Art and the Bible
I was recently scrounging through my dad’s old seminary books and came across Francis Schaeffer’s Art and the Bible. I had never heard of this book and doubt you have either because it’s basically two essays thrown together in a 63 page booklet. Little did I know that what was in this booklet would be so insightful and relevant, even though it was published in 1973. I thought I’d share with you some excerpts that caught my attention and maybe will spark your interest.
“All of us are engaged daily with works of art, even if we are neither professional nor amateur artists. We read books, we listen to music, we look at posters, we admire flower arrangements. Art, as I am using the word, does not include just “high art,” that is, painting, sculpture, poetry, classical music, but also the more popular expressions-the novel, the theater, the cinema, popular music and rock. (p. 33)”
“Being in the image of the Creator, we are called upon to have creativity. In fact, it is part of the image of God to be creative, or to have creativity. We never find an animal, non-man, making a work of art. On the other hand, we never find men anywhere in the world or in any culture in the world who do not produce art. Creativity is a part of the distinction between man and the non-man. All people are to some degree creative. Creativity is intrinsic to our mannishness. (p. 34)”
“If, therefore, Christianity has so much to say about the arts and to the artist, why is it that recently we have produced so little Christian art? I should think the answer would now be clear. We have not produced Christian art because we have forgotten most of what Christianity says about the arts. (p. 61)”
This last one really hit me hard. Do Christians not produce art (especially good art) because we have forgotten what the Bible and Christianity say about art? Do we truly believe we have the most important and beautiful story to tell? To we honestly grasp the fact that we were created in God’s image to be creative? Who knew such a little book would have so much to say!
This book is worth your time and is a good little read. It might be out of print, but you can purchase it used on Amazon.
All quotes taken from:
Schaeffer, Francis A. Art and the Bible. Illinois: Intervaristy Press, 1973.
I read this little book in an art class in college. It’s a good one. I think a must read for all artists that follow Christ. Maybe even for all Christ followers.
posted at 11:50 am on August 6th, 2008 by Clayton Borah