I met up with a friend this morning to have a coffee. He was telling me about his wife who is working towards a degree in the arts and how God is using this to help her communicate with others about the things that are important to her. She has studied the various aspects of art - painting, collage, sculpture etc and at the moment is into photography. She has found that the various projects that she has had to do have helped her to communicate to others, in class and in exhibitions, about her life, God, her spiritual journey, poverty, injustice and the desperate plight of humanity in its search for meaning and purpose to life.
I began to think of a number of my friends who are involved in various aspects of the arts - painting, drama, writing, film-making etc. and realised again with a certain reassurance that we are all equal in God's sight and that He uses all sorts of ways to communicate to people. Sometimes the visual aspect of art in its various forms reaches people that no preaching, books or verbal interaction can reach. It reminded me of the news report, given by Michael Buerk over twenty years ago, of the plight in Ethiopa that was a catalyst in Bob Geldorf's involvement in Live Aid and the subsequent efforts of many people for the plight of those living in poverty. One image, captured on film can speak volumes.
Isn't God so amazing! Whatever we're into, He wants to use it to bring His message of hope and freedom to a lost world. I'm so pleased that the Body of Christ is beginning to accept the need for the arts in worship and that it's not just about singing and listening to sermons! We need to pray and support more those whom God is calling in this way to reach those who would never go inside a church or listen to what we have to say. God loves the lost and wants to reach them with His love. I pray that God will raise up a new generation of those to whom He has given these giftings, that their lives and unique expression through the artistic media will speak for Him and point many to the Way.
1 comment:
hi, mavis. i'm a fellow Spirit-filled believer who is totally not legalistic or anything like that, so i hope you don't take offense because none is intended at all.
i recently discovered that many charismatics use the term "spiritual giftings" when in fact no translation of the bible uses the word "giftings," but uses "gifts" instead. the way i found out was a visitor told me on sunday. otherwise, i would have never thought of it. it's just one of those things we never think about.
anyway, i've been doing a blog search to find all the fellow charismatics who mistakenly use the word "giftings" and let them know, too. i know it's weird, but only charismatics (such as myself) seem to use this word. it must have started somewhere and just spread. anyway, you can help to gently and lovingly spread the news. i know it's not a big deal, but aren't you glad you know now?
God bless you.
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