Created to be Creative

"So God Created Man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." Gen. 1:27.

God is a creative God. We are created in His image. Should we not also be creative? Is that not at the heart of what distinguishes us as human beings? Is not creativity at least a part of what it means to be created in His image?

It has always struck me as unfortunate that conservative Christians so often view creativity with suspicion. The new, the novel, the unusual, the creative are too often looked at askance or with disdain. Is there a place for creative people and the works of their hands in the church today? Will we continue to fiddle on the roof with Tevya  boldly singing "Tradition" while ignoring the efforts of creative people? I hope not.

Exit Interviews is an interesting book that looks at the question, "Why do people leave the church?"  Several of the interviews in the book concerned artistic, creative people who had not found acceptance in the church.  At the end of one chapter the author, William Hendricks, writes of an accomplished musician, Julia:

"...it does seem tragic to me that a person with the ability to interpret Bach, Bartok, Mozart, or Mahler should struggle to find her place among God's people.  In Julia's family 'there was a premium placed on intellectual curiosity and articistic achievements.'  After hearing her story I had to wonder: how much are these valued by the church?" (Exit Interviews, p. 85)

H. R. Rookmaaker was one who understood well the need for the church to support creative people.  In his book "Modern Art and the Death of a Culture", he leaves us this challenge:
 

"An artist is viritually never able to succeed alone.  He needs a community to back him up: if he fails it may be his fellow-Christians who are at fault, failing to give him the positive response he needs.  But without this creativity we shall not be able to show the real validity of an art and life based on Christ our Lord."

We can be sure that our creative God looks with pleasure upon our attempts to reflect His creativity.  Should we not also support and find pleasure in the creativity of others in the body of Christ?  Should we not help them find opportunity to use their God-given talent in creative ways in the church?

I am thankful that the God we serve created such an incredible world with contrasting colors and varied shapes, sizes and scents.  I am thankful for the creative people he has placed in my life, and want to encourage them to wholeheartedly use their creativity and giftedness to the glory of their Creator!

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