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Christian art is the expression of the whole life of the whole person as a Christian. What a Christian portrays in his art is the totality of life. Art is not to be solely a vehicle for some sort of self-conscious evangelism.
Francis Schaeffer
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Interpretation

What this quote means

Christian art reflects the entirety of a Christian's life, encompassing all aspects rather than just serving a religious agenda.

In this quote, Francis Schaeffer emphasizes that Christian art should embody the full experience and expression of a Christian's life, not merely act as a tool for proselytizing. He suggests that true art from a Christian perspective reflects all dimensions of life, integrating faith with everyday experiences, emotions, and creativity, showcasing the holistic nature of existence as informed by one's beliefs.

Themes

ChristianArtExpressionLifeCreativity

In practice

Example use cases

In a sermon discussing the role of art in faith, one might quote this to highlight the importance of expressing one's full self in creative endeavors.

More from Francis Schaeffer

Most people catch their presuppositions from their family and surrounding society the way a child catches measles.
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In two areas above all others the Christian demonstration of love and communication stands clear: in the area of the Christian couple and their children; and in the personal relationships of Christians in the church. If there is no demonstration in these two places, on the personal level, the world can conclude that orthodox Christian doctrine is nothing but dead, cold words.
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There are two main reasons why we may not be bringing forth the fruit we should. It may be because of ignorance, because we may never have been taught the meaning of the work of Christ for our present lives.
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We should not view men with a cynical eye, seeing them only as meaningless products of chance, but, on the other hand, we should not go to the opposite extreme of seeing them romantically. To do either is to fail to understand who men really are--creatures made in the image of God but fallen.
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You must not lose confidence in God because you lost confidence in your pastor. If our confidence in God had to depend upon our confidence in any human person, we would be on shifting sand.
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We must realize that the Reformation world view leads in the direction of government freedom. But the humanist world view with inevitable certainty leads in the direction of statism. This is so because humanists, having no god, must put something at the center, and it is inevitably society, government, or the state.
Francis SchaefferRead

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Quote by Francis Schaeffer | QuoteProject