It's March! Tim & Al become audio tour guides for the big London conference this month, listen to new song 'God Of All' by Ben Cantelon. Tim interviews Al exploring the key values of worship, followed by an arm wrestle!
Created to Create
"The Christian community should be an artistic community." "For human
beings were made in the image of the creator, and are therefore
intrinsically creative. When we are creative, we testify, wittingly
or unwittingly, to the existence, beauty and diversity-loving nature
of the creator. So when that image is renewed (Colossians 3:10), our
creativity will be renewed too. And while creativity can be
displayed anywhere, in the office, in the home, in the garden, in the
park, on the football pitch - for we must not divide the 'sacred' off
from the 'secular' - we would also expect it to adorn our life
together in the Christian community. Art and crafts and designs and
fabrics and music and drama and poetry and dance all beautified the
liturgy of the temple, and they should beautify our praise of God and
our life together today".
Mike Lloyd - Cafe Theology
Love this... thoughts?
Nice post Al
This, to me, kind of reflects one of the things at the heart of worship central - bringing our own, individual, creative offerings of worship to God.
It's like the parable of the talents - we should use the gift of creativity and turn it back to the praise of God. What better use could there be for it?
Al,
Good, solid words - great gateway to the power of creativity to renew.
I know we shouldn't usually do this on each other's blogs, but... I wrote an article on this some time ago called "The Quest For Eden: The Restorative Nature Of Creativity" where this theme was unpacked. http://www.verticalmusic.com/index.php?page=r...
It might add to the conversation. Great friendship and joy in the work we do!
This is so true, and we are working very hard at our church to express and explore artistry in many forms. I believe the church must be a safe place for artists to grow in their gifting and in their relationship with Jesus. Sometimes religious attitudes, the "We can't do that, this is a church; it's too out of the box; etc" attempts to get in the way. But I think the church shouldn't be afraid of letting artists loose to create things that express what God is saying to His Bride. It might get a little messy at times, but the messiness shouldn't be a set back, it should be an opportunity to shepherd and lead in a Christlike way!
I also think the Church has an opportunity to teach and exemplify how the arts are not this soft and feminine sort of expression! I've noticed there are so many homosexual men in the world who are designers, dancers, choreographers, color experts, etc. And I wonder if it's because they've listened to a lie that the arts are soft, feminine, sensitive, and girly and so to express artistry you must be such a way. I think if we can let go of the mindset that the arts are feminine-sided, it might release more men to be secure in their expression and their masculinity. I don't know, it's just a notion I've been pondering over for a year or so.
Jessica
I actually never looked at it like this. I was trapped in the thought that worshipping God was only possible through certain things and I certainly didn't see a football match as one of those. Now I came to realize that actually every little thing we do (like Tim already said in 'Everything') can be done for God. Thanks for this insight Al it has been really usefull for me.
Bert
This is a powerful truth. Creativity is essential to life. It belongs to everyone, equally necessary for scientific and business advancement as it is for what we often consider to be conventional art forms. Art is at the heart of success. It is a consciousness that allows us to achieve. Without art life is a friction leading to standstill. Art will animate our lives. As Christians, this includes our praise of God.
I particularly like the thought of adorning our lives with creativity without compartmentalization. This is a tough one for me. Secular and spiritual, this is a dynamic we need for life - for a dynamic life. When creativity and artistic thinking are left to the side, we suffocate.
This is an encouraging post Al. Although completely drained and shattered after a long day, I already feel a spark of inspiration in my spirit because of this thought. Living this as a Christian is enabling God's Glory to shine through us - liberating our lives. This is a powerful truth.
I totally agree, Al. The arts in general seem to be used by the church in a purely functional manner - songs for singing along, pictures to stop the walls looking bare, banners that come out at Easter - without a celebration of the very gift of creativity and artistic excellence.
It's a shame, and something I've always felt strongly about...
Hi Al,
Great thoughts ! Worthwhile checking David Ruis new album "When Justice Shines". Artists, sculptors, dancers, painters... at work simultaneously while worhsipping at The Loft. Creativity is intrinsic to worship.
Jied.
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I love the way he doesn't exclude certain things from being creative, while remembering that we should bring our creativtiy into the Church too!
Thanks for sharing this Al!
Phil
http://blog.worshiptherock.com/
Phil
http://www.worshiptherock.com - Worldwide Worship Leaders & Musicians
http://www.hemustincrease.com - UK Worship Leaders & Musicians