The Calling of A Christian Artist

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For the entire history of humanity, art, in its various forms, has been a method of communication and expression of the heart. Throughout the Bible, artists are not only mentioned, but featured in its pages. Moses and his sister Miriam wrote songs of praise to God for their deliverance, David wrote poems and music to process grief, to praise God, or to teach Israel about His character. Artists were used to build Solomon’s temple, and the tabernacle was created by skilled artisans and craftsmen. In the post-biblical era, visual art, music, poetry, have all been used to try to express the nature of God, to lift us up to Him, to process emotions we don’t have words for, or simply to bring something beautiful to the feet of Jesus. 

The artist’s purpose is, and always has been, to create in their art the language of the soul that unlocks the hidden away or forgotten thoughts of the heart. Sometimes we have feelings that we have not found ways to express but we see it in art and realize, “that’s it! That’s what I’ve been feeling.” That moment of epiphany brings clarity to a soul. An artist’s purpose is to speak about things we do not have words or ability to speak about—to bring joy or catharsis, critique or encouragement in ways the heart can understand but the mouth may not be able to articulate. 

A Christian artist’s purpose is to do all of that and to connect people with God. If we have forgotten what it means to praise God, art is usually a good place to reconnect. Looking through the Psalms, one can always find an encouraging phrase, an expression of grief we can relate to, or just a reminder of God’s goodness. Or sometimes, the antidote for the need to reconnect can be found in a song telling us about God, or a picture of His handiwork. Art is everywhere, and a creative God has placed it throughout His own creation. Even more than communicating emotions, good, intentional art can connect our soul with God in ways we can’t fully put into words but our hearts understand. Aligning our creativity with His, we can express an aspect of the heart of God that no other method can.

So it seems fitting that the first group of people that the Bible tells that God “sent His Spirit upon” were the artisans (or artists) building the tabernacle. They were given gifts of artistry for the purpose of connecting people with God. After all, the tabernacle was the place where God came, “that [He] may dwell among [His] people (Ex. 25:8).” The tabernacle, or sanctuary, was the single most important place in all of Israel—God’s dwelling place on earth—the place where humanity could actually connect with God in a real visceral way. Later, Solomon’s temple became the place where God dwelled and was also created by artists given a special blessing by God. Both were created by artists for the purpose of elevating the people’s hearts and minds to the throne of heaven. 

Today, God fearing artists have the same purpose: to build for people a connecting place where God and humanity can come together. A place that God might dwell with us even in the few sacred moments of a song that lifts our hearts to Him. A place that God might dwell with us as we get lost, transfixed by a transcendent chorus of light and paint placed on a canvas, or when we find a hidden piece of ourselves in a story that expresses just the thing the heart needed to hear.

 Artists were called upon to build the sanctuary that God might dwell with His people. Today, the calling of a Christian artist is the same. Our art is to be made so that through it, God may dwell with His people. Because of this, the calling of a Christian artist is among the most sacred callings on earth. The calling of everyone is to find that art that connects you with God and linger in that space. Dwell with God in the colors of the photograph, in the lines of a poem, the scenes of a movie, or in the notes of a song. For it is in art that we see the expression of a creative God reaching into our souls, and shaping us into His own image like the master artist He is.