Glorify God in Art
Last week I attended an art show sponsored by the Canton Institute of Art. The majority of the works were realistic expressions of the world and life. My favorite was a watercolor of a village at dusk. It was calming and meditative. It reminded me of having seen the paintings of the Dutch Masters a few years ago when they were on tour. The Dutch Masters, heavily influenced by the Reformation in northern Europe, painted for the glory of God. They painted God’s world as it really exists.
Then today I received a photograph of a fresh snowfall on fields. The beauty of the photograph is directly related to the reality of the world as God has made it.
These experiences make me realize that God’s world possesses unsurpassed beauty. This reality expressed through art is what makes it meaningful.
Philosophy and art have always been twins. Philosophy, the way leaders in society think, forms the culture. Art then becomes the expression of the philosophy and the culture. If the society is, well, bankrupt of Judeo-Christian values then the art will reflect it.
In the last century most, if not all, moral restraints were removed from art. In music, “rap” lyrics speak of rape and other assorted sordid practices; in visual art, Robert Mapplethorpe’s homosexual representations - and the works of others - openly flaunted every measure of good taste, not to mention morals. When even the standard of good taste is violated, one must assume that art, and society, have gone about as low as possible. I might have written “gone to the dogs”, except that I have too much respect for dogs. The rejection of absolute morals and the secularization of our society has produced art that, while called contemporary, is often ugly and, frequently, downright repugnant.
There is a point in time when contemporary art as we know it began. In 1913 at the International Exhibition of Modern Art in New York City, critics and patrons were stunned at Marcel Duchamp’s “Nude Descending a Staircase #2”, a completely new style of work by the cubist painter. It is a good thing the work was named, or no one would know what Duchamp was trying to express. Due to the attention given this work and sensing the change in cultural values (in prior shows, such work would not have been admitted), the race was on. Now artists became “contemporary”, competing to see who could come up with the most extreme and strange interpretations of modern life.
That competition may now be slowing. There is a swelling opinion among art critics that it has gotten out of hand. The bizarre has become the norm, and this does not bode well for galleries and funding.
But this style of art does say something to us. It says, “Society has lost its way. We as a people have lost our values, purpose, sense of awe and destiny. And we are going crazy as a result.” I use the term “crazy”, but the Biblical word is “fool”, as in “The fool has says in his heart, ‘There is no God” (Psalm 14:1). If art is a reflection of the culture, and it is, then what are we to make of it when every standard of decency is violated, when religion is mocked, when respect for others is ridiculed? Doesn’t it say that our society is bankrupt of morals and the traditional values that have built a strong nation? Have we become a nation of fools?
By contrast, the paintings of the Dutch Masters, the village at dusk and the photograph of freshly fallen snow over fields are refreshing to the spirit and express the beauty of God’s creation and that may be found in life.
If you are an artist, or an aspiring artist, please consider these suggestions. Forget about impressing your peers with your avant-garde style. Separate yourself from the craziness of the world of geopolitics. Instead of attempting to be novel and provocative, how about concentrating on balance, color and unity? How about looking for real beauty in the creases of an older person’s face, an infant’s innocence or a mountain’s grandeur? How about less subjectivism and more objectivism? Maybe, just maybe, your art can influence philosophy rather than the other way around. Maybe you can, through art, help rescue society from the craziness of atheism, humanism, evolutionism and the other isms that are unraveling society and individual lives.
Like the Dutch Masters, the village at dusk and the photograph of freshly fallen snow -
Glorify God in art.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Trust God’s Heart
By now everyone in the world has learned of the terrible earthquake and tsunami that has shattered Japan. On top of the natural disaster, nuclear plants at Fukishimi have exploded, sending radiation and contamination throughout the region. Only time will tell how many people are injured by this radiation. Some, perhaps many, will experience premature death.
Such events have happened before in history. On November 1, 1755 a three minute long earthquake struck Lisbon, Portugal. We now know this earthquake would have rated a 9 on the Richter scale. Buildings shook and fell, leaving massive amounts of rubble. As the earth shook, people fled their homes and other buildings into the streets where gaping holes, some as wide as fifteen feet, suddenly opened in the earth and into which untold numbers were swallowed. Thousands went the Tangus River in the middle of the city, thinking it safe. They were wrong. Within a short time following the quake, an enormous tsunami several feet tall swept into the Lisbon harbor and up the Tangus. Boats, rafts and all those aboard were tossed around like toothpicks by the violent current. A large number of drownings occurred, and the waves caused by the tsunami were later noticed in Britain and north Africa. This event, known as the Great Lisbon Earthquake, rates as one of the worst natural disasters of all time. All of Europe and most of the world was shocked. Lisbon, a city with 100,000 residents, had seen half that number very suddenly and tragically wiped away by death. Its buildings lay in ruins, with many precious works of art and history destroyed.
A lot of thought was later given to this tragedy. Whenever something on this magnitude happens, people try to understand. Had God sent it as judgment? Or perhaps there is no God, and it just was “one of those things.” Or maybe God didn’t cause it, but permitted it. Or maybe evil is inherent in the world, and this is an example. Maybe the earthquake and natural disasters are just the result of what we call nature. The French philosopher Voltaire in his work Candide made this last view popular. He proposed that evil surrounds us and we must learn to live with it. His explanation might have satisfied some in France, but it did nothing to help the Portuguese who were stunned, grieving and desperate for a word of hope.
While no one can fully comprehend natural disasters, and so cannot adequately explain them, the scriptures call us to faith in God at such times. It is precisely because we cannot comprehend fully nor explain adequately such mindboggling, numbing events that we must turn to God and find our consolation in Him.
The Biblical character Job is our role model. He lost his family and his possessions. He then lost his health. There was no scientific or philosophical explanation that satisfied him. His friends tried, but failed to solace him with their explanations. They even tried to invoke God in the discourse: “Job you are getting what God thinks you deserve.” Job’s reply was, in essence, “Well, I know God. He is my friend and He is not like this.” It took some time, but eventually Job was proved right. God is not like that.
Toward the end of the book, God replies to Job. God knows what is happening and it is all under His control. It really doesn’t matter whether Job understands it or not. Actually, there is much Job does not nor will ever understand – just like us. Job has a responsibility, and it is not to understand all of God’s ways. It is rather to understand God’s character, God’s heart. His then to trust God’s heart. God will bring good from every situation, and especially one that involves pain.
The disaster striking Japan is mind numbing and any explanations we offer are inadequate. I hope you are praying for the Japanese people. If possible, I hope you will consider helping the churches of Japan during this time by making a donation (I suggest www.teamworld.org and look for Japan Earthquake Relief Fund).
There is only one message we can offer that provides hope: trust God. Trust God in both the good times and the bad. He is good and good will triumph.
When difficulties arise you do not understand,
Trust God’s heart.
By now everyone in the world has learned of the terrible earthquake and tsunami that has shattered Japan. On top of the natural disaster, nuclear plants at Fukishimi have exploded, sending radiation and contamination throughout the region. Only time will tell how many people are injured by this radiation. Some, perhaps many, will experience premature death.
Such events have happened before in history. On November 1, 1755 a three minute long earthquake struck Lisbon, Portugal. We now know this earthquake would have rated a 9 on the Richter scale. Buildings shook and fell, leaving massive amounts of rubble. As the earth shook, people fled their homes and other buildings into the streets where gaping holes, some as wide as fifteen feet, suddenly opened in the earth and into which untold numbers were swallowed. Thousands went the Tangus River in the middle of the city, thinking it safe. They were wrong. Within a short time following the quake, an enormous tsunami several feet tall swept into the Lisbon harbor and up the Tangus. Boats, rafts and all those aboard were tossed around like toothpicks by the violent current. A large number of drownings occurred, and the waves caused by the tsunami were later noticed in Britain and north Africa. This event, known as the Great Lisbon Earthquake, rates as one of the worst natural disasters of all time. All of Europe and most of the world was shocked. Lisbon, a city with 100,000 residents, had seen half that number very suddenly and tragically wiped away by death. Its buildings lay in ruins, with many precious works of art and history destroyed.
A lot of thought was later given to this tragedy. Whenever something on this magnitude happens, people try to understand. Had God sent it as judgment? Or perhaps there is no God, and it just was “one of those things.” Or maybe God didn’t cause it, but permitted it. Or maybe evil is inherent in the world, and this is an example. Maybe the earthquake and natural disasters are just the result of what we call nature. The French philosopher Voltaire in his work Candide made this last view popular. He proposed that evil surrounds us and we must learn to live with it. His explanation might have satisfied some in France, but it did nothing to help the Portuguese who were stunned, grieving and desperate for a word of hope.
While no one can fully comprehend natural disasters, and so cannot adequately explain them, the scriptures call us to faith in God at such times. It is precisely because we cannot comprehend fully nor explain adequately such mindboggling, numbing events that we must turn to God and find our consolation in Him.
The Biblical character Job is our role model. He lost his family and his possessions. He then lost his health. There was no scientific or philosophical explanation that satisfied him. His friends tried, but failed to solace him with their explanations. They even tried to invoke God in the discourse: “Job you are getting what God thinks you deserve.” Job’s reply was, in essence, “Well, I know God. He is my friend and He is not like this.” It took some time, but eventually Job was proved right. God is not like that.
Toward the end of the book, God replies to Job. God knows what is happening and it is all under His control. It really doesn’t matter whether Job understands it or not. Actually, there is much Job does not nor will ever understand – just like us. Job has a responsibility, and it is not to understand all of God’s ways. It is rather to understand God’s character, God’s heart. His then to trust God’s heart. God will bring good from every situation, and especially one that involves pain.
The disaster striking Japan is mind numbing and any explanations we offer are inadequate. I hope you are praying for the Japanese people. If possible, I hope you will consider helping the churches of Japan during this time by making a donation (I suggest www.teamworld.org and look for Japan Earthquake Relief Fund).
There is only one message we can offer that provides hope: trust God. Trust God in both the good times and the bad. He is good and good will triumph.
When difficulties arise you do not understand,
Trust God’s heart.
Friday, March 11, 2011
The Most Innocent Neighbor Among Us
I recently attended a banquet sponsored by The Alliance Pregnancy Center (www.alliancepregnancycenter.com). This is a wonderful group of people performing a great service to the northeast Ohio community. While I listened to presentations regarding statistics and needs, the thought kept running through my head, “I wonder what God must think about elective abortion?”
Actually, I know what God thinks about it. While several passages of scripture teach the Creator’s high regard for life, there is one in particular that comes to mind. Amos 1:13 – “This is what the LORD says: For three sins of Ammon, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders...”
Ammon is now known as “Amman” and is the capital city of Jordan. You can see that centuries ago the strife between Esau and Isaac, Arab and Jew, was real. Not only was it real, but it was brutal. Greed for land had bred a cruel genocide – the killing of pregnant women and their fetus. This particular brutality is singled out by the living God deserving judgment (“even for four” is a figure of speech meaning the about to be mentioned item is the worst). I suppose this dreadful act is especially marked for judgment because the fetus has never sinned against any one.
When Jesus was asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” He replies by giving the Shema of Deuteronomy 6 (“love God”) and then quickly adds, “And the second is like unto it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-40). What is interesting about this episode from the life of Jesus is that He was asked for one specific commandment- “ What is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus provides an answer that links two commands, one to love God (Deuteronomy 6) and the other to love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18). It is hardly an act of love to kill an innocent child, whether born or unborn. Amos’ point is: this is a particularly grievous sin against God. It was not Amos’ opinion; it had come from the LORD, who was fully aware of what was happening. Amos was simply God’s messenger.
I have heard and spoken words of forgiveness and reconciliation to women who have chosen abortion. The regret and guilt many bear crushes them. God is merciful and does forgive and a woman need not carry guilt– but there are consequences to a person’s behavior and living with regret can be one of those consequences. Living with “what might have been if…” can be difficult.
Perhaps it is time to offer a preventive rather than a redemptive word, since an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So here is my word of preventive therapy: God will take notice of brutality against the unborn.
Elective abortion of an unborn is under God’s watchful eye. If the killing of the unborn in Amos’ day, about 750 years before Christ, caused God to take note you may be assured that He is taking notice today. It does not matter whether abortion as a choice is protected by the Constitution of the United States or not, it is still wrong in God’s sight. Just as He brought judgment and punishment upon the Ammonites for murdering pregnant women and their fetuses – whom He counted as persons – so He will judge the person and nation that violates the lives of those made in His image and likeness today.
We have been led into thinking that national peace and material prosperity are the measures of a country’s greatness. Political leaders tend to dismiss morality as being irrelevant or personal. But the scriptures teach clearly that the morality of a state is what genuinely determines its greatness. This is because the morality of a state is foundational – peace and prosperity are the results of a strong moral foundation.
Loving neighbor as self is one of the building blocks for a strong foundation. Let’s begin to love and provide resources for the unborn child…
the most innocent neighbor among us.
I recently attended a banquet sponsored by The Alliance Pregnancy Center (www.alliancepregnancycenter.com). This is a wonderful group of people performing a great service to the northeast Ohio community. While I listened to presentations regarding statistics and needs, the thought kept running through my head, “I wonder what God must think about elective abortion?”
Actually, I know what God thinks about it. While several passages of scripture teach the Creator’s high regard for life, there is one in particular that comes to mind. Amos 1:13 – “This is what the LORD says: For three sins of Ammon, even for four, I will not turn back my wrath. Because he ripped open the pregnant women of Gilead in order to extend his borders...”
Ammon is now known as “Amman” and is the capital city of Jordan. You can see that centuries ago the strife between Esau and Isaac, Arab and Jew, was real. Not only was it real, but it was brutal. Greed for land had bred a cruel genocide – the killing of pregnant women and their fetus. This particular brutality is singled out by the living God deserving judgment (“even for four” is a figure of speech meaning the about to be mentioned item is the worst). I suppose this dreadful act is especially marked for judgment because the fetus has never sinned against any one.
When Jesus was asked, “What is the greatest commandment?” He replies by giving the Shema of Deuteronomy 6 (“love God”) and then quickly adds, “And the second is like unto it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-40). What is interesting about this episode from the life of Jesus is that He was asked for one specific commandment- “ What is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus provides an answer that links two commands, one to love God (Deuteronomy 6) and the other to love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18). It is hardly an act of love to kill an innocent child, whether born or unborn. Amos’ point is: this is a particularly grievous sin against God. It was not Amos’ opinion; it had come from the LORD, who was fully aware of what was happening. Amos was simply God’s messenger.
I have heard and spoken words of forgiveness and reconciliation to women who have chosen abortion. The regret and guilt many bear crushes them. God is merciful and does forgive and a woman need not carry guilt– but there are consequences to a person’s behavior and living with regret can be one of those consequences. Living with “what might have been if…” can be difficult.
Perhaps it is time to offer a preventive rather than a redemptive word, since an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. So here is my word of preventive therapy: God will take notice of brutality against the unborn.
Elective abortion of an unborn is under God’s watchful eye. If the killing of the unborn in Amos’ day, about 750 years before Christ, caused God to take note you may be assured that He is taking notice today. It does not matter whether abortion as a choice is protected by the Constitution of the United States or not, it is still wrong in God’s sight. Just as He brought judgment and punishment upon the Ammonites for murdering pregnant women and their fetuses – whom He counted as persons – so He will judge the person and nation that violates the lives of those made in His image and likeness today.
We have been led into thinking that national peace and material prosperity are the measures of a country’s greatness. Political leaders tend to dismiss morality as being irrelevant or personal. But the scriptures teach clearly that the morality of a state is what genuinely determines its greatness. This is because the morality of a state is foundational – peace and prosperity are the results of a strong moral foundation.
Loving neighbor as self is one of the building blocks for a strong foundation. Let’s begin to love and provide resources for the unborn child…
the most innocent neighbor among us.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
Being Honest
Every elected official wants to save money. At least that is what they say. In Wisconsin, the legislators have had an opportunity to prove if they mean it or not. Its Governor has introduced legislation that requires a put up or shut up vote.
In the Badger State, 14 state senators did not want to put up or shut up. Rather than fulfill their responsibilities and debate then vote on a proposal by Governor Walker, they skedaddled to other states. Some were reported partying in Chicago. What was the proposal these party-going senators feared so much? It was a budget repair bill – a debt refinancing that would save Wisconsin taxpayers $165 million in fiscal year 2011. They were torn between voting in a way that reinforced their rhetoric or voting for some core supporters. On the last day of February, Governor Walker warned these AWOL senators that if they refused to return to Madison, establish a quorum and cast their votes the bill would die. And, the next day –March 1- an option to refinance a portion of the state’s debt would expire. An opportunity to save the taxpayers’ money would be forever lost. They returned, some under arrest, to cast their votes.
I am not interested in writing about the legislation or the politics involved. But it does concern me that a group of state senators would flee the state to avoid debating and voting on a bill. Isn’t this one of their functions, perhaps even the primary one?
At this point, I have to tip my hat to Governor Scott Walker. The son of a pastor (he can’t be all bad), the man evidently is a rare commodity: an honest politician. He ran on a platform of fiscal austerity, advertising that this budget cutting measure is exactly what he would propose. His opposition campaigned against it. Now he has followed through, expressing the wishes of the voters. An interesting article in the February 26, 2011 edition of The Wall St. Journal was written by John Fund. Titled “Wisconsin’s Newest Progressive”, it is a very revealing narrative of state of present affairs in Wisconsin.
Mr. Fund quotes Governor Walker as saying, “I won (the election) because people will ultimately respond to the truth.” This has been the pattern of his campaigns in Democratic Milwaukee County, where Walker has won three county-wide elections. He goes among the people, conducting what he calls “reality tours” and laying the cards on the table. People may not like what they hear or his proposals, but they find the candor and honesty refreshing. They understand that the solutions may not be painless because he tells them otherwise. But they vote for him anyway. After all, it makes little difference whether Republican or Democrat, an honest person in an elective office is valued by everyone. Maybe Scott Walker has learned from history. It is no accident that “Honest Abe” Lincoln is considered our greatest President.
This article is not an attempt to promote Scott Walker; but it is an attempt to promote honesty in government, business and our personal lives. This kind of transparency is what is meant in the words of 1 John 1:6-7, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” While these verses have primary application to our communion with God, the term “walking in the light” refers to transparency and honesty – before God and others.
“Walk in the light” states the Bible. “Tell the truth” says Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. There is no substitute for …
Being honest.
Every elected official wants to save money. At least that is what they say. In Wisconsin, the legislators have had an opportunity to prove if they mean it or not. Its Governor has introduced legislation that requires a put up or shut up vote.
In the Badger State, 14 state senators did not want to put up or shut up. Rather than fulfill their responsibilities and debate then vote on a proposal by Governor Walker, they skedaddled to other states. Some were reported partying in Chicago. What was the proposal these party-going senators feared so much? It was a budget repair bill – a debt refinancing that would save Wisconsin taxpayers $165 million in fiscal year 2011. They were torn between voting in a way that reinforced their rhetoric or voting for some core supporters. On the last day of February, Governor Walker warned these AWOL senators that if they refused to return to Madison, establish a quorum and cast their votes the bill would die. And, the next day –March 1- an option to refinance a portion of the state’s debt would expire. An opportunity to save the taxpayers’ money would be forever lost. They returned, some under arrest, to cast their votes.
I am not interested in writing about the legislation or the politics involved. But it does concern me that a group of state senators would flee the state to avoid debating and voting on a bill. Isn’t this one of their functions, perhaps even the primary one?
At this point, I have to tip my hat to Governor Scott Walker. The son of a pastor (he can’t be all bad), the man evidently is a rare commodity: an honest politician. He ran on a platform of fiscal austerity, advertising that this budget cutting measure is exactly what he would propose. His opposition campaigned against it. Now he has followed through, expressing the wishes of the voters. An interesting article in the February 26, 2011 edition of The Wall St. Journal was written by John Fund. Titled “Wisconsin’s Newest Progressive”, it is a very revealing narrative of state of present affairs in Wisconsin.
Mr. Fund quotes Governor Walker as saying, “I won (the election) because people will ultimately respond to the truth.” This has been the pattern of his campaigns in Democratic Milwaukee County, where Walker has won three county-wide elections. He goes among the people, conducting what he calls “reality tours” and laying the cards on the table. People may not like what they hear or his proposals, but they find the candor and honesty refreshing. They understand that the solutions may not be painless because he tells them otherwise. But they vote for him anyway. After all, it makes little difference whether Republican or Democrat, an honest person in an elective office is valued by everyone. Maybe Scott Walker has learned from history. It is no accident that “Honest Abe” Lincoln is considered our greatest President.
This article is not an attempt to promote Scott Walker; but it is an attempt to promote honesty in government, business and our personal lives. This kind of transparency is what is meant in the words of 1 John 1:6-7, “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.” While these verses have primary application to our communion with God, the term “walking in the light” refers to transparency and honesty – before God and others.
“Walk in the light” states the Bible. “Tell the truth” says Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker. There is no substitute for …
Being honest.
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