Living in a world with an ever-increasing enthusiasm for modern multimedia, we are permanently bombarded with information. So many bits and bytes intrude on us that it has almost become impossible to ward them off, or at least filter them properly. Every month new feats in the fields of music, sound and video amaze us. If you are an artist yourself, you can’t help feeling you will never measure up to the many excellent artists out there.
The art being produced in our general society boasts in its own splendour, demonstrates what it is able to do and has such a stunning appeal that, watching it, an artist can inevitably feel like a dilettante. If everyone does everything seemingly better than you, what’s the use of trying? And don’t we sometimes feel so dragged along by the sheer power of secular art that we artists who follow Jesus are tempted to give up on our ideas? We downplay what we have to offer, bringing forward arguments against our own creative ideas—why they are not really that good—until we are close to surrendering to an overwhelmingly big contender. Isn’t it hard to be original if there is always someone else who had your idea before you and seems to execute it better than you?
But if we take a closer look, we find that being original in your art form is not an absolute necessity for an artist. Let’s not be misled by the notion that being creative for Jesus must always consist of charting undiscovered territory. Honour to whom honour is due: He alone is the Creator who made the universe out of nothing. Man, however, always needs something to start with. We don’t have to impose the burden on ourselves of reinventing colours, movements, chords, words... Great artists have always found inspiration in other ages and cultures, in someone else’s form of art, in nature and even in their colleagues. During Michelangelo’s time it was completely normal for a painter to come and see the giant’s masterpieces—and copy them! Everyone knew there was no better way to learn, to become aware of your own mistakes and to hone your craft—hard to imagine in our age of copyrights!
Of course, creativity does not stop at watching, digesting and imitating someone else’s art. Learning by copying can only be the first step. While it is indispensable to be equipped with all the basics, there comes a time for each artist to find their own voice. Whoever spends his whole life imitating someone else has not fully grasped what creativity is about: making something new. A new combination of things, a collage or an innovative cover version of an old hit may be a small step into something new, but it is new, isn’t it?
Every artist who follows Jesus should be aware of the significance of newness in his or her life. What is really new about him or her is not material, movement or design, but life itself. We are not compelled to invent new genres. If we do, fine, but that is not our advantage. Artists who follow Jesus are called to “walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4, ESV). What is new about us is us—if we are in Christ! It comes from the “new man” within us. With Him singing, writing, painting and dancing through our art, it will inevitably be new—in its outlook; in the solutions it offers; in the honesty about ourselves with and without God; in its definition of life; in its hatred of the vile, depraved and ugly; in its enthusiasm for beauty; in its love for our Saviour who made us a new creation: “The old has gone, the new is here!” (2 Corinthians 5:17, NIV) There is so much newness the Lord wants to show through us, but we need to be open.
Openness, softness and sensitivity are key if we want to see our new lives translated into our art. This is not easy in a society of hardened hearts inundated by fake art and the misery of life without God in general. To some degree we as Christians share this world’s fate—economically, ecologically, morally—even if we are not “of” this world but only “in” it. There are so many things which can impair our sensitivity and openness: envy, greed, disappointment or a competitive spirit... just to mention a few. Every setback in our careers as artists can harden our hearts. We may even feel tempted to accuse God: “Why don’t you open doors for my art? Isn’t this my calling?” It’s easy to understand why we are called to “guard our hearts”—and to forgive.
Learning by copying has its dangers, too. What if we end up not only copying society’s art but also the artist—his morality, his habits, his inclinations? We need to know how this world thinks, but
it is unacceptable to allow ourselves to be drawn into its ways of life, as they are bound to infiltrate our God-given expression.
But let’s be honest: It seems our ego has the biggest potential to stifle that which is new in us. Sometimes there is just too much of “me” in my art! Being permanently aware of ourselves, following our “pet” thoughts, harbouring negative feelings and a victim mentality, not accepting the forgiveness of Jesus we have asked for, not forgiving ourselves, listening to whisperings from external and internal “friendly voices”—it will be difficult for us to remain open toward God and soft toward others if we get stuck in any of that. Agreed, there may be some real issues in our lives that need to be taken care of, and some things take time. But in many cases discipline of the mind will keep our inner newness alive.
Let’s guard our hearts. Let’s not copy the spirit of this world— we don’t have to. Let’s rediscover the beauty of newness in our lives. By giving us new life, Jesus made us a work of art. We can be really creative if we remove the rubble that so often covers this new treasure within us. Let the new man within you breathe—and paint, write, compose, dance, act... We have something new which is newer than the newest fad. Let’s not follow the old ways of our society, the old ways of relating to ourselves and others. What makes our expressions different is a different heart, a different life, a different perception. As times get rougher, we need to keep the channel clear so newness of life can flow from our work into a world that desperately needs the new life of Jesus.