Harold Best – the Role of the Christian Artist in the World
From Unceasing Worship: Biblical Perspectives On Worship and the Arts, pp. 179-180:
The…role of Christian artists lies in the wide world of general culture. Here it is their responsibility to engage culture in a no-holds-barred continuum of creative action. I like to think of the Christian artist in general culture as a redeemed invader or (more gently) as artist-in-residence, a citizen of heaven and a continuous outpourer visiting the archives of culture, calling to account and influencing every artistic protocol. This should mean that among the best of them, the work of certain ones will shatter current boundaries and be radically path-breaking. It may mean that others will take up the strain of a current style and bring it to finer flower. And among those of us with lesser talents (there is no shame in this), it may mean that they will perform their art almost anonymously, making their way in life through the common vocabularies of commerce and trade. In all cases there is but one spiritual task: making sure that there are no tainted drops in the artistic perfume poured on Jesus’ feet. “All of my art is Christian” is a far less important statement than “All of my art is offered up because I am a Christian.”
The emphases are mine, by the way. So what do you think?
I really enjoyed this post. Creating out of a Christian worldview is really much different than doing Christian art. Christian worldview reveals ultimate truth, which is sourced in Reality-who is a person.
I stumbled on your page b/c today I posted works from a fav artist of mine Andrew Wyeth. Hope you can stop by.
Lisa
Hi Lisa…thanks so much for stopping by. I’m glad you enjoyed the quote…I don’t know if you’ve had a chance to read that book by Best, but it’s well worth the time. There are a couple other really good books on the topic – Hans Rookmaaker’s Modern Art and the Death of Culture; Francis Schaeffer’s Art and the Bible; and then one I recently heard about by Steve Turner called Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts.
On my way over to your site right now.
pete