Part 1 - Defining Art

Stephen Bennett

"The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection" Michaelangelo

Art runs the world we live in. It consumes and runs on copious amounts of artistic expression. Society is heavily influenced by every form of art; a massive vogue living of music, television, film, design, publishing, advertising, magazines, fashion, fine-art and architecture, to name a few. Imagine the world without all this art? The modern world, its thoughts and trends, are fashioned and shaped by all of this artistic endeavor and creative communication technology. Take it all out and we would have a vastly different world.

There is an ultimate purpose for all this art and creativity. As we explore the concept of art in this series - and its 'ministry' in the world, may we see and understand more from a Biblical perspective art's purposes - ultimately for the Creator of all possibilities, God our Father in Heaven - The Divine Artist.

In God's eyes everything is art, and all things created are for Him alone. He is the ultimate artist. 'For by Him (Jesus) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on the earth, visible, and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him for Him' Colossians 1:16. Everything visible and invisible was created and has an intelligent, creative design, beginning in the mind of God. Even scientists recognize this more and more.

To create means to cast into moulds, using raw material and fashioning it into preconceived shapes - to mould or squeeze into a shape or form like a potter. Can you imagine God as an artist in his studio covered in paint, clay, or pondering his thoughts over designs and drawings.

When we try and define art we think mainly of paintings, but Art on its own - as a pure thing by definition - doesn't really exist; art can be many things. The dictionary definition of art means skill, especially human imitative skill in design, as opposed to nature or what originates naturally. You could call this skill - being arty. We can also say there are really only artists who produce something and by definition, we call what is produced, some form of art. If God created everything, the world is then just one big gallery! The world and everything in it is God's art and he loves His art so much, and gave Himself to it. 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life' John 3:16.

Art is not just about being creative but also about the virtues of giving, sacrificing, and pouring out your-self for a greater purpose; they are all linked in the creative process. Jesus Christ is the ultimate work of art who was hung on a rugged cross, and is now in constant exhibition for you to find Him and get to know Him as the Savior of the world.

(Extracts from the book by Stephen Bennett - The Divine Artist)