Have you ever thought or even confessed that above all else that 'art' is the most important thing in your life?
Ha ha, I know, I know you were just joking, or maybe it's not 'the most important thing' but second to 'God' it is. Speaking for myself, I would say no matter if other people don't see the importance or not, Creativity will always be a BIG part of my life. Bigger and more important then sports, shopping, fashion, and yes I must admit...at times even more important than socialization. So, right now you are either one of the those Artist people that understand what I'm saying, or you're thinking that I'm hermit, and I would rather be consumed in my art than with other people'. Which is false...Well, to some extent ha ha.
I've always been the project type of person. And I seriously enjoy being creative and getting caught up in creative projects. I even prefer reaching out through art and basing a lot of my friendships off of creative collision and colaboration. And I know this isn't bad. But I also know that as a human being I should always been ready to check myself and aim for proper balance.
I think a lot of us artists, perhaps even most of us...have the ability/ tendency, to get caught up in our art and artistic expressions. And to a degree this isn't all that wrong, it's just there IS a point where we let art become a demmi god, or our 'all consuming passion' and forget to see things in proper prospective.
The question is how much does art mean to us? There is a place in the mind and affections of the Artistic Person that only Art and Creativity can fill. I don't think we should ever have to give that up. I just think when art and our own artistic expression becomes more important than God or other people, to us...that is where we should step back and re-align our priorities. And I admit that, that is hard. It goes against the 'self focused' worldview of the 'Un-Christian' Artistic Society. Because, sometimes all we artistic people want to do is sit down paint a picture, and block out the world around us, or there are other times we would like to become consumed by our creative projects and goals that we push away people, God, and every thing else life has to offer. We See, Breathe, Drink ~ Art, and we depend more on art and our own selves than we should. The world teaches the Artist to become consumed in our art, and to be selfish in it...how? By not caring about other peoples views, and creating whatever pops into our minds... and to focus too much on our own emotions and feelings, and putting too much emphasis on expressing them.
The hardest thing for the Artist who is a Christian, to learn...is that the most important thing in life is not 'expressing his or hers creativity', but 'reflecting Christ'. I can't say I've passed on all tests. Cause I haven't, and I can't say that being artistically productive has not been more important to me, and (that I haven't given more time to it than I have to eating, breathing, praying, talking...because I have. And I just think that God wants Artists to be balanced and take time to step out of their constant rush of creating, and put some time into their relationships with God. I think it's pretty easy to understand, that just like an Athlete can put too much into their sport, they can push out everything and focus solely on his sport, we Artists can put too much into art, and focus so much on it, and our own creativity that we push out other things in life. We are caught up in our art, and so we don't take the time to sit and spend it with God, or read our bibles, or worship Him, or even reach out to other people, speak to them. I think it is important, whoever we are, that we see the worth of God, Love, and Servitude.
Just like we see the worth of spending our time investing it in artistic expression, or creative goals, we believe in our Art, and our Artistic goals. God wants us to believe in and see the worth of spending time, and investing it in him and our relationship with him. He also wants us to see the worth of spending time investing it in other people. Sometimes we have to step away from our canvases, put down our instruments, and set down our cameras to come to reality. As much as we can use our creativity to praise God and reach out to others, we must be balanced and learn how to not become selfish and self-focused by getting caught up in our own little creative worlds. Perhaps, God wants to paint us something, or tell us something, but we've been to caught up in painting our own little lives, that we haven't taken the time to appreciate the awesomeness of the Creator of heaven and earth. Whatever the personal case may be, I would like to encourage you to widen your view, expand your horizons and not let art become your your crutch, only friend, and greatest love. Art can't fill your soul, you will always have more to create, or more to consume. Don't sacrifice love for art. It's not worth it, and the 'god of art' cannot give you peace, wisdom, or eternal life. I promise you, as much as it's definitely worth it for the creative person to use his or hers talents and gifts and to bless people with them, and use them for God's glory... You cannot find God just in your art, nor can you just spend your entire life witnessing behind a camera. You've got to be ready in your every step, you've got to build your relationship with God by discovering him through His word, and through Fellowship and Worship. And don't let art become a demmi god, or your only friend. The world needs you, and God wants you.
So have you been giving too much to your art? Art and creativity can be God-honoring and enjoyable, but you can miss out if your eyes have been glued too long on your own art, projects, goals, accomplishments... Have you been sacrificing too much on the altar of art? Consider.
Some Lyrics from 'Empty My Hands' by Tenth Avenue North
....f I let these dreams die
If I lay down all my wounded pride
But if I let these dreams die
Will I find that letting go lets me come alive
Empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with you x2
With you, with you....
Cause my mind is like a building burning down
I need your grace to keep me, keep me from the ground
My heart is just a prisoner of war
A slave to what it wants and what I'm fighting for
So wont you empty my hands
Fill up my heart
Capture my mind with you x2
With you, with you
I need you now Lord, with you.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Friday, February 17, 2012
Art of the Heart: Tattoo History
I thought this was interesting. Tattooing is known by many artistic people as an 'artistic expression', if not an expression of beauty... Although this might be very rough sounding for those who appreciate tattoos, or have some of their own; It's just sad to think how society is so un-learned about the meaning of some things. Let us open our hearts to the history of tattoos, and know why we believe what we believe. I would have uploaded some photos to go with this blog post to show more photos of tattoos throughout history, but it seems 99% of all tattoos photos are actually nude/ pornographic, which tells you something doesn't it? Worship of the body...yucks. Not to mention the further interesting fact, that without exaggeration, wherever I looked like 95% of all the tattoos were of proud pagan symbolism or imitation. Also it's further important to note, that those of modern day who are getting tattoos, find it addictive, and a 'get high' experience, kind of like a ritual for a 'non-christian' pagan experience. Anyhow, for anyone one who was thinking of getting a little creative tattoo; here's just a shortened insight into the background history and spiritual significance, for ya. Just an interesting bit of information I came across online...
http://www.biblebelievers.com/watkins_tattoos/pagan.html
Beauty in Art
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”.....]
* * * * * * *
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
* * * * * * *
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)
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”.....]
* * * * * * *
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
* * * * * * *
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)
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
ART: Is A Real Testament :The Depth and Influence of Art
Art is a 'relection'. It is not 'the goal' but the 'messanger of the goal'. Art is like John the Baptist in the sense, that he speaks of, and acts for something bigger and greater (what usually the Artist himself dictates).
* * * * * * *
Art. It is a reflection of the Heart. Art. It is one of the most lasting effects of humanity on the earth, other than the effects of the fall and sin...Art is what outlives us. Art is a reflection of ideas, theories, beliefs, faiths, worldviews, politics, religions, and individuals emotions, goals, dreams, and prophecies. Art is 'more' than a creative outlet. Art is more than paint on a canvas, ink on paper, a pretty design, a beautiful portrait. Art is more than feelings and chords, touching movies, moving songs. Because art is what outlives us, because art is the produce of the heart...think of the Pyramids in Egypt. I wonder how long they thought they would stand. Perhaps they really didn't imagine that other people would enter them, raid them, or maybe they didn't imagine that they would last through the age of digital photographs. The Pyramids, and the architecture of Egypt of one of many examples of art and ideals that last and impact generations, and peoples, and cultures to a very 'great' extent. The temples that are still standing in Egypt still preach from their walls, covered in ancient language and pictures. For art tells a great deal about the civilization, the people, the beliefs, and the politics of it's time.
Artist's are Prophets of their Worldview, and Art is the reflection of something bigger than it's self.
Another example, on the impact of art...would be the ruins and artifacts of Ancient Rome....Once in awhile I gape when I stand back and realize how very much of the beliefs, politics, religions, and pagan aways civilization long dead continue to reign in our modern society. It is as if man's desire for humanism, self worship and paganism doesn't ever die. We show him the cross, and yet he clings to his bags filled with the idols and ways of his old religion. And to go into the obvious reasons for this, would consist of an entire blog post. But in order to stick to topic; consider the influence of Rome, Greece, Egypt, Maya, and such places on current society. Do you even notice it? The pillars of the white house, the false god statues resurrected in the common places, the symbols of death and child sacrifice printed on the tee shirts in the mall. People picking up the customs of pagan beauty, and mixing them in with Christianity. I feel sorry for man, he has been immersed in the world, and he no longer sees how deep he swims in waters un-captured for/by Jesus.
This past year I've been going over the 'Classics of Liturature'. Learning about the history of the Authors, and recognizing how they were effected ideals and even the art before them. The Authors personal ideas, politics, beliefs all push up from the pages. And thousands of people read their books, and many if not most of them, although they be titled 'Classics' are really nothing more than bibles of humanistic or rebellious ideas. Paganism and Humanism, run hand in hand, and are two things you can notice, if trained, quite easily in any form of art.
Humanism can also be defined: "a.1. A Worship of Man...What does it mean to Worship Man? What does it mean to be humanistic? Well for one it means 'rasing human choice' above 'God's world', it means raising human intellect and opinion over what 'God' says is wrong, and what is sin etc. There is also a great portrayal of Humanism today by:2. A Worship of the 'body', 3. A Worship of 'Man's' Creation 4. Rebellion (against God and Holiness) 5. A Love for the Art of the World.
Art's greatest Enemy is the Rise of 'Humanism'...which in Europe was raised by a passion for 'self glorification' through 'knowledge' and an 'understanding of human beauty'. They started loving Man's Ways, and He ability to think too much. They would do anything for knowledge. They sent people across the way to Rome, and dug for answers. They uncovered 'Art' in various forms, 1. Pagan literature, images, statues...and they brought some of these artifacts back to England. Soon there man decided that it was acceptable to paint nude models, since therefore the high of Rome did so, Soon man went all out for their love or the 'Classical' (Classical Humanism) which carried them to the lengths of calling themselves by Greek names, decking themselves in togas, and celebrating holidays according to the 'Roman clander' and not the Church Calender. They were stirred by the Humanism of Greece and or Rome....But how could this be? How and by what, could the impact of Rome and Pagan Humanism still be alive or be influenced by? By it's Art.... Rome was dead in a sense, it's people of ancient times were dead. But it's art out lived them. And changed tons of people in effect.
- Europe, 1421-81 The Rise of Humanism
"The tasks of penetrating to the heart of the mystery of man (that is man), and of seeking to find the meaning of the world and of life itself...The faculty on which the humanist prided himself, was his capacity to observe, test, and study the nature of things...According to one Socratic Maxim, Truth must be sought in the free collision of ideas. At this juncture medieval sholasticism, which was founded on Divine Revelation and had constant recourse to spiritual and traditional arguments, was bound to be outmoded. Most unjustly it was relegated to the dust debris of the past which the new society intended to destroy...
Classic humanism contained something besides cultural resources and means of expression, something more than 'the humanities' + it implied a certain concept of the world, and a particular attitude to life.
'O A Sclepiades,What a wondrous thing is Man!' - Hermes Trimegistius...The further the century progressed the more humanism tended to become a doctrine founded upon man alone, on his 'wonderous' nature and boundless possibilities. There was a clear danger here of complete submersion. In the Christian perspective; God, not man, was, and is, the dominant factor..yet, for some, "Christianity" itself became fundamentally humanist since it recognized the unique character of man, and made him the recipient of revelation. But while Christianity praised nature, it made it subject to Divine Grace; although it used reason, it was a reason ordered by faith; and it exalted man only in so far as it recognized in hi a Divine image. The danger now was that pride would win the day, and that unique man, natural, reasonable man, would decide to do without God....- Henri Daneil-Rops, The Protestant Reformation
Just One Artist/Humanist:
Italian: Marsilo Ficino; Author of a treatise on the 'True Religion' sought to make middle ground between Humanism and Christianity, mixing magic and paganism in it as well...
(Therein lay the real peril- most humanists, 'sincere' Christians though they were, allowed an element of paganism to linger in the centre of their thoughts, not perceiving it to be irreconcilable with their faith...Nor did they realize that this exaltation of man, which they professed so loudly and which, in the prevailing atmosphere, feel on all too many willing ears- would end by setting up man as the rival of God....They preached the love of nature, and beauty made by human hands. but never determined at what point it could become dangerous, unless rigid moral boundaries were imposed upon it.
In 1450, the first period of the 'Renaissance' was over, and the second had begun....Most all the famous Artists, immortalized man's basest passions, violence, cynicism, pride and sensuality. Paganism was suggesting it's own themes more and more insistently, and the same brushes and chisels that were used to evoke Christ, the blessed virgin and the saints, were no less happily employed in representing the nudes of Greek and Roman mythology....
- (Read More of: The Protestant Reformation by, Henri Daniel-Rops 1901-1965
* * * * * * *
The fact is, movies, books, music, paintings, literature, sculptures, all of it...It's Art, and it's Influential. It's Art, and it's Super Powerful. Art, preaches. Art, teaches. Art. It is a Product, and it a Prophet. Art, it changes cultures, civilizations, and impacts the world as we know it.
History is something that an Artist should be aware of, also Worldview. There are way to many people who claim to be Artists, and who create Art, and even sell it, or become famous off of it. But they do not even know what their art is saying. They only know that they have been gifted in some special way.
So after going over some History and such...here's a personal question:
What does your Art say?
And also; What is your idea of beauty?
Art in the creative sense, of style and expression has two sides. The dark, mainly hopeless, doubtful, and often times violent portrayed side,
and; The light, hopeful, faith filled, and pure side. And We will cover more of the difference in expression, and different views on beauty in the next blog post, but for now, I will close with this:
Art...is lasting testament, and has the power to influence more than you imagine. Nothing influences like Art does, and nothing carries messages with it, like artistic expression does. So consider your worldview. Consider history. How do you want your art to impact others? And how does 'God' want it to impact others? Because sometimes those aren't exactly the same.
Art is not something that we can cling to in the personal way that many assume...In a great sense, art is not our own, because even if the canvas is in our possession, even if the art is portrayed on our own bodies,( in whatever form), it 'impacts' only by the was it affects others. Movies, songs, paintings, sketches, all art...it belongs to the eyes of the onlooker, it belongs to the ears of the listener ...
We need to take responsibility for our Art. We need to realize that art is a living testament to more than we may have previously believed. We need to wake up in a world of crazy art, and realize that art is not something to take so lightly.
I pray you recognize the true depth and influence of Art.
I hope to continue this blog post in the next topics about * Beauty in Art and * Paganism in Art. Until then, Remember that God is 'your' Creator. And that He sees every heart, and knows every thought. Consider the Art of managing your own heart tonight. Let the Light of God shine upon you, and may your life and art be a 'real testement' to the Awesomeness of God, and not the awesomeness of yourself.
Go Hard (For God). Don't Waste (Your Life). Keep Real.(And True, to Christ).
* * * * * * *
Art. It is a reflection of the Heart. Art. It is one of the most lasting effects of humanity on the earth, other than the effects of the fall and sin...Art is what outlives us. Art is a reflection of ideas, theories, beliefs, faiths, worldviews, politics, religions, and individuals emotions, goals, dreams, and prophecies. Art is 'more' than a creative outlet. Art is more than paint on a canvas, ink on paper, a pretty design, a beautiful portrait. Art is more than feelings and chords, touching movies, moving songs. Because art is what outlives us, because art is the produce of the heart...think of the Pyramids in Egypt. I wonder how long they thought they would stand. Perhaps they really didn't imagine that other people would enter them, raid them, or maybe they didn't imagine that they would last through the age of digital photographs. The Pyramids, and the architecture of Egypt of one of many examples of art and ideals that last and impact generations, and peoples, and cultures to a very 'great' extent. The temples that are still standing in Egypt still preach from their walls, covered in ancient language and pictures. For art tells a great deal about the civilization, the people, the beliefs, and the politics of it's time.
Artist's are Prophets of their Worldview, and Art is the reflection of something bigger than it's self.
Another example, on the impact of art...would be the ruins and artifacts of Ancient Rome....Once in awhile I gape when I stand back and realize how very much of the beliefs, politics, religions, and pagan aways civilization long dead continue to reign in our modern society. It is as if man's desire for humanism, self worship and paganism doesn't ever die. We show him the cross, and yet he clings to his bags filled with the idols and ways of his old religion. And to go into the obvious reasons for this, would consist of an entire blog post. But in order to stick to topic; consider the influence of Rome, Greece, Egypt, Maya, and such places on current society. Do you even notice it? The pillars of the white house, the false god statues resurrected in the common places, the symbols of death and child sacrifice printed on the tee shirts in the mall. People picking up the customs of pagan beauty, and mixing them in with Christianity. I feel sorry for man, he has been immersed in the world, and he no longer sees how deep he swims in waters un-captured for/by Jesus.
This past year I've been going over the 'Classics of Liturature'. Learning about the history of the Authors, and recognizing how they were effected ideals and even the art before them. The Authors personal ideas, politics, beliefs all push up from the pages. And thousands of people read their books, and many if not most of them, although they be titled 'Classics' are really nothing more than bibles of humanistic or rebellious ideas. Paganism and Humanism, run hand in hand, and are two things you can notice, if trained, quite easily in any form of art.
Humanism can also be defined: "a.1. A Worship of Man...What does it mean to Worship Man? What does it mean to be humanistic? Well for one it means 'rasing human choice' above 'God's world', it means raising human intellect and opinion over what 'God' says is wrong, and what is sin etc. There is also a great portrayal of Humanism today by:2. A Worship of the 'body', 3. A Worship of 'Man's' Creation 4. Rebellion (against God and Holiness) 5. A Love for the Art of the World.
Art's greatest Enemy is the Rise of 'Humanism'...which in Europe was raised by a passion for 'self glorification' through 'knowledge' and an 'understanding of human beauty'. They started loving Man's Ways, and He ability to think too much. They would do anything for knowledge. They sent people across the way to Rome, and dug for answers. They uncovered 'Art' in various forms, 1. Pagan literature, images, statues...and they brought some of these artifacts back to England. Soon there man decided that it was acceptable to paint nude models, since therefore the high of Rome did so, Soon man went all out for their love or the 'Classical' (Classical Humanism) which carried them to the lengths of calling themselves by Greek names, decking themselves in togas, and celebrating holidays according to the 'Roman clander' and not the Church Calender. They were stirred by the Humanism of Greece and or Rome....But how could this be? How and by what, could the impact of Rome and Pagan Humanism still be alive or be influenced by? By it's Art.... Rome was dead in a sense, it's people of ancient times were dead. But it's art out lived them. And changed tons of people in effect.
- Europe, 1421-81 The Rise of Humanism
"The tasks of penetrating to the heart of the mystery of man (that is man), and of seeking to find the meaning of the world and of life itself...The faculty on which the humanist prided himself, was his capacity to observe, test, and study the nature of things...According to one Socratic Maxim, Truth must be sought in the free collision of ideas. At this juncture medieval sholasticism, which was founded on Divine Revelation and had constant recourse to spiritual and traditional arguments, was bound to be outmoded. Most unjustly it was relegated to the dust debris of the past which the new society intended to destroy...
Classic humanism contained something besides cultural resources and means of expression, something more than 'the humanities' + it implied a certain concept of the world, and a particular attitude to life.
'O A Sclepiades,What a wondrous thing is Man!' - Hermes Trimegistius...The further the century progressed the more humanism tended to become a doctrine founded upon man alone, on his 'wonderous' nature and boundless possibilities. There was a clear danger here of complete submersion. In the Christian perspective; God, not man, was, and is, the dominant factor..yet, for some, "Christianity" itself became fundamentally humanist since it recognized the unique character of man, and made him the recipient of revelation. But while Christianity praised nature, it made it subject to Divine Grace; although it used reason, it was a reason ordered by faith; and it exalted man only in so far as it recognized in hi a Divine image. The danger now was that pride would win the day, and that unique man, natural, reasonable man, would decide to do without God....- Henri Daneil-Rops, The Protestant Reformation
Just One Artist/Humanist:
Italian: Marsilo Ficino; Author of a treatise on the 'True Religion' sought to make middle ground between Humanism and Christianity, mixing magic and paganism in it as well...
(Therein lay the real peril- most humanists, 'sincere' Christians though they were, allowed an element of paganism to linger in the centre of their thoughts, not perceiving it to be irreconcilable with their faith...Nor did they realize that this exaltation of man, which they professed so loudly and which, in the prevailing atmosphere, feel on all too many willing ears- would end by setting up man as the rival of God....They preached the love of nature, and beauty made by human hands. but never determined at what point it could become dangerous, unless rigid moral boundaries were imposed upon it.
In 1450, the first period of the 'Renaissance' was over, and the second had begun....Most all the famous Artists, immortalized man's basest passions, violence, cynicism, pride and sensuality. Paganism was suggesting it's own themes more and more insistently, and the same brushes and chisels that were used to evoke Christ, the blessed virgin and the saints, were no less happily employed in representing the nudes of Greek and Roman mythology....
- (Read More of: The Protestant Reformation by, Henri Daniel-Rops 1901-1965
* * * * * * *
The fact is, movies, books, music, paintings, literature, sculptures, all of it...It's Art, and it's Influential. It's Art, and it's Super Powerful. Art, preaches. Art, teaches. Art. It is a Product, and it a Prophet. Art, it changes cultures, civilizations, and impacts the world as we know it.
History is something that an Artist should be aware of, also Worldview. There are way to many people who claim to be Artists, and who create Art, and even sell it, or become famous off of it. But they do not even know what their art is saying. They only know that they have been gifted in some special way.
So after going over some History and such...here's a personal question:
What does your Art say?
And also; What is your idea of beauty?
Art in the creative sense, of style and expression has two sides. The dark, mainly hopeless, doubtful, and often times violent portrayed side,
and; The light, hopeful, faith filled, and pure side. And We will cover more of the difference in expression, and different views on beauty in the next blog post, but for now, I will close with this:
Art...is lasting testament, and has the power to influence more than you imagine. Nothing influences like Art does, and nothing carries messages with it, like artistic expression does. So consider your worldview. Consider history. How do you want your art to impact others? And how does 'God' want it to impact others? Because sometimes those aren't exactly the same.
Art is not something that we can cling to in the personal way that many assume...In a great sense, art is not our own, because even if the canvas is in our possession, even if the art is portrayed on our own bodies,( in whatever form), it 'impacts' only by the was it affects others. Movies, songs, paintings, sketches, all art...it belongs to the eyes of the onlooker, it belongs to the ears of the listener ...
We need to take responsibility for our Art. We need to realize that art is a living testament to more than we may have previously believed. We need to wake up in a world of crazy art, and realize that art is not something to take so lightly.
I pray you recognize the true depth and influence of Art.
I hope to continue this blog post in the next topics about * Beauty in Art and * Paganism in Art. Until then, Remember that God is 'your' Creator. And that He sees every heart, and knows every thought. Consider the Art of managing your own heart tonight. Let the Light of God shine upon you, and may your life and art be a 'real testement' to the Awesomeness of God, and not the awesomeness of yourself.
Go Hard (For God). Don't Waste (Your Life). Keep Real.(And True, to Christ).
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