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Sparking your inner missional flame with weekly inspiration, equipping, and sending exhortations.

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💥 INSPIRED BY

Arts To Bless, Arts To Curse

In the book of Exodus, we see two particular expressions of artistic expression (these aren’t the only ones).

The first comes the tabernacle. Craftsmen Bezalel and Oholiab are set apart for furnishing God’s dwelling place with wisdom and God’s Spirit.

In this instance, the arts would be an avenue for worshipping God. They served as a signpost to Yahweh.

The second strong arts instance comes in the very next chapter at the construction of a golden calf. This golden sculpture became the object of Israel's worship. The people became impatient with God, so they ascribed honor and life to an un-living, man made, thing.

One artifact is filled with God’s glory.

The other was filled with man’s.

The arts can serve as an avenue for pleasing God as well as making him burn with fury.

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🛠️ EQUIPPED BY

Why Artists Feel Like Black Sheep In Churches

Everett Rogers developed a bell curve which he called “The Diffusion of Innovations.”

Artists often operate in the realm of innovation.

Innovators often push boundaries, making the masses skeptical of their ideas.

One innovative comment,

The rumbling pushback begins,

For the masses, structure provides a sense of safety. But artists tend to explore unchartered terrain.

We are seeing this play out with the use of AI. You can tell who the innovators and early adopters are versus late-comers and laggards.

According to Roger's theory, rather than reach the masses, artist-innovators might shape their cultures and communities better through change agents, Early Adopters.

The early adopters want innovation.

Whereas, the masses want function.

The early adopters tell the masses, “Hey! This [thing-whatever the thing is] is worth it!”

Perhaps you truly aren’t side-lined.

Maybe you just need a couple champions in your corner who believe in you.

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🚀 SENT WITH

“It’s like” is a runway for another imaginative world.

“It is,” the landing pad.

These are not pitted against each other. Many in the church help land the plane. But many others help the take off. What ensures harmony is this: all acknowledge Jesus is the pilot.

The typical artist in the American Evangelical church has felt like the church’s teachers and preachers have sat in that cockpit, with a host of declarative and Scripturally inspired insights.

I am not summoning us to shut off the “it-is-isms.”

I’m just saying…God gave us airplanes to fly, not just land.

Matt

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