Starting a Christian Artistic Revolution

Image Credit: Media from Wix

Before beginning, I want to make clear that, by "art" and its cognates (i.e. "arts," "artistic," etc.), I mean "works like literature, films, music, video games, etc."

Now, on to the subject!

My brethren in Christ, as you've known, enemies of our God have dominated popular culture in our society (which is the United States, for you foreign readers) for decades now. Consequently, it's a common topic of conversation in our circles to know how to navigate ourselves, our families, and our churches in a largely godless entertainment environment. Unfortunately, I think we've taken a largely defensive posture in this war (and it is a war). Yes, we need to Biblically defend ourselves and others against godless culture's attempts to conform us, our families, and our family in Christ to its unbiblical ways of life (or rather, ways of death-Deuteronomy 30:15 and Proverbs 14:12). However, I think we need to go on the offensive as well! I think we need to create our own art to conform ourselves and others to Christ! We need to create Christian art as godly alternatives to godless art. Now, obviously, this idea is not a new one, so my purpose here is not to claim this is an idea original to me. Rather, my goal in this post is to inspire you to take proactive action. Before going further, I must make clear that this post is only a suggestion, NOT a command.

Now, getting back to the subject, I want to clarify what "Christian art" is and then give you a few steps for how you (especially if you're parents trying to raise your children in the Word) may be able to create Christian art for God's glory, the edification of your fellow Christians, and perhaps even the salvation of lost people.

What is "Christian art?" We all know what "Christian" means as a noun: a follower of Christ. What then does "Christian" mean as an adjective? As an adjective, "Christian" can mean "conforming to Christ." So, "Christian art" would be "art that conforms to the character of Christ." In other words, Christian art is artwork that reflects God's character, which character He reveals in His Written Word, the Bible, the only ultimate and final authority for knowledge of Him.

With that understanding of Christian art then, I'll suggest a few steps to you, my dear family in God, for how you can develop yourself, by God's grace, as a Christian artist.

1) Know your God as Creator. In other words, get to know God (in a personal and relational way) in all the places in His Word where He reveals Himself as Creator. Do this so that His creativity will rub off on you, His children, so that you can glorify Him through various artistic works.

2) Know your God as Teacher. In other words, get to know God (again, in a personal and relational way) in all the places in His Word where He teaches His followers, acquainting yourself with His teaching methods, so that His teaching style will rub off on you, and you will be able to teach. You may be asking "What does this have to do with art?" Well, teaching, in a broad sense, is "causing something to be known by the one taught." It isn't merely the kind of academic instruction we often think of when we hear the term "teaching." So, artwork, as we are defining it in this context, serves as a form of teaching.

3) Consider what resources God has given you. With the creativity you may gain from Step 1, consider the artistic works you can make with these resources according to the Christian aesthetic, which is God's standard of beauty in His Written Word.

4) By faith in God only, conceive of Christian artistic works in your mind and make them.

5) By faith in God only, publish your Christian artistic works to all you know and the rest of the world, with the sole goal of glorifying God through your works.

My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will work a Christian artistic revolution in the church of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout the world all to the glory of the Father!