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Is art compatible with Christianity?

 Submitted: 11/6/2007
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Question: I hope you can shed some light on this. I have always been very interested in most aspects of the arts and am wondering how compatible this really all is with Christianity. Apostolics already live a considerably aesthetic lifestyle in other areas, so I am quite concerned regarding 'the works of our hands'. If we take the commandment literally, we would be required to abstain from producing any likeness of anything, which would include home decor, works of art, paintings, photographs, even floral patterns on sheets! We all know that anything can be an idol without the physical act of 'bowing' down before it, so where do we draw the line here? Also the fact that musical instruments were invented by Cain's people, does that make them inherently evil? I love the flute, so who is Jubal and is it a bad thing? And I have a great passion for graphic design and fantasy art like fairies and unicorns and written stories, how do I keep it all Christian? Today's technological advances raise questions the old time believers didn't have to deal with.
Answer: We think you are greatly mistaken. We are not aware of any Scripture that, if taken literally, would require us to abstain from 'producing any likeness of anything.' We are not to make images to be used as alternatives to God, and we should not look at evil things that might cause us to sin, but that's it. Just because a person derives some degree of pleasure or enjoyment from a work of art does not mean he is practicing idolatry.

As to your question about musical instruments, 2 Samuel 6:5 says, 'Then David and all the house of Israel played music before the LORD on all kinds of instruments of fir wood, on harps, on stringed instruments, on tambourines, on sistrums, and on cymbals.' If David could do it, then so can we.

As for your great passion for graphic design and fantasy art like fairies and unicorns and written stories, that could be a problem. God is Truth, which is virtually the opposite of fantasy. Fiction that serves a purpose such as teaching values or inspiring faith is one thing, but fantasy usually serves as little more than an escape from reality.

We disagree with your concluding statement: 'Today's technological advances raise questions the old time believers didn't have to deal with.' Take heart! The wise man said, 'That which has been is what will be, that which is done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which it may be said, 'See, this is new'? It has already been in ancient times before us' (Ecclesiastes 1:9-10). Sure, there may be new technologies, but the issues and questions are the same as they have always been.


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