Art for God's Sake Quotes

“If the opening chapters of Genesis portray God as a creative artist, then it only stands to reason that the people he made in his image will also be artists. Art is an imaginative activity, and in the act of creating, we reflect the mind of our Maker.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“Why does God call people to be artists? Because he is an Artist, and we are made in his image. When we first meet the God of the Bible, he is busy making things and calling them good. Thus it is only natural for him to take some of the people that he has made, call them to be artists, and hold them to an aesthetic standard.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“Rather than giving in to meaninglessness and despair, Christian artists know that there is a way out. Thus they create images of grace, awakening a desire for the new heavens and the new earth by anticipating the possibilities of redemption in Christ.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“God has high standard for art, and obviously he does not and cannot endorse the content of work that is pornographic or propagandistic, or that violates his character in some other way.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“At its best, art is able to do what Fujimura's paintings do: satisfy our deep longing for beauty and communicate profound spiritual, intellectual, and emotional truth about the world that God has made for his glory. Is it any wonder that the best artists are celebrated?”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“Art has tremendous power to shape culture and touch the human heart. Its artifacts embody the ideas and desires of the coming generation. This means that what is happening in the arts today is prophetic of what will happen in our culture tomorrow. It also means that when Christians abandon the artistic community, we lose a significant opportunity to coniniu- nicate Christ to our culture.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“Artists are called and gifted-personally, by name-to write, paint, sing, play, and dance to the glory of God.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“In the providence of God, some people who hope to become artists never reach their desired goal. This may be for reasons of practical necessity, or because they never reach the level of excellence required to sustain a career in the arts. In such cases it is important not to focus on the frustration of not achieving one's ambitions, but to recognize that there are other meaningful ways to participate in the arts. A full understanding of the arts
recognizes both the unique vocation of the professional artist and the value of other forms of artistic expression. Even if our art must become an avocation rather than a vocation, it should still be pursued with deep joy and a strong sense of purpose. The church can help in this pursuit by serving as a community of encouragement that affirms the calling of artists and nurtures the artistic aspect of every human soul.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“The composer Igor Stravinsky wisely said, "I take no pride in my artistic talents; they are God-given and I see absolutely no reason to become puffed up over something that one has received."3”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“Artists sometimes talk about art for art's sake. What they mean is that art has intrinsic worth: it has value in and of itself, apart from any utility. This needs to be said because there are always some people who wonder why we need art, on the assumption that in order to be a legitimate calling it must perform some practical function. But since God has made us to enjoy beauty, art itself is able to nourish our souls.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“God's careful instructions for building the tabernacle remind us that his perfection sets the standard for whatever we create in his name.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“A Christian view of art thus stands in opposition to the postmodern assumption that there are no absolutes.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“The example of the tabernacle proves that God loves all kinds of art, in all kinds of media and all kinds of styles-provided, that is, that they are in keeping with the perfections of his character. As John Calvin said, "All the arts come from God and are to be respected as divine inventions."3 Therefore, as Christians we are not limited to crosses and flannelgraphs, or to praise choruses and evangelistic skits.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“In Exodus 31 God sanctifies a wide spectrum of artistic gifts by blessing "all kinds of craftsmanship.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“These men were not selected by a jury of fellow artists, but appointed by the sovereign and electing choice of God.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“Moses was a prophet, but the tabernacle needed an artist.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“four fundamental
principles for a Christian theology of the arts: (1) the artist's call and gift come from God; (2) God loves all kinds of art; (3) God maintains high standards for goodness, truth, and beauty; and (4) art is for the glory of God.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“Yet even Christians who are dismissive of art continue to use it. Doing so is inescapable. Every time we
build a sanctuary, arrange furniture in a room, or produce a brochure, we are making artistic decisions. Even if we are not artists in our primary vocation, there is an inescapably artistic aspect to our daily experience.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“If anything, things are even more difficult for Christian artists. Some churches do not consider art a serious way to serve God. Others deny that Christians in the arts have a legitimate calling. As a result, Christian artists often feel like they have to justify their existence. Rather than providing a community of support, some churches surround them with a climate of suspicion.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

“Art is always tempted to glory in itself, and nearly every form of art has been used to communicate values that are contrary to Scripture. Art is as fallen as any other aspect of human existence. This fallenness perverts the arts against fulfilling their original purpose and prevents us from embracing them uncritically.”
― Philip Graham Ryken, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts