceptions. In Christian Art’s Dilemma, art must be honest. In order to have ultimate truth, Jesus Christ must be known, for, He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Through Him we are truly set free. Not merely set free from sin, which brings shame and dishonor to God, but we are free to create art for the glory of God in an entirely new way.
Beauty is a Gift
God has given us beauty. He Himself is Ultimate Beauty and the Ultimate Artist.
“We are made to create beauty, enjoy beauty, and glorify God with beauty.”
It makes me revel in the thought that we are made in God’s Image and have been given the gift of creating beauty, enjoying beauty, and glorifying Him with beauty. With the Psalmist, let us ask and seek from the LORD: “That I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD and to meditate in His temple” (Ps. 27:4).
Daniel Mason
See More EssaysDaniel Mason studied theology in his undergrad, and currently pursuing graduate studies, with a particular interest in the Dutch statesman, Groen van Prinsterer. Daniel Mason is the co-founder of The Reformed Conservative.
