Creating art that makes people “look” is one thing, but art that helps people “see” is on a totally different level.
For the artist or designer that is a Christ-follower, this is not limited to “religious themed” works, but any art or design where the artist is guided by the Spirit of God.
Art that produces LIFE CHANGING RESULTS doesn’t have to be as deep as it sounds:
It can be as basic as: Graphic Design that helps a business be successful (logo design, marketing messages, layout, web design, etc.)
Or as complex as: Communicating thoughts, ideas, concepts (the Gospel message, motivation, inspiration, etc.)
You’ve seen these LIFE CHANGING RESULTS when you’ve prayerfully designed the right layout for an ad campaign that may generate the needed sales results for the business.
You may have created a book cover illustration that is the right design to make a person pick up the book, buy it, and find the answers that they were searching for.
Or you may have created a painting that touched someone’s heart in a way you couldn’t even imagine.
So, how do you go about creating art that produces LIFE CHANGING RESULTS?
Here’s a formula that I believe helps to break it down:
(T + V) x A= LCR
Here’s how you break it down:
(Talent + Vision) x Anointing = “Life Changing Results”
“Talent” and artistic skill are a given. They are the basics that you as an artist or designer bring to the table.
Vision:The ability to see your full, God-given potential. To imagine and believe that your dreams, passions and ideas can become a reality. Seeing what you can accomplish from God’s perspective.
Anointing: Raw talent, coupled with a God-given vision is one thing in the natural realm. But they take on a “super” or “above the natural” capability when touched by Christ’s empowerment. “Anointing” is when something (your talent) is reserved or set aside for service to God. That service, again, is not restricted to religious-themed works, but for anything that God has planned that your talent be put to use to make a difference.
Example: God called artists to create furniture that was used in the first temple where he met with His people in worship. Now, furniture items may not seem like much, but these artists under God’s empowerment (anointing) were able to create beautiful elements that symbolized God’s plan for His people. These simple furniture items that these artists created became symbols for a nation about their worship relationship with God. These artistic works have remained as icons thousands of years later serving the same purpose.
That worldwide, multi-millennial impact created by a handful of artisans could have only been done under Christ’s empowerment.
God can do more through you with your gift than you can even image being able to do without Him.
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Hi Josh-
Thanks for chiming in!
Just to respond a little to your feedback:
1. What we’re saying here about “Talent” is not whether or not God can use your work if you have it or not, but we’re stating that you “have it” to begin with. That’s what’s meant when we say that talent is “the basics that you as an artist or designer bring to the table”.
2. Anointing: Here we’re actually saying in part what you mention in your first statement, that God can use your work for His purpose. We may never see the impact of God using our talent until we get to Heaven. If we do get the opportunity to catch a glimpse of it, that impact may seem small in some cases, huge in others. The important thing here is having a relationship with the Father, through Christ, in order to join Him in whatever the assignment may be.
I hope all that makes sense!
Hi
Talent – surely God can use your work whether you are talented or not?
Anointing – I’m not sure its helpful to introduce this idea. Surely that suggests that if an artist doesn’t see these ‘Life changing results’ then your work is not ‘annointed’? How do you know if your work is ‘annointed’?
I think that trying to generalise the making of objects, and God’s use of human industry for his own purpose into an easy ticklist for making art is innacurate, misleading.. even if its what people want to hear.
Mel: Thanks for the feedback. I always look forward to your take on our topics!
Elizabeth: I agree. God has provided provision through the talent He’s blessed us with.
Neisha: I thank YOU for reading the post and especially giving your take on it. Please share with us the outcome of the project!
Tony-
Thank you for this post and for this website. At this very moment I am experiencing “designers block” because the successful design of this one event invitation could potentially open up a major door for me. Its really late and I seem to keep doing everything but simply getting to work. Thank you thank you thank you for the encouraging words and website. I will visit often. I have always prayed the prayer “God Guide My Design” and just to know that someone else feels that, prays that, gets that….its just such a blessing.
We can use our artistic talents to create objects to sell and give
a provision to glorify His Kingdom.
This is a real solid understanding.
Talent: God given, but placed in the stewardship of men for His sake.
Vision: God giving me the desires of my heart, not God giving me what I desire. Whatever the Lord requires, He imparts a vision.
Anointing: Jesus Christ as the Appointed One opposed from Jesus Christ appointing me…He is my ability.
The example you used about the furniture was huge to me…I saw it as God taking something that is not all that noteworthy or prestigious, but when it is given to Him it becomes eternal. God was very specific in what it looked like and the place that it was going was just as specific…which means He is high involved and near to everything that bears His name. It also shows me that God’s appreciation for our obedience never has an end…when it was done and He appraised it, He counted it priceless and eternal.
Obedient art never gets old or depreciated with God.
Thanks Tony.