Christian Creativity
As a writer, I meet a lot of people who also are or would like to be writers. Similarly, as a musician, it seems like everyone I meet either played an instrument as a child, or wished they had. I think this might be because everyone is designed to reflect the creativity of our Creator.
People often talk about creative ability as a “gift.” One might have a “gift” for music, or a “gift” for flower arranging, and so on. –And our creativity is a gift. But all too often, we forget that gifts have a Giver.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:19
I often meet creative Christians for whom Christianity and creativity are two entirely separate entities. They might be a musician and a Christian, but not a Christian musician. They may be a Christian and a writer, but their books are not “Christian” books. The problem with that is, we are called to do everything to the glory of God. Revelations (and many other places in Scripture) tell us that pleasing God is actually why we were created in the first place:
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created.” (4:11)
Now, I am not saying that there is no place in Christianity for art that does not explicitly communicate Christian truths, but I am challenging us as Christians who are creative to examine the focus of our creative efforts.
”If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-4
As Christians, we are risen with Christ, and our focus ought not to be on earthly things, but heavenly. Of course, this does not mean that we cannot use our God-given creativity in the daily mundane details of life, but even the mundane must be centered on the glorification of God. As 1 Corinthians 10:31 says,
“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
My point is, that our creativity as Christians is not separate from our spiritual life in Christ, but rather a gift given for the glorification of God before a watching world.
I don’t expect a Christian florist to use their flowers to spell out Bible verses, or to only make arrangements in the shape of a cross—but a florist who is a Christian should embrace God’s creative design, and produce floral arrangements that will showcase the glory and character of the God who created each blossom, each leaf, and each stem. The same goes for any creative endeavor. All is to be for God’s glory, to showcase Him, either directly or indirectly.
Dear Reader, creativity is an individual thing. Each person is uniquely creative. But think today of your creative outlets: do those things bring glory to God? Are they an outflow of who you want to be in the world’s eyes, or do they reflect who you are in Christ?
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10