Discovering God Through the ArtsНамуна

The arts are, for most of us, already an important element of our journey of faith. We may not, however, always be conscious of this fact. The architecture of the places and spaces where we worship, along with their stained-glass windows and the vessels for celebrating the Lord’s Supper. The music we sing together or listen to a choir perform—hymns, gospel songs, worship choruses, anthems, and musical interludes that occur during key parts of the service. The cross that adorns most sanctuaries. In some traditions, the vestments worn by clergy. The floral arrangements on the altar. Even the creative designs of the bulletins we use are a reflection of our creativity. But we generally don’t give much thought to any of these. We take them for granted. They are, however, some of the ways that the arts influence our experience every Sunday. 

All these elements may inspire us, move us, and delight us. Or they may disappoint us or cause bafflement, boredom, or tears. But they will have an impact.

Whether in a worship service or in our daily lives, beauty often catches us by surprise. We don’t expect to be bowled over by it. Other times, though, we intentionally seek it out. We might put on a favorite record, attend a concert, visit an art exhibit, or tour a natural site famed for its beauty. The act of seeing, hearing, and feeling leaves a mark on us, and adds a memory that we can revisit later, or stirs something inside our soul.

Experiencing art is like falling in love. It demands vulnerability at the start, and it often takes a lot of work to keep it alive and growing. 

The arts want to create a conversation with you. Are you ready to engage with them and see what they have to say?

We hope you have enjoyed this 8-day plan from Terry Glaspey's new book, Discovering God Through the Arts.  To learn more about the book, visit moodypublishers.com.