Last night it clicked. Sitting in homegroup, discussing something not at all related to my epiphany, I moved a step forward in understanding how art fits into Christianity.
It’s obvious to say, and to say it makes it sound more simple than the nuanced revelation it was, but last night I understood that art is powerful because it reminds us that there is goodness, truth, and real beauty to be obtained. Good art inspires, it moves us to continue on our united journey to put the world back into working order.
As Christians we live with the knowledge that things will never be put back into perfect order while we are alive, that it is a hopeless pursuit to expect perfection here on earth.
Still, we are required to hope in what is to come and to work towards bringing it back, it is our daily task. This is the command of Loving God and Loving our Neighbors that we are so clearly given by Christ.
But the art thing was a big thing I’ve been struggling with. How can we live out the gospel and still have time to pursue things like art? How does art fit in Christianity?
That’s why last night was a big revelation for me. I don’t fully understand it, but here’s some things I’ve gathered so far from this step forward:
- There is still a big place for “dark” art – Flannery O’Connor’s novels and depressing films and such – because they tend to remind us of how broken the world is. In fact, in painting the world honestly, we are often inspired to work more towards the goal, challenged to continue in our efforts. I find that often times I get tired and build this small bubble to live in where I’m convinced the world is doing ok. It’s really not, and good art can remind me of that.
- Artists, in their artistic pursuits, are actually working towards redeeming the world. Just as in the Old Testament rituals and icons were used to signify abstract truths and constantly remind the Jewish people of God’s constant presence in their lives, so art has multiple levels that work to bring us fully alive and remind us how intertwined the spiritual is with the physical.
- There’s some thoughts I’d love to bring out about sentimentality in art, especially art from Christians, but those thoughts aren’t fully formed.
That’s all I’ve got for now. It was a simple revelation, mostly just I finally figured out how the pieces of the puzzle I’ve stared at for years fit together, and now that I seem them together in front of me it seems at once obvious, barely worth mentioning, and somehow revolutionary.
I’d appreciate any thoughts and critiques of these ideas – nothing is permanent in my mind as I pursue Truth.


Bradley Brown (As a humble narrator)
Christopher Campbell (As Julius Caesar? It was hard to keep track)
Benjamin Reed (Giving the second most famous speech from Hamlet)