“Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “See, I have called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur of the tribe of Judah. I have filled him with the Spirit of God in wisdom and understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of craftsmanship, to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver, and in bronze, and in the cutting of stones for settings, and in the carving of wood, that he may work in all kinds of craftsmanship. And behold, I Myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the hearts of all who are skillful I have put skill, that they may make all that I have commanded you:”
Exodus 31:1-6
Following on from last month’s thoughts on creativity, I want to continue to encourage people to use their gifts to glorify God. When God created the earth He did not only make utilitarian things, He made a kaleidoscope of beautiful plants and flowers, a diverse range of living things. He gave each area its own identity, from rain forest to desert, from polar ice cap to mountain range. He gave each species its own voice, and the earth is filled with their sound. Whales and birds each have their own song to sing in the sea and in the air. Finally He made us, each one of us unique individuals with varying gifts and talents. The things He created are not bland and austere and our lives should reflect His creativity in colour and sound.
We can sing a new song, create a new sound, unique to us and what we want to say to God. We can paint our interpretation of the creation around us, of situations and feelings. My son painted the church we attended as a gift for them some years ago. This was not a photographic image, but an interpretation of the church, more than just what can be seen with the eye. The grey stones placed on grey tarmac under a grey sky was not his focus, but the living stones, the congregation, filled with the fire of God.
The celtic monks on Lindisfarne brought creativity to the copying of the gospel. The illustrated manuscript they made is a work of art but most our bibles are plain text. There are many other examples of this type including the Book of Kells in Ireland The monks spent their lives in this mundane work and although the illustration could be seen as a distraction let us not throw out the baby with the bathwater. We should not worship art or images of God, but our work can be an act of worship to our wonderful Creator and can inspire others. I used to dismiss cathedrals as mere monuments without life, but they were certainly built to glorify God. The craftsmen used their skill to make a house fit for God to inhabit. They may be museums now but I wonder how the people who worshipped there originally felt. Were they inspired by the beauty of the building? Did they portray something of the awesome nature of God? Did the stained glass images bring the bible stories to life for those who could not read?
Sometimes practicality is necessary but there is room for creativity in all areas of our lives. Often scripture is easier to memorise in a song and a sermon message is certainly helped by illustrations and storytelling. This should not be limited to Sundays, but also in our daily lives. Creativity in the work place should be a natural result of our relationship to God. We are made in His image and should be like Him in the way we work. In business we should have creative ideas, inventions and solutions. In architecture we certainly have lacked beauty and style in recent years, where are the Christian architects? Some Christians have made inroads in the secular music scene, but we need many more to produce music which is uplifting even when not specifically worship songs. Also film makers are needed who, with vision like Walt Disney had, want to make good family films. Christian web developers and game makers are needed too. Christians have access to the most creative power in the universe and we must bring it into every sphere of life.
You may not be able to paint like Michelangelo or compose music like Handel’s Messiah, but you have a talent. If you are overwhelmed by all the greatness why not start small. If you don’t have an opportunity in employment don’t underestimate your influence on family and friends. Perhaps you could copy a favourite Psalm using calligraphy or embroidery. Why not make a banner for your church. I made several using the names of God for inspiration to focus on the nature of God. You could make a card to give to someone to thank or encourage them. Maybe you can knit or crochet or bake a cake or make a meal. Whatever talent God has given you you should develop it and use your skill to please Him and bless others. Let’s start a revolution to end blandness and mediocrity, a creativity explosion!
