The artist has been totally necessary for the success and wellness of society across time. Propaganda, in his spoken word hip hop piece, notes that the downfall of the Roman Empire was due to lowered standards and moral decay. I am not much of an economist but it does seem that our society's standard for art is falling apart and our government is placing an increasing amount of emphasis on military.
The issue at hand is not the government, or even personal television preferences. The issue is that God's creation has settled for less than God's intent, while others reject the very people that push for more, the artists. In the ancient Roman Christian world, the artist existed to tell the story of the church. In the middle ages, artists began asking questions with their work. The result was the Renaissance. Artists were not commissioned to ask the questions that propelled society and the church forward, but to simply show answers. It is limitations like these that drive the artist from the church. A professor of mine, Dr. Bounds, says that each person is given gifts from God, but a gift that is not used in maturity can do more damage than good. Being an artist is a gift from God, therefore it should be stewarded as such. I would like to say that churches need to revive the arts, but it would seem that without artists who are mature in both their faith and their craft, revival can not come about.
So how does the state of our society, arts in the church and mature artists connect? Funny that you asked. I was just going to answer that. If we want to see society changed, we must see the church change. If we want to see the church change, we must see individuals change. I recently attempted to start an arts program in my church. It did not take off due to my over commitment in other areas of my life, but I learned one thing. Art is a discipline. To be an artist one must learn to find joy in simply creating for Art's sake. This is partly true, but the reality is that one must create for God's sake and the individuals sake. An artist who does not create is slowly suffocating a vital part of themselves that reflects the very image of the creator God. Before an artist can help the Church, they must learn to love creating because when they do it they grow closer to God.
The past months I have been learning to create my work in my quiet times. I rarely feel closer to God than when I am creating. I got a lineless journal that allows me to sketch. I paint in my times off over watching television and I have started doing everything I can to create for the Lord. If other people like it, then fantastic. There are few joys in life greater than seeing someone value my work, but more than that is knowing I am valued by God as I create. For 19 years I only painted, sketched or sculpted when told to. I engaged in writing music but I connected to God in other artistic ways. For artists, whatever your craft may be, I urge you to simply create. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I am developing and maturing as an artist, so as I go from milk to meat, I will write to hopefully help grow and develop alongside others who desire to dedicate every part of their life to God.
The piece above is called "Leave A Light on Chicago". It helped me process some things I have seen in the City of Chicago and it allowed me to pray hope over the city.
