If there's one thing the world thinks it owns, it's definitely art. But continuing with the theme of this project (all good things come from God), it is my goal to demonstrate how art is just another gift from God who owns it like He owns all good things.
As usual, let's start by examining Scripture. Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us:
He has made everything beautiful in its time
What is art? As implied in the question, this article focuses on the primary noun form of the word ‘art’, and not so much on the adjective form. The Merriam-Webster dictionary offers several definitions. Let us extract some relevant ones:
- Skill acquired by experience, study, or observation
- The conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects
- Decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter
Now lets define ‘aesthetic’ in order to appreciate the second definition application:
- Of, relating to, or dealing with aesthetics or the beautiful
- A particular theory or conception of beauty or art
- A particular taste for or approach to what is pleasing to the senses and especially sight
- A pleasing appearance or effect
Now let’s bring some of these meanings together and bring this topic to life:
We see from the definitions that art involves skill. Notice how this excludes randomness and chaos and instead implies careful and intentional design. This of course contradicts evolutionists who claim all life is a result of chaos and random “big bang” explosions. Isn’t it interesting how today atheist artists, authors and entertainers salivate to own art, when by definition their atheist belief contradicts the inseparable harmony between creator of art and created art?
As shown in the definition of art, skill is earned by experience and study or observation and it is consciously used, implying it’s not something you’ll be doing while you’re sleeping or unconscious. It is a product of intellectual design. It also serves an aesthetic purpose or the purpose of decoration, which has to do with adorning or beautifying something. This beautification then evokes visual pleasure or more broadly, a pleasurable effect.
This broader “effect” of art is clearly seen in sound (music), also printed matter expands beyond visual art to literary art (poetry, literature, grammar), and beyond that in the form of reasoning and logic itself, which we’ll discuss later.
The broader application of art is a reminder that the original creator of art (God Himself) has no limit, therefore art has no limit either. It is also a reminder that creators of art (small “c”), that is, us humans, unlike animals, have been given by God a GIFT called ART. That is, the ability to BOTH create and or appreciate art, unlike the animals. Think about this!
In the book of Genesis we see God introducing Himself to humanity with His creation which is the most incredible work of art. Then, after the fall of mankind we know that the knowledge of good and evil came with that fall. But the ability to see and feel the effect of good is part of this phenomenon. One sees that which is good, you know it’s good and when you chose that which is good, you feel and or experience the beneficial effects of that good thing.
Art and beauty is part of that “good” thing that we’re able to see feel and appreciate. However, because we are made in God’s image, unique and separate from the animals we can appreciate the good things God makes available to us, besides just art, that are also beautiful, like being loved, being accepted and cared for, good health, good food, nice weather and being safe and comfortable, just to mention earthy-related goods.
There are so many good things that we can appreciate, feel and experience only because of Gods love for us, which includes all the good things he shares with us, and one of those good things is ART. Art is clearly mentioned almost in an introductory manner in Genesis 35 where we’re shown that it’s a byproduct of God’s Spirit!
Then Moses said to the people of Israel, “See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah; and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence, with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold and silver and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, for work in every skilled craft.
There it is, right out of God's Word! So, among other things, art is a GIFT from God which He chose to share with us so that we can have a glimpse of who He is and how much He loves us. Just imagine what life would be like without art. It’s very hard to imagine this because art often defines entire cultures and societies and it’s at the center of who we are socially.
Knowing that Art is a product owned and provided by God, and knowing it is beautiful by nature, it shouldn't surprise us that art is a tool of transformation. Yes, it is a transformational element that God uses to change us!
Music, for example, brings ideas to life. Think of a popular song of the past and how the lyrics of a song can sometimes transform an entire generation. Music is a powerful example of a transformational element that pierces through all cultures, races and classes and conveys powerful life-changing messages. The same could be said about other forms of art (visual, poetry, writing, movies, dances etc). Ideas when repacked into art are transformational because they are retained at a deeper level!
Art is also a tool God uses to help us realize that we are different from the animals and to show us we have purpose, value, unique emotions and a desire to love and be loved. Art essentially opens up an alternative reality which, as humans we can FEEL it, but often cannot articulate exactly what it is. That's because of its transformational power which pierces our conscience and in so doing should remind us that we are created in God's image.
So, let's review again. God is the author of art, art is a powerful tool of transformation, and everyone will see it, be thankful and serve God, right?? (sarcasm intended) Not a chance! Satan opposes God in every way, and do you really think he would do NOTHING about this issue of art and bypass an opportunity to steal it for his glory and mission instead? Obviously not!
As mentioned earlier, logic and reason can be a tool of art and, knowing this, for centuries now, Satan has used so-called logic and reason, that is, earthly “logic and reason” to push human logical theories in an attempt to replace God and use God’s gift of art against Him.
For centuries, particularly following the Renaissance (which means re-birth) of the 15-16th century, we saw a focused effort to declare man as god and using the gift of art as proof that man is god. Here are some quotes from Wikipedia regarding the Renaissance period.
The Renaissance is … characterized by an effort to revive and surpass the ideas and achievements of classical antiquity. Associated with great social change in most fields and disciplines, including art, architecture, politics, literature, exploration and science
So it symbolized a period of revival of ideas (intellectual ideas) that would penetrate societies and cause social change. Let us dig deeper with some emphasis added.
The Renaissance’s intellectual basis was founded in its version of humanism, derived from the concept of Roman humanitas and the rediscovery of classical Greek philosophy, such as that of Protagoras, who said that “man is the measure of all things“
The modern secularized thinking and societies of today all spawned from this “re-birth” and non-Christian and non-religious ideologies would finally move forward in a manner that portrays itself as the norm, the bearer and originator of truth, reason and all forms of art.
The Renaissance period and the modern day humanism and secularism that followed is a great reminder that this (the change of ideologies and norms in an attempt to raise man as master of his own destiny) is actually the story of humanity. It’s a fallen race that believed 2 pivotal lies from Satan in the Garden of Eden; that we could be equal to God (the very miscalculation he himself made), and that we wouldn’t die. Genesis 3:4
Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
There you have it. The lies of the Renaissance and modern day humanism and secularism are described in Genesis 3 and they are still lies. Humanity is nothing without God. We never did become like God, we are still fallen and Adam and Eve did die. With this one lie Satan gifted humanity with the element of death. But notice how Satan threw in one truth, we DO know good from evil. Also, notice that this is how deception works best, when truth is mixed in with lies.
So keep this in mind when we’re talking about art. Art is of God. It is a gift that inspires, entertains and transforms and it is to be used to point back to Him. It is also a gift that can be stolen for inappropriate and nefarious causes of Satan such as to deceive, mislead and misguide others to death and destruction. Art is about beauty on many levels because we, the recipients of this gift of art, are made in God’s image and we are able to appreciate art (unlike the animals) on many levels.
Truth and art are two unique topics in this project, and both remind us of how wrong society is today about the meaning of both ‘truth’ and ‘art’. Truth and art are central to who God is, central to understanding God and His word, and central to finding true joy and satisfaction.
So, whatever is REALLY true and REALLY artful is also REALLY life-changing, REALLY exciting to experience and we should REALLY want to know all about it. Shouldn’t we?
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