June 07, 2006

on art and beauty

I once was interviewed by a reporter for National Public Radio, who ... asked, "Doesn't all the music and painting and artwork in your church distract you from focusing on God?" and I responded, "Tell me this. If your husband takes you out for an anniversary dinner, and there is candlelight and roses and violins, does that distract you from feeling romantic?" That's how humans are made, to respond to beauty with openness and joy-a truth more apparent to earlier Christians than to many of us today.

Link

Posted by steve at June 7, 2006 03:08 PM
Comments

well considering our lives are meant to be a worship, not what we do in church, then the whole world is a distraction not just art in church

Posted by: Andrew Brown at June 7, 2006 03:43 PM

I thought God made the world and called it good. and Jesus invites us to consider the lilies of the valley.

did God make a distraction, and did Jesus offer to distract his disciples?

sorry, i've been distracted from my work :)

Posted by: steve at June 7, 2006 03:54 PM

Some people tend to connect better with God in an austere environment, sans decor. Not me, but I've got to be sensitive to their internal wiring in some way - not to the extent of dismissing someone else's, however. For some reason you just can't please everyone...

Posted by: Will at June 8, 2006 02:03 AM

i am very much of the "everything that is in me praise the Lord" respond to beauty with worship type. beauty moves me to acknowledge and worship God. i long to see God in my everyday. the austere, sans decor doesn't work for me, but it is good to be reminded that it helps draw others to God...

Posted by: lynne at June 8, 2006 10:22 AM