Art for Learning, Art for Worship

I would never introduce myself as "artistic," but I think I've learned that it's good for me to try to express creativity in some way. It provides a release and refreshment. When I was processing through a lot of hard stuff just over a year ago, my mentor gave me art assignments. I thought they were weird, but I loved working on them. They were good to process truths, express my feelings, and to worship.

A few days ago, I was reading when I felt an overflow of emotion to create... something... as an act of worship. Because the act of creating expresses those emotions better than anything else. (I don't know how to do anything well, so I usually revert to writing mediocre "liturgies," which would be called songs if I had any musical talent. But it's still my creativity expressed!)

Now I would love to tangent into why I believe the act of creating is so important for us, but that might make this post too long. To make it short, creating is one of the elements of being the image of God. God created. He made and did it with such joy! Over and over again He called it good. In many ways we are God's image, doing what He does. God creates and recreates in the process of salvation constantly. We create mirroring Him and acting as His image bearers. So it makes sense that it gives us so much joy as well. And think of all the art and skill used in worshipping God in the Bible! That's a whole other tangent... OK, back to where I was going.->

Over the years in leading bible studies and being in discipleship relationships, I have also found that when we made art together or as an assignment at home it changed the way we looked at the truth learned. The projects ground the truth deeper into me at least, and perhaps all of us.

I've talked to a few women the last few weeks who have really needed refreshment and wanted to express their worship to the Lord. I've suggested some art, but I didn't have a lot of instruction other than a brief assignment to get started. So how do we do this well? Express creativity for worship or for expressing the Biblical truths that move our hearts? How do we as a community who walks with Jesus share it with each other?

drawings

paintings

poetry

sculptures

writing

photography

creations...

I've seen people paint and draw on stage during a teaching/preaching time. They try to represent the main point in a visual form. I think this could be helpful at times. I still remember the painting from that sermon years ago, but it can also be distracting. What else can we do?

I saw this video today from Desiring God. While I think the conference sounds like it will have some good content, I was entranced at the drawings done to illustrate what Piper was saying. Can we do this to express truths? Is it beneficial? I loved seeing it. What do you think?

(In case it doesn't embed, go here.)