It is said that the Artist is a Imitator, appreciator, producer of beauty... But these days I notice that there are two major conflicting views on 'beauty'. 1. The Humanistic 2. The Reformative. But in general definition :
Dictionary Definition:.
The quality that gives pleasure to the mind or senses and is associated with such properties as harmony of form or color, excellence of artistry, truthfulness, and originality.
The quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.) a meaningful design or pattern, or something else, (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest).
And then there is also this fragment of a blog post I read earlier on beauty ...very interesting.
[The next step in studying something topically is to look at the original language to see what the English translation “beauty” meant in the Greek and Hebrew. When you do this, things get nuts. In the ESV alone, there are over 20 very different Hebrew and Greek words all translated as “beauty” or “beautiful”,
but we can still learn a few things. First off, we see that the Hebrew mindset is a lot richer than the Greek one. The Hebrew words range in literal meanings such as pleasant, dignified, adorned, sweet, delightful, precious, boastful, arrogant, glorious, vigorous – one word used only once even means “scraped of all impurity”. The Greek words mean simply good and beautiful. But there is some depth here. The most common NT word used for “beautiful”, but most often translated as “good”, originally comes from a verb which means “to call”, speaking to the attractive nature of beauty. The other word used comes from the word for “hour” which describes beauty as being “within one’s hour”.....]
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So...what is beauty? And what is beauty to you?
I believe that because we can truly say that 'beauty' in the sense that we know it most,
and ( in direct reference to the dictionary definition), is actually subject to each individual, and to his or hers worldview. Because, in honesty 'beauty' in the sense of 'deep satisfaction to the mind or senses', is subject to the individual. What does the person admire? What is his or hers worldview? Is he a Christian? or of a different religion? All these, and more make up one's attraction to something, or their ability to 'take pleasure in something'.
And keeping with the dictionary definition of beauty: It is also: " pleasure in something of excellence, artistry, truthfulness, or originality" included in the definition...There are many paintings, and products of various other art forms, music, film, poetry etc...that although I could admit, were created or composed with precision, and artistic excellence of craft, and many of those with much originality...I would most definitely not deem them beautiful.
Just because I may see something that many other people have thought to be beautiful, doesn't mean I will think that it is beautiful. If I see a graphic tee shirt with a scull in color on it with blood running down it's eyes, feathers sticking out it's head, and a rose in it's mouth...I'm going to think it, if not say out loud, that I think it's horrid. In the case, of beauty though, there is a degree of reality, where it it does truthfully, all depends on the viewer.
No one can make another person think something is beautiful, nor can they change them from thinking something is beautiful in their own eyes.
But this does not mean that there is not a line drawn in terms of opinions on beauty.
Even though each person should, and does have the right to prefer certain colors, shapes, sounds, to others, a Christian should be defined by their attraction to things in accordance to Philippians 4:8
"Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, if their be any virtue, if their be any praise, think on these things"~Phil 4:8
But the thing is...even today, Christians, take this scripture and approve their views on beauty, because they subject it to their effected worldviews. But the fact is, we should associate the highest degree of beauty with that which is 'uneffected' by doubt, humanism, darkness, and instead that of faith, hope, light, and the truth of the Gospel, and let it affect even our views on what is acceptable, admirable, pleasant, and what gives us deep satisfaction. A lot of people keep the two completely separate, they think that they have the right to keep their views on beauty, untouched by their relationship with Christ. They get saved, put their faith in Christ, but they do not let God purify or change their views or 'pleasure/deep satisfaction' in habits or expressions that He doesn't appreciate, or don't express him. What a lot of Christians need to discover is that God does not find your habits or attraction to things that degrade your body, health, or alter his ordained way of things, 'acceptable' or to be 'His view on beauty'.
I find a lot of music, films, art, even created by 'Christians' reflects the lack of hope, that the world possesses 'without' Christ. Things are still as dark as they were before Christ, and so are their views on beauty. God has not shined into their minds and changed their worldviews, their art and tastes still reflect the worldview of 'self worship,'pagan culture influence', etc. etc.
The problem is that our view on beauty has been effected by the current age, and by the very enemies of Christ. We sometimes over look this fact, we think that just because we believe in Christ, we haven't been effected by the world, or don't have to change, or grow deeper in the wisdom of the Lord. There is something that a lot of people don't take into consideration and that is, that just because a person has asked Christ to be their Savior, and has stopped sinning the more "obvious" sins, does not mean that the person has had a change of "worldview".
Their are soo many Christians that believe in God, and not sinning, and yet they 'have not' surrendered their worldviews to God. They still go hard for themselves etc. and don't understand that there is more than meets their eyes, and that more things they do have significance, that even their play and the movies they watch should be surrendered to God.
And this shouldn't sound harh, because as Believers in Christ we should want to respect and reflect Christ in all we do...
But, the fact is a lot of people, especially artists are thinking " (I) create beauty, and it's my right as an Artist (or Art appreciator) to go with the flow, and be led by my feelings".
I suppose, I am one of those people, who don't agree with the the god of Art. So many people serve it, instead of serving God first. If we served God first, and cared more about having the right 'world view', I think we would have some drastic changes in our art, and what we blatantly appreciate.
But many artists, and people in general have been raised in the mentality that in Art 'everything goes' and 'art in it's self is beautiful' no matter what it is, or what it portrays, some more than others...Some Christians will say that 'as long as it doesn't portray or talk about any obvious 'sin' such as lust, and murder etc, then it's fine', but let's be real folks, what about 'pride', that's a BIG sin that we are so prone to as fallen humans, and 'arrogance'...And ' secular humanism' it's based on 'pride', and the sort of thinking that 'I create beauty', 'it all depends on what I think', and 'God doesn't care, because I rule my own life'...
1 John 2:16 ~ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, AND the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness: I will cast thee to the ground, I will lay thee before kings, that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries, by the iniquity of thy traffick; therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee, and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee: thou shall be in terror, and never shalt thou be anymore. - Ezekiel 28:17-19
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How can we model Christ's example and also make beautiful art that 'glorifies' him and is not based on JUST our own senses, or emotions, but beauty that is true and lasting, portraying things that will never fade in that beauty; Love, Hope, Light, Eternity etc?
Psalm 29:2 ~ Give unto the LORD the glory due unto His name. Worship the Lord in the 'beauty' of 'holiness'.
Psalm 27:4 ~ One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple.
The most true Christan expression of inner beauty is 'holiness'. Because holiness reflects God's nature. God is completely holy and good. I pray that you would desire the Lord above all else, that you will dwell in his presence and be changed by the beauty of His holiness. Not only that, but that He would touch you like never before, that your view on beauty would coincide with his own view..not only in ways of Spiritual Holiness, but in your likes and dislikes, that you would bring every thought, desire, and pleasure into subjection to the obedience of Christ.
I encourage fellow believers, not only to realize that acceptable views on 'beauty' are only those which are based on that which is 'holy', and 'God honoring', but even more to have a desire to surrender ever desire and opinion to the 'view of Christ'. We need to stop making excuses for what we want to keep of the world, as Believers in Christ. We need to realize that even if we have been put down by others in world, that we must be true to our Conscience and to the Worldview expressed throughout the Bible. To be different than the Unbeliever, in accordance to the bible. May our eyes be opened to see the Spiritual messages, and meanings behind all things, so that we can serve God in everything, even our views on what beauty is...
Lastly, may we recognize that God is the 'Creator' of all things beautiful. That he created us, created earth, the universe, and all livings things. He is the most awesome Creator, and we will never be as awesome as him in anything we create. We can not better his perfection, not as much as we try. He is the one who sets the planets into motion, he is the one who breathed into man, who made all things beautiful. We as Artists, Art appreciators, and Beauty appreciators need to re-focus on the Maker of all things good, and fall in love with Him, and praise 'Him' for his awesomeness, and be inspired by 'His' beauty, as the Psalmist said; may the one thing we desire be the "Lord, and to seek after him, and dwell in his house all the days of our lives, behold his beauty, and enquire in His temple".
May we not worship the works of our own hands. May we not get caught up in setting up the world's ever changing fads, and views on beauty, or even our own, above the never changing and 'only perfect' artistry of God. For we are all fading away, as are man's opinions, and outward thoughts on beauty. One day the world will be put out, and all it's thoughts on 'building towers to reach the sky' will crumble with our creations... May we not be the like the people of Babel, that think we can 'create anything better than God, or can create anything we want without consequences'. What we may think is 'good', and 'beautiful' is not always what God thinks is good and beautiful. So, as Christans we should desire to bring even our opinions on beauty and what gives us pleasure under the submission of Christ. He is worth of all praise, for He is excellent in all ways. May our desire for Him, and to create for his glory, and portray him in all we do, be our greatest pursuit. May we see the beauty in Him, and may he fulfill the definition of beauty for us, by us finding our "Pleasure, Deep satisfaction in Him".
So, may He inspire your art.
Oh Lord, you are beauty....
http://youtu.be/KtzCD_8KbjI - O, Lord You're Beautiful
http://youtu.be/X-sZ7x3_FuY - Beloved - (I was made to gaze on beauty)
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