“For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Red Online Worship History Course with Dan Wilt“
I am posting my reflection on this weeks media assignment which focuses on the languages of art and music. It seems a bit paradoxical to reflect upon with words the two languages that communicate without words, but here goes.
To ignore art and music, to ignore how we are “wired” to receive and to express art and music, is to ignore the very world we live in. Art and music flow from creativity. As Dan Wilt, the Essentials Red instructor, pointed out his in his video, the world came into existence because God “created.” Even though sin has entered the world and has caused sickness, death, and even natural disasters, the beauty and artistry of creation is still plainly visible. It is visible in the vastness of space and at the microscopic level. Psalms 19:1 (NASB) says, “The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.”
The Old Testament is full of God’s creativity and artistry as well. The amount of detail, the choice of fine materials, and the selection of “skilled” workers illustrate the creativity and artistry with which He desires to be honored and worshiped. Elaborate buildings and extravagant decorations have often been viewed as excess and even ungodly. I know I have struggled personally with these thoughts. It is easy to look at some very beautiful, magnificent, and extravagant buildings and think about how the money and resources put into the building could have been put to better use. I am still sorting that out.
One of the key thoughts for me from the video goes right along with my personal struggle about excess and stewardship. The church for similar reasons, and because of the fear of the power and influence of art and music has at times crushed and discarded some very valuable works of art and music. Valuable not in a monetary sense, but in a spiritual sense. And we have squashed the creativity of the people in our churches for fear that things might get a little out of control or that we might be creating idols, or worship directing toward something or someone other than God. What we really need to do is learn from what others have gone through in the past, learn from what others are doing in the present, and put them together in a way that will leave something powerful and useful for those who come after us.
