This past weekend I went dancing in Atlanta. Not just for an evening, but for basically 2 full days and nights straight, I danced my heart out as much as I could. On my way home, I was thinking about the ways that I spend my time - my arts and talents and hobbies. I have on occasion been criticized for my chosen hobby of dancing, being told that it's not a very "Christian" hobby.
As Christians it's easy get into a mental rut, thinking that the only things we should listen to, or watch, or even really associate with, are those that are "Christian"; and by that, I mean those that expressly mention God in them. Anything other than that is "wrong." But I believe, rather than expecting us to give up anything that doesn't explicitly have crosses or names of God in it, God wants us to bring our passions to the world.
He created us as we are - a result of becoming saved should not be to stifle our creative ambitions, but rather to flourish them. WE should be the "Christian" things in our lives, not the things that we create. They are simply a product of our walk with Christ. As such, the longer we love and learn from Christ, the more our art will come to mirror Him.
But the beautiful thing about that is that God does not have just one side. There is more than one way to mirror Christ. The athlete can reflect God in his sport, without ever saying a word. The poet and the playwright can infuse Christ in their works without ever uttering His name. I can honor Him when I dance.
God-honoring art is not limited to liturgies and paintings of Jesus as a baby or on the cross. Our entire lives were meant to be a living, breathing symphony in honor of Him. So my question is this: how is your life a poem, a play, an opera, a ballet, a painting that honors God?
30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. 34 And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.
1 So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded.”
As Christians it's easy get into a mental rut, thinking that the only things we should listen to, or watch, or even really associate with, are those that are "Christian"; and by that, I mean those that expressly mention God in them. Anything other than that is "wrong." But I believe, rather than expecting us to give up anything that doesn't explicitly have crosses or names of God in it, God wants us to bring our passions to the world.
He created us as we are - a result of becoming saved should not be to stifle our creative ambitions, but rather to flourish them. WE should be the "Christian" things in our lives, not the things that we create. They are simply a product of our walk with Christ. As such, the longer we love and learn from Christ, the more our art will come to mirror Him.
But the beautiful thing about that is that God does not have just one side. There is more than one way to mirror Christ. The athlete can reflect God in his sport, without ever saying a word. The poet and the playwright can infuse Christ in their works without ever uttering His name. I can honor Him when I dance.
God-honoring art is not limited to liturgies and paintings of Jesus as a baby or on the cross. Our entire lives were meant to be a living, breathing symphony in honor of Him. So my question is this: how is your life a poem, a play, an opera, a ballet, a painting that honors God?
Exodus 35:20-36:1
20 Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, 21 and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments. 22 All who were willing, men and women alike, came and brought gold jewelry of all kinds: brooches, earrings, rings and ornaments. They all presented their gold as a wave offering to the LORD. 23 Everyone who had blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen, or goat hair, ram skins dyed red or the other durable leather brought them. 24 Those presenting an offering of silver or bronze brought it as an offering to the LORD, and everyone who had acacia wood for any part of the work brought it. 25 Every skilled woman spun with her hands and brought what she had spun—blue, purple or scarlet yarn or fine linen. 26 And all the women who were willing and had the skill spun the goat hair. 27 The leaders brought onyx stones and other gems to be mounted on the ephod and breastpiece. 28 They also brought spices and olive oil for the light and for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense. 29 All the Israelite men and women who were willing brought to the LORD freewill offerings for all the work the LORD through Moses had commanded them to do. 30 Then Moses said to the Israelites, “See, the LORD has chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 31 and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— 32 to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, 33 to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. 34 And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. 35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.
1 So Bezalel, Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD has given skill and ability to know how to carry out all the work of constructing the sanctuary are to do the work just as the LORD has commanded.”
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