Art & The Christian

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to end."

Ecclesiastes 3:11

The author, most likely King Solomon (aka the wisest man to ever live), was very specific in his wording of this verse.

"He has made everything beautiful."

Everything.

Man and woman. Sky and ground and water. Bird and fish and mammal. Foliage and marriage and reproduction. Joy and laughter and chocolate. 

From God's heavenly perspective, everything is within His grand plan (..."according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will..." Ephesians 1:11). The things He has created are perfect. In their organic nature, there is no flaw.

However, not everything stays or feels beautiful. This is where we return back to Ecclesiastes.

"He made everything beautiful in its time."

How can everything be beautiful?

Divorce is not beautiful.

Prostitution is not beautiful.

Abortion is not beautiful.

Murder is not beautiful.

Rape is not beautiful.

Communism is not beautiful.

Bullying is not beautiful.

Cancer is not beautiful.

Terrorism is not beautiful.

Persecution is not beautiful.

These subjects are corrupted versions of the beautiful ideas Christ gave us in the Garden.

So when do these things become beautiful? 

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This past week, I sat in the Arts Center auditorium when a young boy approached me. After some small talk, we started discussing our Creator.

"Why does God allow evil and pain?"

This sweet boy sat looking at me with such expectation.

I pondered my answer which seemed to strike him between the eyes. His brows furrowed in concentration.

"God allows evil and pain because we need Him. We desperately need him. In Genesis 3, the original humans got to a place where they thought they didn't need him. So they chose disobedience. They chose sin. From there on, evil was thrust into the world to show our dependent nature upon something greater than ourselves. One Man, one Spirit, one God who rescues us from us. Because we will pick sin. Every time, we will pick sin."

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These situations become beautiful when we realize we are depraved. We are dependent. God loves (as in, the present tense loveS) us so much that He allowed evil and pain to draw us to Him. They are consequences, yes. But consequences are given to contrast what is right and good and lovely.

I realize that all of this is quite provocative. Sin as beautiful? 

In their time....

Divorce is not beautiful; marriage is.

Prostitution is not beautiful; purity is.

Abortion is not beautiful; new life is.

Murder is not beautiful; forgiveness is.

Rape is not beautiful; peace is.

Communism is not beautiful; righteous leadership is.

Bullying is not beautiful; friendship is.

Cancer is not beautiful; health is.

Terrorism is not beautiful; intelligence is.

Persecution is not beautiful; comfort is.

For every bit of evil in this world, there is a "Garden of Edem" antonym...a concept to describe how God intended this world to be.

God's redemption covers all things.

Deuteronomy 30:3-6 reads, "God, your God, will restore everything you lost; he'll have compassion on you; he'll come back and pick up the pieces from all the places where you were scattered. No matter how far away you end up, God, your God, will get you out of there and bring you back to the land your ancestors once possessed. It will be yours again. He will give you a good life and make you more numerous than your ancestors. God, your God, will cut away the thick calluses on your heart and your children's hearts, freeing you to love God, your God, with your whole heart and soul and live, really live." 

Please, please, please do not miss the actions underlined. God is active on behalf of the hurting, on behalf of His children. 

He makes everything beautiful in time.

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Art does not always look beautiful. Art is created to make one feel something-- experience something. Art is made to reflect something greater than what is in view. Art is a mere replication. It is a physical compilation of a concept either far away or near and dear to what you know.

If art makes you laugh harder or hold tighter or love stronger or cry louder, it is fulfilling its purpose.

Art is to reflect.

Therefore, authentic Christ-followers should never be afraid of art. 

They should be thrilled by it. 

Plunging ahead, grabbing their medium, and setting forth, the Christian should viciously seize his canvas and madly create.

His work need not be labeled "Christian." 

(Phew, yeah, that was a risky statement)

But it will always reflect One greater than you and me.

My music and my dancing and my acting are not mine. I am just a medium. 

The Author of humanity has given me my abilities so He can use me. He holds me in His hand and He paints. And once the canvas is filled, He moves on to a larger canvas. The larger the workspace, the more risky the project. I come in contact with more colors. I am required to paint more, work harder.

And as my project grows, He whispers, "To whom much is given, much is required."

My work is never complete. I am always increasing in canvas size. Sometimes I know how close I am to completing, but other times, I just work with my head down...determined to make it lovely.

Occasionally, I feel the Creator's grasp tighten. Other times, it rests lightly. 

But it's always there.

So, I am moving on to bigger canvases. Some people laugh and say it's not possible that I will thrive--or even survive.

But I am called. And I know it. And I feel the Creator's hand rest upon the art he has let me take part in creating.

I am so honored. Oh, to be a part of what He loves.

Others invite me to work with them on their art. I feel my Creator's nudge to keep working on what He has ordained. Not all art is of Him.

I'm sure your canvas looks differently than mine. But its beautiful. Even when it looks awful, its getting there.

He makes everything beautiful in time.

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The second half of Ecclesiastes 3:11 reads, "He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from the beginning to end."

We cannot fathom what He has done from beginning to end. His art is continually building, never ceasing, always making beauty from ashes.

We are to unabashedly join him on this ride from beginning to end. 

And one day, all of your pieces will be completed. 

And then you shall see fully.

And He shall say, "It is good."