Question:  Dear Greg,

            What is the role of the arts (poetry, singing, sculpture, drama, dancing, etc.) in the life of a Christian?  Must a Christian’s involvement in these be confined only to the overtly religious/Christian?

            David

Answer:  Dear David,

            Many Christians have negative views about art and the sciences, largely because of historical misunderstandings.  Some believe that the second commandment, prohibiting graven images is a de facto prohibition of art.  Some believe, as did the Jews of the Old Testament, that the graven images only apply to likenesses of God, or of anything that might be worshipped as a god.  The tabernacle and the temple are examples of art forms of which the Hebrews approved.

            Some today believe that prohibitions against art include any use of musical instruments (vanity, possibly leading to lust), all forms of dancing and self-expression (same potential problems), any depiction of God or Jesus (violation of the second commandment), fine art and literature (leads to humanism and glorification of humans), all “modern music” (definition of modern usually includes all music favored by the younger generation), etc.

            However, the Bible mentions religious art favorably, such as the tabernacle and the temple.  It mentions secular art favorably.  Much of the Bible is written in poetic style, a literary art form.  Not all of the Bible itself has a direct religious purpose—there is history, there are songs of David dedicated to war heroes of Israel, and of course there is the book of Song of Solomon, a love song between a man and woman.  The Apostle Paul read poetry, and quoted poets (see the book of Acts).  Music is definitely a biblically approved art form, as is dance.

            Human creativity and imagination are part of what God created us with, and we should not be threatened by it.  Of course, there are many examples of misuse, but misuse ought not to lead us to discard all creativity.  We should use the gift of creativity and imagination that God has given us, within appropriate Christian boundaries.  This is opposed to burying them in the ground, covered up in a napkin, ready to show our Lord when he returns—proving to him that they are still preserved, in pristine condition, never used, just like he gave them to us.  Jesus had something to say about that.

            In Christ,

            Greg Albrecht