Guest Blogger Josh Espasandin
This guest post is by Josh Espasandin of WeCreate:
Hello all my ALFGers! I’m so excited to be able to be posting here and sharing ideas with more of God’s artists. Let me give a brief introduction of myself:
My name is Joshua Espasandin. I currently attend the Art Institute of Portland for animation (I hope to work for “the Mouse” someday). I also lead a small Christian ministry for artists at my church called WeCreate. WeCreate meets every week and discusses how to better use our talents for God, like we do here on ALFG, so most of the ideas behind my posts will probably come from my time with the WeCreate team.
The idea I want to introduce to you today, an idea I hold dear, is the idea of using art as a form of worship.
First let’s look at what worship really is. Worship could be described as surrender to God, an act of obedience, singing and dancing, etc. What it ultimately is is exalting communication with God. So what about art? Something we need to understand about art is that it isn’t just something that looks or sounds pretty. It is also a form of communication.
How then do we go about using our talents (painting, sculpting, dancing, writing, etc.) as a way of communicating with the Almighty? The answer: carefully and with purpose. Let’s look at what Jesus in John 4:23-24 has to say…
“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth.”
As long as we worship in spirit and in truth, we will be speaking God’s language AND the Father will actually seek US out and may communicate back! As believers, we need to be communicating with God to know His plan for our lives. As God’s artists, we should be using our talents to do the same so we know where God wants us to use our abilities.
So what do you all think?
Can you think of ways to worship with your art medium?
Can you worship with things like video or theater?
Whatcha thinkin’ guys?…
Thank you, sirs!
To my brother Josh…Man, God won’t let you “sell out,” doc.
Let them teach their methods of “how-to’s”…just eat the meat and spit out the bones.
When it comes down to it…God’s way of “making it” supercedes their own.
No worries, boss.
SHINE, MY BRUDDAHS!!!!
Gimel,
Thank you for your testimony! I’m overjoyed to hear that you are able to minister to these other artists. I’m also proud. I know how hard it is to not “sell out” with your artwork. I mean, I go to a school where we are taught how to make art that pleases an employer, and I have to also make sure that I am pleasing God at the same time. Sometimes it feels like I have to confine myself, but it’s so true when you say that we have creative minds freed in Christ.
Thanks for the insight Gimel! God bless!
Great testimony, Gimel!
Very liberating to hear how He’s shining through you.
You are a true “Illustrator”…a “light-bringer”!
Tony-
Awesome word, Josh!
To piggy back that, I have a quick testimony:
As of lately, I enrolled into a graphics and printing program at the local community college.
For the past two weeks, I have met many local artists, ranging in ages from 19 to 40+.
Majority of those artist are either into comic book art, deviant art, quick money art or anime’ art.
At first, I was just grateful to be around such a diverse group of people, but when I began to share “my stuff”…they would light up.
Not because it was Christian art, but because I created without the limitations the world places upon creative people.
My point: So far, God has shone through me, just in how free I am publically, via worshipping Him in spirit and in truth privately.
Without drawing anything distinctive, they are responding to “how” I draw. Years and years of creating in the presence of God alone, is JUST as noticable and distinctive before men, then drawing a “Jesus” picture (so to speak).
I just wanted to add on to your timely words and remind the saints, that your different to a dark world even if you never say a word or draw a picture concerning your love for Christ.
God has not only given us the ability to “communicate” His light through our artwork, but we have been gifted to “be” His light (lamps, that is).
Its amazing how desperately I wanted to be like other artist in the world and without noticing it, God has made me unique in the eyes of men…and all I did was do what I do in private with Him…in public…I listen, loved, and lived.
P.S.
God has opened up opportunities for me to minister to others, just by me being there and showing them a creative mind freed in Christ.
I worked so hard to make my work unique in the world, but it is God that was working so hard to make me unique in the world. We are His artwork!
Thanks, bro.
Stacy,
Thanks for the input. You hit it right on! You talked about asking for God’s guidance in whatever you do. I couldn’t agree more. I would word it as a form of surrender. Even if it’s, like you said, you’re own message, surrendering it to the way God wants it to be presented is key. I’m glad to hear you are already using your gifts for God. Keep it up!
Very nice/encouraging post!
Each one of my paintings is worship towards God. Each one of them I ask what He’d like me to draw/paint or I paint what’s gotten my goat at the moment. I had a show two years ago with each painting being based on scripture or a Christian message as to witness to other Christians an non alike. It was great and well received by many. I chalk that up to God who gave me my gift and I worship Him back by using that gift for His glory. Also by being flexible to what He’s telling me to draw/paint.
Ways to worship with ones art/medium would be a) by asking God what He’d have you create and then doing so under His guidance b) if driven by your own message then making sure His word is guiding the idea(s). Give back to the giver.
I think any artistic vein is worship though it depends on how you’re using the gift you’ve been given.