an excerpt from: Boldness

An excerpt from: Boldness

“For what is as worthy of the tongue and mouth as the things of the God of heaven?” – Faithful, Pilgrim’s Progress

The Lord tells a bold story. Have you read His redemption story between Genesis and Revelation? Death is conquered when the Son of God faces it straight on, even giving Himself over to it, letting Death exert its might and have its run on Him. And while Death is rejoicing in its victory over its prey, the Son of God emerges from her grip, breathing again, rendering all the might that Death could muster ineffective. And all of that battling so that the full glory of God, which the Son already knows, could be known, loved, and enjoyed, unhindered by Death, by any jerk sinner who would love the Son, as He stands preeminent in everything, reconciling all things to Himself through His blood on the cross (Colossians 1:18-20)...

BE BOLD IN THE TRUTHS OF GOD

If indeed artists are about communicating and expressing themselves, why repeat the same old neutered song for the sake of acceptability or marketability? Why only sing what is tame or what comes at no cost. These songs have been sung enough. I’m not saying that for the sake of being provocative we need to step up the lyric. Being provocative is not the goal. Knowing the full beauty of truth is the goal. Why not unpack the truth in its fullness instead of just toying with it, and where the truth is provocative, let the truth be as it is? That is part of truth’s glory. God has given us artistic expression because there is a bold aroma of truth to be known through the disciplines of poetry whose scent is not as fragrant in prose. Regarding content, let’s not waste this gift of art on undisciplined, non-offensive, say-nothing, fad-driven paintings of post-modern flowers having no stamens or pistils by which to pass along any truth. Artists, be bold, and articulate something in your artwork that is worth the labor you spend to express it!

Artists, fill yourselves with the fear of the Lord. Be bold in the truths of God. Quit yielding to the enticements of post-modern absurdities where everything is beautiful if only someone thinks that it is. They are just playing on your pride. Think for yourself, but think from the foundation of the truths of God.

Of what value is a painting if it demonstrates less beauty or truth or skill than the bare wall on which it hangs? I’m not talking about what the painting looks like, I’m talking about what it says. What is it saying? What is the artist saying? A bare wall is a frame, focusing my attention to that one piece of information confined to the space of the painting. I am so disappointed when I see more truth by studying the construction of the wall. By truth here I mean this: truth that is demonstrated in everything from content to disciplines exercised; sometimes words are used, most often they are not; honest questioning as opposed to arrogant pride; clarity and attention as opposed to a sluggard’s mess. When God created the bird, He didn’t neglect the truths and order that He expressed in creating the laws of gravity, in creating the bird He further defined gravity’s reign. The bird doesn’t overrule gravity (it must eventually land), but there is a truth about gravity that is articulated or demonstrated through the flight of the weak bird that is not demonstrated through the running of the strong man. And what other truth might that picture be an image of?

When God creates or speaks, He doesn’t put a finger to the wind to see what men might want to hear from Him; He boldly articulates the truth and beauty that He knows and enjoys, and that with almighty power and unending grace.

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excerpt from The Affections of the Heart in Art - a wrestling for the full pleasures in art Jason Harms