Conference yukon::christian

    1.  Someone who uses the arts to express their faith and serve Christ.
    
    2.  Someone who is a Christian, and is also employed in an arts
        occupation.

    I recently told my son that God is an artist. :-)

re.2

Really so. And the church is His masterpiece!

ace

    Hi, Jack.
    
    The American Heritage Dictionary defines an artist as:
    
     1. One who practices any of the fine arts, especially painting,
        sculpture, or music.
     2. One whose work shows skill.
    
    and defines the adjective Christian as:
    
     1. Professing belief in Christ.
     2. Pertaining to Jesus or His teachings.
    
    Thus, a Christian artist is technically a believer who practices any of
    the fine arts.
    
    Now, we know that a believer sees his/her ability as a gift from God,
    and we would expect that a Christian artist's work would show the skill
    of his/her Creator.
    
    Or that a Christian artist's work would exalt Jesus and commend His
    Truth.
    
    One of the most profound truths I ever heard came by the Holy Spirit
    through the mouth of Tony Evans, a gifted servant of our Lord who happens
    to be a Christian Black pastor.
    
    Tony said (much more eloquently than I can say--you'd have to have been
    there!) that we must be clear on the place of modifiers and objects,
    adjectives and nouns.  We are exactly what God created us to be, e.g.,
    black or white, artist or scientist, man or woman, etc.  Christian as an
    adjective modifies its object, i.e., who we are.  Thus, being black or
    white does not establish what being Christian means, rather Christian
    modifies how we live in being black or white, young or old, single or
    married, etc.
    
    The fact is that we were created with differences, and in those
    differences taken together is our infinite God revealed.
    
    "And they sung a new song <to the Lamb>, saying, Thou art worthy to take
    the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast
    redeemed us to God by thy blood OUT OF EVERY KINDRED, AND TONGUE, AND
    PEOPLE, AND NATION; And has made us unto our God kings and priests: and
    we shall reign on the earth." (Re.5:9&10) 
    
    As Christians, we are one in Christ.
    
    /Wayne

Jack,

Can you tell us why this question has come to your mind lately? Is there more
detail behind the question you asked here?

Leslie

    Being a Christian I have been changed the way I look at the world and
    the things in it. As I visit art openings and view contempory art I am
    concerned in what I see. I have gone to exibits both solo or group shows,
    which even the show name denotes or infers the word spiritual yet the
    show has nothing to do with anything spiritual as I now now it.
    
    As a Christian I wonder where are Christian artists and is it not time
    for artists who are Christians to make them selves known. Better said
    to make their creator known through their art. To express that the LORD
    is the motivation and inspiration for their art work.
    
                       all best in Christ's love.......Jack Perry
     

    Jack,  
    
    Check out Thomas Kincaid, the painter of light.  He is a very strong
    Christian.

    Jack,

    Our outlook should be different! But I don't think art done by believers
    needs to be specifically "religious" in subject matter - ie. I don't think
    it has to be Biblical illustrations or something like that.However, I do 
    think it ouught to be "healing" to the world in some way - presenting truth 
    and wholeness, and health rather than brokeness. Which is not to say it 
    cannot sometimes be sad or dark. However the overall focus should not be to 
    further fragment or belittle life. By "healing" I don't mean anything 
    "new age-ish" either, but I can't find the right words to adequately
    describe what I do mean. 

    Unfortunately, there is a lot of sappy "Christian" art and music, so much
    so that I think the contemporary art world doesn't even consider it. 
    And you're right, it would be nice if believers were more at work in the
    arts to be salt and light. I think Hans Rookmaker's book - I think it is 
    titled "The Creative Gift" - is a good book on the subject. Franky Schaeffer
    has also written a book on the subject, but I didn't really care for his
    book that much, I'll have to look up the title.

    Spiritual can mean anything these days, so its really kind of vague, and
    doesn't necessarily mean a follower of Jesus.

    Are you involved in one of the arts fields Jack? I paint, but have so 
    little time to paint, and haven't really been producing much, certainly 
    not enough to show. Its the area of my life that I feel saddest about.

    Leslie 

    I received one of my favorite paintings for a graduation present.  It's
    a numbered William Hallmark print of the crowned Lion of Judah with the 
    golden scepter, topped with a Star of David, pierced paws, and a dove
    resting above Him.  Genesis 49:10 is the inscription below it.
    
    Mike

    >>> 27.2  Yes Nancy, God is certainly an artist!
    
    >>> 27.8  Are you an artist Jack ?..............
    
    Yes Leslie I am a photographer who photographs nature and would
    consider it my art. I taught for ten years in a small college in the past,
    have done commercial photography for over twenty and now back teaching.
    I have exibited in a number  of solo and group shows over the years and
    found it to be my metaphor.(sp?) That was before I met the LORD! Now 
    am looking to combine the both.
    
                      all best....   Jack Perry        
    am

    L'Abri Fellowship in Southborough, MA may be able to point to your
    groups for Christians in the arts, or perhaps to people with similar
    interests and questions.
 
    Leslie