Overview
Christians who are artists face a specific set of unique issues when it comes to being true to both their artistic expression and their relationship with Jesus. This study aims to develop a mature Christian framework from which solutions to these issues will naturally flow.
Questions that this study addresses are: How do we...
deal with issues of the world that we haven't encountered before (e.g. in the music industry or at uni) without being blown off our feet?
not be prejudiced against or threatened by people with different views to us?
remain flexible, open minded and willing to learn while still remaining faithful to the truth of God, believing in his sovereignty and relying on Him above all else?
be able to appreciate other people and their differences?
get close enough to other people to relate Jesus to them?
apply these things to our artistic expression?
In the leaders' notes, questions are in bold, bible verses are in italics. If you have any further input into these studies, please contact
Marty Kendall.
1. If you were not a Christian, would you believe that God exists? What evidence is there that there is something bigger than us out there? Check out Romans 1:20.
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:20
There are many things in this world outside of the biblical account of God that should make us wonder if there is something bigger than us out there. Many people, although they may not be Christians, believe in the existence of a god of some description.
Blaise Pascal, the inventor of the first computer, said that there is a God shaped hole in our hearts that can only be filled by having a relationship with our Creator. CS Lewis said that 'Most people, if they had really learned to look into their own hearts, would know that they do want, and want acutely, something that cannot be had in this world. There are all sorts of things in this world that offer to give it to you, but they never quite keep their promise... Creatures are not born with desires unless satisfaction for those desires exists. A baby feels hunger: well, there is such a thing as food. Men feel sexual desire: well, there is such a thing as sex. If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.' The fact that we feel this longing in our hearts for something more leads us to the conclusion that there must be something more to this world than what we see.
Paul comments in Romans 1:20 that God's creation testifies to His existence. The fact that our world is so far beyond our comprehension should bring us to the point of admitting that there must be an amazing guiding force being behind it all, a Being with a creative ability far beyond, but in some ways not totally unlike ours. Christians believe that this something greater is the God who revealed Himself to us coming into our world as the Man Jesus.
For serious students, there are also moral, metaphysical and epistemological arguments for belief in God plus arguments from history and the character of Jesus.
2. How does God reveal Himself in His creation? Check out Psalm 19:1-4.
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. Psalm 19:1-4
3. Read Genesis 1:1, Isaiah 45:18 and Romans 1:20. Why do you think God creates? Also read Colossians 1:15-20 to see about Jesus' involvement in the creation.
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. Genesis 1:1
For this is what the Lord says - He who created the heavens, He is God; He who fashioned and made the earth, He founded it; He did not create it to be empty, but formed it to be inhabited - He says; "I am the Lord and there is no other." Isaiah 45:18
For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:20
He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:15-20
God's creation is an expression of who He is which reveals His character to us. It also tells us something about Jesus.
4. Read Isaiah 55:8&9, Job 38:4-18 and Romans 11:33-36. How much can we really know about God the Father?
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9
Oh, the depths of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments and his paths beyond tracing out! "Who has known the mind of the Lord, Or who has been his counselor?" "Who has ever given to God that God should repay Him? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen." Romans 11:33-36
"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? Tell me, if you understand. Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone-- while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? "Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt'? "Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it? The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment. The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken. "Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the shadow of death? Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this. Job 38:4-18
We can spend our lives seeking to know more about God and hardly scratch the surface. The pursuit of God is the best thing we can do in life, but God is infinite and therefore our finite brains will never understand everything that God is.
5. Can we give anything to God? What can we give back to God with our art?
It is arrogant for us to think that we know all there is to know about God or that we are valuable to Him because of what we have to offer Him. We are valuable to Him because He created us to enjoy a relationship with Him, not to do things for Him that He could not do without us. It is only by His grace that we can have a loving relationship with Him.
6. OK, so we can't know all that God knows or control anything... what two things does Proverbs 3:5-6 say we can do?
'Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.' Proverbs 3:5-6
7. What stops you from doing the things mentioned in this verse? Check out Romans 7:18-21.
I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do--this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. Romans 7:18-21
8. How well do you know God? Do you know about God or know Him? What limits you knowing God more personally? Read 2 Peter 1:3-11.
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
9. Read Colossians 1:19&20, 2:9, Hebrews 1:3 and John 14:9-11. What is God's ultimate revelation of Himself? How can we really know God?
For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in Him (Jesus), and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:19&20
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form... Colossians 2:9
The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. Hebrews 1:3
Jesus answered: "Don't you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Don't you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. John 14:9-11
Jesus Christ is God's ultimate revelation of Himself to the world. By looking at Jesus we see exactly who God is, and by getting to know Jesus we come to know God because Jesus is God.
10. Share something that has recently given you a greater understanding of who God is. How has it affected your relationship with Him?
1. What are you passionate about? How do you express this passion? What motivates to create?
2. If God is as He is described in Romans 11:33-36, how should it affect the way we live? Read Romans 12:1&2.
Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1&2
3. What is meant by 'living sacrifice'? How can we be a living sacrifice?
4. What is the 'pattern of this world'?
5. What does it mean to be 'transformed by the renewing of your mind'? How does this happen?
6. How do you test and determine what God's will is?
7. Read Genesis 1:26&27. This verse talks about us being made is God's image. What attributes of God do you think we posess? How is our creativity like and unlike God's creativity?
Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Genesis 1:26&27
8. There is a lot of creativity that doesn't reflect God's image. What specific evidence do you see of this? Why does the perverted, Godless reality prevail in this world? Check out Romans 1:18-32 and Galatians 5:19-21.
9. What do you think the purpose of a Christian's artistic expression is? Read Matthew 22:37-40.
Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Matthew 22:37-40
If we live our lives with God and what He has done for us in mind (i.e. 'in view of God's mercy'), then what we do will honour and celebrate God and the life we have been given. You can use your art to express something to God, as a tool to minister to others, or just to celebrate the life that we have been given. All of these things honour God and reveal Him to the world through us.
In the same way God shows His character through His creation, our creativity reveals who we are. If we are filled with God we will reveal God to the world through our art, whatever forms it takes.
10. How does one person's artistic expression impact another person? How can our art have good and bad effects on others?
Our art captures something of us that can be shared, or passed on to other people. Through our art we give a little bit of ourselves to those around us. If we are healthy and connected with God then our art will express that fact to others and have a positive effect on other people.
1. Talk about experiences you have had with people who believe something other than what you believe. How do you handle them?
2. Read Acts 17:15-32. How did Paul share Jesus with the people of Athens? Discuss the techniques he used. How did he gain their respect?
The men who escorted Paul brought him to Athens and then left with instructions for Silas and Timothy to join him as soon as possible. While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoic philosophers began to dispute with him. Some of them asked, "What is this babbler trying to say?" Others remarked, "He seems to be advocating foreign gods." They said this because Paul was preaching the good news about Jesus and the resurrection. Then they took him and brought him to a meeting of the Areopagus, where they said to him, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? You are bringing some strange ideas to our ears, and we want to know what they mean." (All the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there spent their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.) Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you. "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us. 'For in Him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' "Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone - an image made by man's design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now He commands all people everywhere to repent. For He has set a day when He will judge the world with justice by the man He has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising Him from the dead." When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." Acts 17:15-32
Paul used the things in the culture that he lived in to show the epople of his day that Jesus was what what they were searching for all along with all their gods. The New Age and other popular philosophies sometimes come very close to the truth of Christianity. Satan uses a lot of truth with a little bit of lie to deceive people. All Satan wants to do though is keep people from knowing Jesus.
We should follow Paul's example of understanding how other people think and using it to introduce Jesus to them. It is more effective to meet people where they are and use things that they are familiar with to share Jesus with them rather than expecting them to accept all the trappings of Christian culture before being able to meet Jesus.
3. Read the following description of the people that Paul was speaking with. How are they similar to people today?
The Epicureans (verse 18) were people who followed the teaching of a man called Epicurus, who originally taught that the supreme good is happiness - but not mere momentary pleasure or temporary gratification. By Paul's time, however, this philosophy had degenerated into a more sensual system of thought.
The Stoics (verse 18) followed a man named Zeno who taught that people should learn self control and be guided by their consciences - they should live in accord with nature, recognise their own self-sufficiency and independence, and suppress their desires. At its best, Stoicism had some admirable qualities, but, like the Epicureans, by Paul's time it had degenerated into a system of pride.
Paul quotes two well-known poets in verse 28. 'In Him we live and move and have our being' is from the Cretan poet Epimenides (c 600 BC) in his Cretica. 'We are his offspring' is a quote from the Cicilian poet Aratus (c 315-240) in his Hymn to Zeus. Paul uses other poets elsewhere as well (see 1 Corinthians 15:33, Titus 1:12).
The people and the philosophies of Paul's day are not unlike those of our world today. Epicurianism sounds a lot like the Capitalism and Hedonism that dominates our western culture. Stoicism is similar to a lot of the New Age ideas that are sweeping the western world, along with the eastern religions that these beliefs are essentially derived from.
Without the Word of God to base a system of thought upon, we are bound to go astray. Without God's revealed truth we will always be stabbing in the dark; merely looking inside ourselves and seeing what we can do to save ourselves. Out of all the religions of the world, only Jesus offers a way to salvation that requires no work on our part; Jesus has done what we cannot do.
4. Check out Acts 17:2&3 and 1 Corinthians 8:19-23. How was Paul's approach in Athens different to his approach in the Synagogue?
As his custom was, Paul went into the Synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ," he said. Acts 17:2&3
Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 1 Corinthians 9:19-23
In the synagogue, Paul used the Jewish Scriptures that the Jews were familiar with on the day they usually met (i.e. on the Sabbath). If he could convince them that the Scriptures pointed to Jesus then they would believe in Jesus because the Jews believed that the Scriptures are God's word. In the same way, if Paul could convince the people of Athens that Jesus is the UNKNOWN GOD that they were looking for all along then they too would believe.
The application of this for us is that we can use the Bible to persuade people that believe that the Bible is God's revealed Word. If they do not believe that the Bible is God's revealed truth then we should use others revelations of God to introduce people to Jesus. Like Paul, we need to be willing to go out of our way and out of our comfort zone to share Jesus with people.
5. What tools can we use today that will reach people who don't know much about Jesus?
6. Read Romans 15:7. How does this verse tell us more about Paul's approach to evangelism?
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7
Paul understood the people he was trying to reach and could therefore speak to them in a way that was relevant. He took the time to appreciate the person for who they were. People are more likely to listen to you when you first appreciate who they are and listen to what they have to say.
7. Do you struggle to accept others? Talk about it with the group. What stops you from accepting others the way that Paul encourages us to in Romans 15:7? How does this affect your relationship with them? How does this affect your chance to share Jesus with them?
8. What do you know about how Jesus related to people? Where did He meet them? How did He treat them?
9. Read 1 Peter 2:11&12. How can we live in the world and stay strong in our faith? How will God be glorified through this? See also Romans 13:1-10.
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us. 1 Peter 2:11&12
Everyone must submit himself to the government authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full-time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue; then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. The commandments, "Do not commit adultery," "Do not murder," "Do not steal," "Do not covet," and whatever other commandment there may be, are summed up in this one rule: "Love your neighbour as yourself." Love does no harm to its neighbour. Therefore love is the fulfilment of the law. Romans 13:1-10
10. Talk about the struggles you have in relating to non-Christians. Have you ever compromised your faith in order to fit in? What do you think the limits are when it comes to relating to non-Christians?
11. How can you use your artistic gifts to share Jesus with other people?
Quiet Times
On Scripture Union Camps we like to do what we call 'quiet times'. A quiet time is a short period, usually each morning, when Christians like to spend some time with God, focusing on Him, reading His Word and praying so they are focused on Him and ready for the day ahead.
If you have never done a quiet time, ask a leader in your dorm to go through a quiet time with you in a small group.
Scripture Union encourages you to get into the habit of regular Bible reading. If you would like to continue regular, systematic Bible reading when camp is over you can check out the various Bible study guides at the Bookshop.
The quiet times in the camp book are linked to the discussion topics. So having done them each morning will help you get the most out of the discussion groups.
A suggested process for doing a quiet time is:
Prepare
Learn to be silent as you prepare to meet with God. Tell Him what's on your mind. Pray that He will help you to understand and obey his Word.
Read
Carefully and slowly read the Bible verses selected for the day.
Explore
Think through what the verses mean. Think about the questions. These will introduce you to the day's discussion group topic. Think through other things that these verses bring to your mind. What can you do about these things?
Pray
Talk to God about what you have learnt. Talk to Him about the things that have challenged you and the things that you would like to do. Writing down your thoughts may help you understand and remember what God is teaching you.
Saturday - Surrender
1. How well do you know your Creator? Jeremiah 10:12-16 talks about the awesome power and reign God has. How does contemplating this make you feel?
2. Check out Jeremiah 9:23&24. What do you think God requires of you?
3. Read what God has to say about it in Jeremiah 17:5-8. Talk to God about this. Ask Him for a deeper understanding of what it means to surrender to His control.
Sunday - Seek
1. What are you passionate about? What is your number one priority in your day to day life?
2. Read Psalm 27 and Matt 6:33. Do you identify with what David is asking for in his psalm? Why or why not?
3. Do you know what it means to seek God's Kingdom and His righteousness? Pray for God to give you wisdom so that you can seek Him more passionately.
Monday - Serve
1. Reflect on what you have learnt on camp so far. How could this change the way you live and the way you treat others?
2. Do you believe and know in your heart that if we are surrendered to God we will naturally do God's will for our lives?
3. How could you better serve God and share Jesus with others? Read about the example Jesus set for us in Matt 20:26-28.
4. Read Hebrews 6:10-12 to see how Jesus' example should affect our lives. What does God promise in return? Check out Psalm 34:19-22 to find some more promises that God makes to His servants.