Home > Work > Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts
1 " A corollary of this has been that Christians have thought that they should only create art with a Pollyanna quality to it: paintings of birds and kittens, movies that extol family life and end happily, songs that are positive and uplifting – in short, works of art that show a world that is almost unfallen where no one experiences conflict and where sin is naughty rather than wicked. "
― , Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts
2 " The arts can sharpen the vision, quicken the intellect, preserve the memory, activate the conscience, enhance the understanding and refresh the language. "
3 " How much of life is Christ to be Lord over? Is he only interested in that part of life we think of as religious or spiritual? Or is he interested in every facet of our lives—body, soul, mind and spirit? "
4 " It should also be remembered that art created to change minds often actually does more to bolster the spirit of those already in agreement than it does to convert opponents. "
5 " Rembrandt didn’t idealize his subjects. He painted what he saw, which was a mixture of glory and fallenness. He was criticized by his contemporaries for using washerwomen as his models rather than women who looked like Greek goddesses. "
6 " In a similar way, the arts can act on God’s side by preserving beauty and drawing out the highest achievements capable by humans. The arts can help preserve and renew cultures, and this is a good thing in itself. "
7 " The secular mind frequently doesn’t face up to the full implications of its beliefs; art can provide a timely shock that results in a reassessment. "
8 " There is a need for wisdom in art. Shock, surprise, novelty, and innovation helped to grab attention but are not substantial in themselves. "
9 " A moral standard does exist in the universe, and any sin not already punished on the cross will be dealt with on Judgment Day. "
10 " Any honest reflection on life will deal with imperfection. The difference in a Christian artist’s work should be that the depraved will seem depraved, and the ugly will seem ugly. Christians should be distinguished from those who suggest that depravity is normal or that evil is good. "
11 " So often Christian artists feel that their role is to take on the enemy, whereas they would produce better and more accessible work if they dealt with the contradictions, waverings, and weaknesses within themselves. "
