Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue Engaging
Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue Engaging
Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue Engaging
Recently I attended a leadership training conference where I watched someone do a side artwork during the preaching of the word ( see the picture above). This was my first cross-cultural experience of this type, and I have never seen before a visual artwork accompanying the sermon. It is a beautiful piece of art; I wish I had had the chance to ask the artist how her work relates to the sermon. Confess I have already forgotten what the sermon was all about but still remember the visual image of that art. Wouldn’t it be nice if the artist was given a chance to explain her art? I also realize that I remember more visuals than audio. This makes me wonder why preachers and pastors do not use more visuals.
After reading Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue Engaging Culture, by William A. Dyrness, I realized how imperative it is for us to create spaces for visual arts in our worship to encourage creativity that brings glory to God. Dyrness’s detail analysis on the development of visual arts from historical, biblical and theological points of views sheds light on the current challenge for Christians and the art and also provides a helpful guide for the future.
Here are some helpful insights I concluded from my reading:
- The growing interest in the visual arts. According to the writer’s analysis, the time after the reformation, visual arts were neglected in the church, “ for they were seen as distractions from true worship, which always focused on the preached Word” (p.13). However, at the turn of the millennium, things have changed and today there is a high level of Christian interest in the visual arts (p.11). Is this why we see some emerging churches including artwork in their service? In my Ethiopian context, the visual arts that William discusses in this book are not familiar in my church. However, due to globalization, there is a fast growing interest toward visual medias for better or worse. For instance, people are more interested in watching gospel DVD’s than just listing to CDs. There are lots of Christian TV channels which air 24/7 where people can listen to the sermons and enjoy the music. While I am very grateful for the freedom and opportunity we have to share the word of God through available medias, I am also concerned for its far-reaching negative impact on the church and kingdom work. Sadly, signs and miracles are the divine visuals that most Christians in my country are looking for. Often the growth of a church is measured by the number of its members and its capital. However, as William states, “Throughout Scripture the visual experience of God’s people was to accompany and elaborate God’s Word to them,” not to be used as a measurement for one’s own success (p.84).
- We all are artists but in different ways. We are created in God’s image as men and women, and are given the capacity to do creative things to speak of our Father’s glory. William explains more beautifully than I ever could, “…being a good artist is nothing special, for God holds everyone responsible for certain things: being stewards of the earth, loving our neighbor, and praising God” (P.97). Therefore, the question is how as Christians do we see our work linked to doing justice to the earth, and voice to the hurting neighbor’s to create a better world?
- “God is the author of all beauty” (p.73). William does a great job referencing from both Testaments the biblical grounds for “beauty and goodness. What he finds is that, in the Bible both God’s words and acts go together, “what is visually lovely and true reflects who God is, consequently, all that he does” (p.75). Therefore, William sums up saying, “goodness, even beauty, are not fixed qualities toward which we can aspire—as was the case with the Greek ideal of perfection and Beauty. Rather they have a contingent character so familiar to anyone who treasures roses or sunsets” (p.75). I also love that the biblical idea of beauty is broader than how it is defined in our world. It includes “ sensations of light, color, sound, smell, and even taste” (p.81). Therefore, it is pivotal to evaluate our understanding of beauty in lines with Scripture and ask ourselves whether our visual arts point to God, as they should be.
About the Author
Telile Fikru Badecha
9 responses to “Visual Faith: Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue Engaging”
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Telili,
An artist imaging the sermon as the pastor shares … what a neat experience! I can understand how it held your attention and is a memorable worship experience. I liked the way you related the visual experience to Dyrness’ concept of creating space. He refers to art in church buildings beginning in the 4th century as designed to “open up a larger liturgical setting for imagery” (kindle, 518). The visual imagery is described by Dyrness as beautiful but it was used to tell the story and teach theology. He describes the worshipers experience experience much like your own encounter as “elaborating the teaching in ways common people could understand and appreciate.”
Space and place are essential if we are to enjoy and appreciate the use of visual arts today. Contemporary focus in building is the multi-purpose structure. How can we create in our culture the space for the visual arts when we join in worship? Dyrness also acknowledges that the focus on visual arts, which also included drama, gave rise “for subsequent controversies over the place and role of images.” Sounds like something that would happen in present building committee meeting! (See page 32 print ed., Kindle 518)
Ron, I appreciate your thoughtful comments. Like you say, our goal in making use of visual in our worship is to aid us elaborate the teachings in ways common people could understand and appreciate.
You ask, how can we create in our culture the space for the visual arts when we join in worship? Church leaders need to be educated about the role visual arts in church and discern together what is appropriate visual arts in their worship context.
Telile, lovely post. Loved it. Thanks for your excellent insights.
I was especially interested in your comments, “Due to globalization, there is a fast growing interest toward visual medias for better or worse.” I am convinced that just because something is “new and improved” or just new technology does not mean that it is necessarily better. In fact, sometimes “new” things can distract us from what is important. Take Christian TV, for example. Just because there is 24-hour networking does not mean that this necessarily helps Christians, especially if the programming is irrelevant to the culture into which it is being broadcast! I am probably biased, since I am not fond of Christian TV shows, but biased or not, I think that I can make a good argument that much of Christian broadcasts may not be truly Christian at all. Christianity is about relationships, not just about images, even if they are moving images.
Since God is the author of all beauty, might it not be more beneficial to get into nature for prayer, meditation, and quiet reflection than to watch TV shows that make it appear that being a Christian will make everyone healthy and wealthy? I think the answer is obvious. May the Lord help us to know what is truly beneficial to His people and just say no to those things that are worthless distractions.
Bill, thoughtful comments as always! I agree with everything you said and I pray with you “May the Lord help us to know what is truly beneficial to His people and just say no to those things that are worthless distractions.”
Thanks for you post.
I particularly appreciated the learning points you offer in this reflection.
From these points, one of the things that I am reminded of from reading your post is that while God may well be the author of all beauty our understanding of beauty is far too limited.
I read a book awhile back that I continue to love called “God and the Grotesque” (I believe the author is Karl Skrade) that discusses how God can use the things that are deemed ‘unbeautiful’ to teach us much about the will and love of God in the world.
Finally, I also appreciate the insight/reminder that we are all in our own way artists. We are all considered co-creators in the ongoing work of God in the world.
Thanks.
Clint, Great comments! I will look up the book mentioned. What a privilege to be considered co-creators in the ongoing work of God in the world!
Telile, Thank you for your reflection. I appreciated your reminder that “we are all artists” and your challenge as artists—“do we see our work linked to doing justice to the earth, and voice to the hurting neighbor’s to create a better world?” Can imagine the beautiful canvas we get to co-create with the Creator?!
I have been in worship services where an artist would draw while the word was being spoken. It was amazing to see the words come to life. Thanks, Telile.
Miriam, you’re right, what a beautiful role we are granting through Jesus Christ to co-create with the Creator! Thank you for your comments!
Telili, I appreciate your description of the artist who created an image during the sermon. A friend of ours has an artist that started a program at his church. He is teaching anyone to trace or copy murals that each portrays a different Biblical story. I was amazed at how beautiful and detailed each was, especially considering that the artist’s helpers were inexperienced. After reading your post, I though about the impact that the murals are having on each person involved in painting them. Not only will they impact others in their final state, but also the actual project is a ministry in itself. Thanks for sharing – I had forgotten about this until I read your story.