Creativity & the Kingdom of God (pt. 1)

The Art Gallery & The Skeptic

A few years ago, I was at an art gallery with a group of friends who, let’s just say, weren’t all that interested in being there. 

One friend, who is not an artist, was looking at a painting with me. I could tell he was trying to ask respectful questions about it. While looking at the painting, he turned to me and said, “Matt, I have no idea what that’s about. Help me understand what it is.”

I sensed he felt out of place at the gallery, but I appreciated his curiosity and effort to engage with the artwork.

For many of us, engaging with the world of art and creativity feels like trying to understand a foreign language. However, creative expression is a much closer ally than we might think.

Though creativity is often associated with the arts, it’s not one of those "throwaway" values in the kingdom of God, as it sometimes is in other areas of life. It is not like in public schools where, when funds run low, the art departments are the first to get cut.

Yet, I think when we hear the words “creative expression,” something in our brains tends to shut off, thinking, “That’s not me, so let’s move on.”

What I hope to accomplish

I hope to convince you of two things in the next four blog posts:

First, that the idea of “creative expression” isn’t just something reserved for a category of people called “Artists.” Creativity is a gift God has equipped all of us to engage in.

Second, creativity actually helps to advance and expand the kingdom of God—both in our own hearts and in the communities we serve.

Be on the lookout for these four themes:

• What is Creativity

• Creativity as an Artist

• Creativity as a Christian

• Creativity and God