Why Art Matters for the Christianናሙና

Art is never experienced alone. When you participate in a work of art, you bring yourself with you. The artwork can draw your attention to an aspect of yourself and your experience that you would never willingly visit.

In Psalm 51:6, David writes to God, “You desire truth in the inmost parts.” So much of our daily life has separated our external projections from internal reality. There are parts of our being that remain hidden and covered, even from ourselves. The first act of having truth in the inmost parts is revealing what is there. Art has the capacity of a seasoned conversationalist to gently fold back the veil we have created around the darkness and ask, “Is this true?”

Art is risky. Revelation uncovers what we didn’t see before. Sometimes, that revelation provides hope and courage. We discover a strength of character or a depth of grace that we can scarcely believe. But other times we find frailty, pride, or angry ghosts of our childhood that lay dormant within us. The revelation shines a light into the dark corners of our hearts and begs us to bring it out into the light and let the LORD deal with it. Art can be a tool God uses to shine His light into our hearts and teach us wisdom.

One line from C.S Lewis’ essay The Weight of Glory was a light into the inward part of my heart. He writes, “You have never talked to a mere mortal.” Every human being I interact with is destined for eternal horror or everlasting splendor. My actions, whether they are full of grace or laced with contempt, can have an influence on my heading down that path. This quote drew out a greater awareness of my actions and their cause-and-effect relationship for generations.

As I delight in the truth, I cannot help in sharing it. As Lewis wrote in Reflections on the Psalms, “It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed.” Art can be a sacred medium of expressing the delight we have when we ponder the truth about God. As my heart filled up with wonder at the weight of glory, it arrived with a similar desire to share it with others. As a ballet choreographer, I set to work creating a landscape of music and movement to express this delight. Splendors and Horrors was the result, a 17-minute exploration of the gravity, levity, and joy in human interactions.

Each of us plays a part in the lives of those around us. Art is a conversation between generations and communities, and I’ve found joy in seeing God work in these conversations to reveal the truth in our inmost parts.