A couple months back we were driving through downtown Naches when Amanda said, “Look, Starry Night!” On display outside ReD’find and Consign was a canvas print replica of Vincent Van Gogh’s The Starry Night – one of the great works of western art and my personal favorite painting. We made an unscheduled stop and now that canvas hangs in my office.

I am far from an expert in the visual arts, but I know what I like – and I like Vincent Van Gogh. If you have never taken an opportunity to browse through some of his work, I assure you it is worth your time (you can find most of his works at vincentvangogh.org).

I have come to believe that art pleases God. God is, after all, the creator of all things. The fact that we are made in the image of God should clue us in to the fact that we, too, are called to be creative. This would entail that the arts are not tangential or a distraction from the “real” and important work of life. Rather, art is central to what it means to be human.

Last month a couple of climate activists made headlines when they threw a can of tomato soup on a Van Gogh painting (thankfully the painting itself was behind glass and unharmed). This has since sparked further protests and further vandalism of art in the name of “justice” and “climate awareness”. Although this is far from the most important news of recent weeks, there are few news stories that have frustrated me more. The “point” these activists seem to be making is – “While you are enjoying this beautiful art, the planet is being destroyed,” and, “Why would you be so upset about this painting being damaged but not be upset about the planet being damaged?”

Now, theologically it is important to note that we have a responsibility to care for this good creation that God has made. But it is self-defeating to try to preserve beauty by destroying beauty. If we look away from art in an attempt to focus on “more important” matters and solve the world’s problems, we will only create whole new problems. A world devoid of artistic beauty and wonder would be a depraved and dystopian world indeed.

Art is not a distraction from the problems in the world. Rather, art is a powerful means and motivator to partner with God in His healing and redeeming work.

When God brought the Israelites out of Egypt, one of the first things He had them do was use their hands to create something beautiful: the tabernacle. In the building of the tabernacle, the LORD chooses two artists – Bazalel and Oholiab – to do the important work of constructing the temple, which would incorporate various forms of artistic craftsmanship. “To all who are skillful, I have given the skill to make everything that I have commanded you” (Exodus 31:6b, CEB). Artistic ability is a gift from God and finds its fulfillment in worship. 

Worship itself is a form of artwork. Christians have always used music as a regular means of worshiping God. No other religion is as known for their music. Christians have written more songs than anyone. Would the world be a better or worse place had John Newton never written “Amazing Grace”?

The Bible itself is a work of art. It is filled with story, powerful prose, and gorgeous poetry. The Bible is almost unarguably the most beautiful and important work of literature in the history of the world. (Of course, the Bible is not just literature – it is more than literature but certainly not less than it). Our congregation has spent this fall exploring the book of Revelation. I hope that we have all seen that Revelation is an artistic masterpiece. John uses words to paint a beautiful collage of God’s victory over the forces of darkness. It is a book that gave people living under intense pressure and injustice the spiritual strength to continue following Jesus.

Beauty is a means of grace. The Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky once used this line in one of his novels: “Beauty will save the world.” This does not mean that seeing pretty paintings or singing pretty songs is salvific. Rather, it means that all which is truly beautiful will ultimately point us to what is most beautiful: Christ.

As we do our work as church leaders, we must be sure to pay attention to beauty. Yes, pay attention to the mountains and trees, the works which God has made. But also pay attention to the beauty which God makes by partnering with His people. This is not a distraction from our work – it is part of the job.

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – Romans 15:5-6 (NIV) 

Grace and Peace, 

Pastor Andrew