Art Direction

Art is to the aristocrat as  knowledge is to the blind philosopher. You cannot understand the creativity of man until you glimpse the master artist's work. Every brilliant brush stroke of the Dutch masters--the cold smooth Grecian sculptures--the flying buttresses of the glorious cathedrals--All but juvenile scribbles when compared to the mastery of God. For the mystery of creation lies in the mind of only God. And the man who tries to extract just a slivers of glorious creativity for himself, deserves damnation for this great sin. 

If "art" is to benefit the church it must be approached with great caution. I have heard from men more loyal to their work then their God, that the church needs to embrace artists more readily and encourage their work. Even art which pulls from worldly philosophies (modernism, existentialism, or mysticism) seems fair game to these "outcast" christians. These works of art, in charismatic circles, give reason for prophetic guessing games. "Well to me, the painting shows God's creation story. I can see the moon and stars over there and that looks like a giraffe. And those splotches of blue could be the feet of God walking in the garden." If God would grace us with a prophetic painting, don't you think He would grace us also with an interpretation. 

Rogue artists must submit to church authority like everyone else. If art is to have the blessing of God it must not fly in the face of Christian apostolic council. The artistic attribute of rebellious creativity is sinful. They want to push the envelope. Shock and Awe. We must ask ourselves, are these artists even saved? A regenerated soul ought not behave this way. 

I am in favor of careful discernment before every social rule is flirted with by those who ask to be assumed as Christian artists. It takes patience and humility to wait for art direction from a spiritual authority sometimes. But if an artist shows himself faithful and submitted, He can only expect to watch as God glorifies Himself through the artist's pieces.