Art That Draws Us to the Greatest Artist
After experiencing the incredible visual beauty of China, William Dyrness’s book, Visual Faith (Engaging Culture): Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue, put words to how that beauty relates to the Christian Faith and Church. Art and beauty have always seemed to point me to the Creator and been a form of worship for me. And although much of the art created in China was directed towards the worship of other gods, it was still very inspiring and captured my attention. Simone Weil agrees with me when she argues that “there are three ways people are drawn to God: through affliction, religious practices, and by the experience of beauty. The first two, she points out, have been virtually eliminated from modern life, leaving the third. Among white races, she argues, “The beauty of the world is almost the only way by which we can allow God to penetrate us.”[1] Understanding the history and importance of art in the church was also a fascinating and enlightening discovery. It is unfortunate how the Christian church used to lead the way in the area of visual arts, then to see it become the institution that seemed to oppose art the most. The author points out that “not only is the environment of Protestant churches not conducive to producing Christian art, but it turns out that it may actually impede the development of artistic imagination.”[2]
It was also encouraging to read that this generation is attempting to bring back the visual arts to the church and to Christian Worship. I’m sure many of the early Christian artists would be shocked and excited to see how this generation uses and distributes various forms of visual art, thanks to the invention of social media. Dyrness states, “The contemporary generation has been raised and nourished by images; it has an inescapably visual imagination. Regardless of whether one considers this good or bad, for this generation, aesthetics counts more than epistemology. Actually, this is a theme that has deep roots in the Christian tradition. As St. Augustine put it, what you enjoy (love!) is more important than what you know!”[3] We are bombarded by images on a daily basis and people have become obsessed with them to the point of spending countless hours viewing them on a small device called a cell phone. It also appears that this extreme interest in visual imagery is causing us to bring some of this tradition of visual arts back into the church. When we worship such a beautifully creative God and have such a rich artistic heritage, it makes sense this beauty would show up in our worship services. As the author points out, “Clearly, the Christian church and Christian artists face an immense challenge, both to reach this generation with the gospel and equally important (and vitally related) to rediscover the imaginative richness of their heritage.”[4]
Ironically, I received an email today from Missio Alliance inviting me to claim my free copy of Plough Quarterly magazine’s current issue entitled, The Art of Community. The issue happens to be all about how beauty and art are at the core of the Christian faith and community. Editor, Peter Mommsen, has the following to say in the introduction section of the magazine: “And yet: an equally ancient strain within Christianity insists that there is a beauty that can save the world. In the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible that the early Christians used, when God in Genesis pronounces his creation good, he says of earth, plants, animals, and humans: “It is beautiful.” In that sense, the medieval theologian Nicholas of Cusa understood the creativity of the artist to reflect the creativity of the Maker of heaven and earth. The Romantics were at least partly right: the artist who creates beauty can be a channel for divine truth.”[5] This seemed to be serendipitous since the topic was visual faith this week and the articles in the magazine reaffirmed this idea that visual art can be a window to see God. I also appreciated the additional focus on how art can help foster community among believers.
You will not be surprising that my favorite quote of the book was the following: “One of the critical functions art may perform is to bring the notion of play back into the center of our lives where it belongs. After all, the morning stars sang together at creation, and the sea monsters played in the sea. Perhaps humans are meant to see their lives as more of a playtime, a dance, or at least a drama. Indeed, it is likely that we would be more productive in our work if we brought a playful spirit into it. Art may help us understand this, and for this reason alone we should think carefully about art.”[6] Everyone knows I like to play, so if art is another way to introduce play I am all for it. In fact, I think many churches could use a healthy dose of fun and play, and why not beautiful art by talented artists be an avenue to spark joy and imagination. Although I believe art is a legitimate and needed profession, I also believe the hobby of art and other casual means to introduce art are needed in the church and we can all benefit from being drawn towards our creative God through its expressions. When I come to church and see a creative cartoon, or a beautiful video during a worship song, or the woman dancing in the back of the auditorium during worship, a smile comes to my face, joy fills my spirit, and I sense God’s presence. It has also been said that laughter is one of the most intimate forms of communication, so if this is the case, maybe finding joy and laughter through some form of visual art can be a way of intimately connecting with our Creator.
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[1] William A Dyrness, Visual Faith (Engaging Culture): Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue, (Baker Publishing Group), Kindle Edition, 22.
[5] Peter Mommsen, The Art of Community, Plough Quarterly Magazine Issue 18, 2018, https://www.plough.com/en/topics/community/church-community/editors-letter-issue-18
[6] William A Dyrness, Visual Faith (Engaging Culture): Art, Theology, and Worship in Dialogue, (Baker Publishing Group), Kindle Edition, 140.
About the Author
Jake Dean-Hill
Currently a Marriage & Family Therapist in private practice. Ordained minister with 10 years of prior full-time church ministry experience and currently volunteering with a local church plant. Also working with companies as a Corporate Leadership Coach.17 responses to “Art That Draws Us to the Greatest Artist”
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Hi Jake,
Thanks for the pics from China. I hope to visit the Wall someday like you.
I can still picture the VE selection you chose this week for our Zoom chat. Your infectious joy was contagious and I am really glad you picked that one.
Your title today was stellar. The Greatest Artist with the appropriate caps was spot on. Thanks for your good writing and your emphasis on our Creator.
Thanks Jay, you are too kind. I feel like every artist in the world has a great example to follow just by looking at the creation around them. I also know my joy comes from Him as well 🙂
Good post, Jake!
Your photo of the Mona Lisa dabbing caught my attention right away. Lol This image reminded me of Dryness’ statement, “The contemporary generation has been raised and nourished by images…” (Dyrness 2014, 20). You mention, “I’m sure many of the early Christian artists would be shocked and excited to see how this generation uses and distributes various forms of visual art, thanks to the invention of social media.” How has social media changed the concept of church? Has art expanded ministry to be an entity outside of the sanctuary?
Thanks Colleen and glad you liked my Mona Lisa. I definitely think social media can be used for both good and evil. I think we can connect with a greater audience through social media which in turn expands our ministry outside of the sanctuary. Since this generation is so addicted to their phones and social media, it may be the only way to reach some of them. What are your thoughts?
Jake,
Your post is so thoughtful and eloquent! I appreciate how much you appreciate art! Your photos from China are beautiful and I agree that bringing art back into worship is important – especially the joy and imagination (and lets not forget the laughter!)
So I have to ask, what is going on with Mona Lisa in that picture? How are you using art in your therapy practice?
Thanks Jean, I definitely think we need more fun an laughter in the church. Mona Lisa is dabbing in the picture of course 🙂 I don’t use art much in my practice.
Jake, I am quite confident your playful spirit is recognized by all you come in contact with. Furthermore, only in criticism of my own church organization, I completely agree that we need to learn to enjoy more…the Spirit definitely has His hands full with trying to get some energy flowing some days. As for laughter; well, they laugh at me all the time…and sometimes with me.
Thanks Shawn, you crack me up as well and I’m sure you have a fun influence on your church.
Jake, You are so optimistic and I feel much as you do about art in general and the art we saw in China. I wonder what you did not like or felt could have been done even better about Dyrness’ book? 🙂
Thanks Trisha, glad to hear you enjoy art as much as me. As far as the book, I felt like he could have spent a little more time on practical suggestions for using visual art in church and worship.
Jake,
Great discussion about art in the church. I have been preaching on worship in the Psalms and the beauty of shouting before the Lord and dancing before him is all to evident. I love watching artists express their love for God with the talents he blessed them with, whether it is singing, dancing or any other form of art it can all be used in worshiping our creator. Thanks for the great post.
Jason
BTW I am all for more playing!
Thanks Jason, sounds like a great sermon series and glad you agree with the need for more play and laughter.
Jack,
This was a fun post to read :). A lot of good insights here and it sounds like you have a well-rounded view of art in worship. You wrote, “Art and beauty have always seemed to point me to the Creator and been a form of worship for me.” This seems to be the right thing (to me). Did you grow up with that kind of outlook or come to it later? I know you are naturally playful, but it seems like you are saying it isn’t just “personal preference”, that it is actually something that points toward the character of God. Any practical first steps for churches to take in this direction?
Thanks Dave. I feel like I have always enjoyed art and nature, but have definitely grown to appreciate it more as I have gotten older. Yes we need more joy and playfulness in church and I think the best way is to use all kinds of media forms to do it. Funny cartoons, videos, pics, and just not being afraid to laugh at yourself. Churches have to decide to make joy and laughter a priority in each service.
I appreciated the journey you took us on through your understanding and appreciation of art and worship. I love the image of God pronounces his work as “beautiful” as a meaning to “good”. That brought a deeper dimension that I had not thought of…possibly because the word good is over used. To hear someone stop and express something as beautiful usually is a purposefully statement.
Great job Jake, although the Dabbing Mona Lisa was a little much for. I’m offended.
Art sure can be offensive!
Wow I’ve never heard beauty and art at the center of Christian faith and community. Im not sure if I could get totally there, but I would say it certainly needs to be more active.
Yo Jake I love how Simone Weil agrees with you! 🙂 That was a good connection and so true. I have to admit – yesterday I walked out of the sermon for a little bit because it was so atrocious I went for a walk outside and found it so much easier to connect with God by simply looking at the beauty of the mountains or the trees or the ocean. Meanwhile, some knucklehead was blabbering on and on about who knows what in a dark room. So weird.