www.citylinks.org.uk/redeemingthearts
Robin Stevens, a composer and cellist in Manchester, wrote this document for City Links (www.citylinks.org). The views expressed here are Robin’s own, and do not necessarily reflect those of City Links. However, we are pleased to publish it, and we hope it will stimulate thought about the theology of the Arts, and encourage more Christians to engage positively with the Arts and with artists themselves.
Summary
God gave us Art because...
• He made us in His image, and in practising art we reflect something of our Creator’s creativity.
• Through art we develop some of the God-given expressive potential latent in the world He has created.
• Having finished making the natural world, God continues to express His own creativity by inspiring and sustaining all people who are engaged in healthy creative activity.
• He wants us to practise art in humble dependence upon Him; out of thankfulness to Him as the Source of all our talents and abilities; and as an expression of love both to Himself and to our fellow men and women.
Art goes wrong when…
• We idolise an artist or the work he or she produces.
• We retreat into an over-simplified theology of life and art, which has no room for mystery, paradox or ambiguity.
• We are dishonest about the tensions and conflicts persisting in our lives after conversion.
• We are too lazy or too proud to be genuinely open to anything new.
Art in the Bible is…
• A community venture as often as a solitary activity.
• Taken very seriously.
• Organised, disciplined, and of high quality.
• Colourful and varied.
We can care for Christian Artists by…
• Appreciating them for who they are, and trying to understand what makes them tick.
• Doing our best to get to grips with their creative work.
• Discipling them, and ensuring they are integrated into the life of the local church.
• Organising the occasional Artists’ Forum, where they can meet to encourage, fire and inspire one another.
• Giving them honest, sensitive feedback.
• Prodding them to take their art out into the world, and to make an impact for Christ there.
• Praying for them.
In the Local Church we can…
• Take an Artistic Inventory of creative talent within the congregation.
• Appoint an Artistic Overseer as a link between church leaders and artists.
• Expect God to manifest His presence, make Himself known, communicate Biblical truth, and reveal His specific will for the church, through artists as well as preachers and pastors.
• Be receptive to the possibility that art which is considered, and carefully prepared, might have a prophetic dimension; this could involve reassessing a theology that regards prophecy as an exclusively spontaneous gift and ministry.
• Make space for regular, significant artistic contributions to services and meetings. | 
