Most people catch their presuppositions from their family and surrounding society the way a child catches measles.
Francis SchaefferRead
A Christian should use these arts to the glory of God, not just as tracts, mind you, but as things of beauty to the praise of God. An art work can be a doxology in itself.
Interpretation
Art should be created to honor and glorify God, serving both beauty and praise.
In this quote, Francis Schaeffer emphasizes that art transcends mere religious function and should be appreciated for its inherent beauty as a form of worship. He suggests that artistic creations have the potential to express devotion and reverence towards God, functioning as 'doxologies' that lift the spirit and draw the viewer closer to the divine.
In practice
In a sermon discussing the importance of creativity in worship, this quote could inspire artists in the congregation.
Most people catch their presuppositions from their family and surrounding society the way a child catches measles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
People ask me why my figures have to be so black. There are a lot of reasons. First, the blackness is a rhetorical device. When we talk about ourselves as a people and as a culture, we talk about black history, black culture, black music. That's the rhetorical position we occupy.
The approach to style is by way of plainness, simplicity, orderliness, sincerity.
Just because I'm playing jazz I don't forget about me. I play or write me, the way I feel, through jazz, or whatever.
Improvisation is too good to leave to chance.
Then what shall I write? I can't just write that this happened then this happened then this happened to boring infinitum. I'll let my journal grow just like the mind does, just like a tree or beast does, just like life does. Why should a book tell a tale in a dull straight line? Words should wander and meander. They should fly like owls and flicker like bats and slip like cats. They should murmur and scream and dance and sing.
I've dressed thousands of actors, actresses and animals, but whenever I am asked which star is my personal favorite, I answer, 'Grace Kelly.' She is a charming lady, a most gifted actress and, to me, a valued friend.
Subscribe for the occasional hand-picked quote. No noise.