art is patient, art is kind…

I recently had an opportunity to attend an event/discussion at University Presbyterian called Immeasurably More – Artists and the Church: exploring new models of patronage. It was a great evening in which artists and church leaders from around Seattle came together to talk about how churches can better support the arts and local artists.  Mako Fujimura, the creative director and founder of International Arts Movement in New York City, gave his thoughts and insights on how to embrace the arts and encourage artists through the church to glorify God with their gifts.

One of Mako’s points that I found inspiring was when he began discussing what he thinks art could and should be.  He told a story of when he was in a meeting at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York with the head pastor Tim Keller and several business leaders and entrepreneurs. Keller was talking on how to run companies as Christians.  One of his points was that without love, you cannot run your company and be Christ-centered.  Not worldly love, but Godly love.  He began quoting 1 Corinthians 13: “love is patient, love is kind…”  He was making the point that your business should be modeled after this verse.  Mako, as an artist, began seeing how this tactic could also be applied to art.  He realized that to fully honor and glorify Christ, art too should embody these ideas of love.

So, as musicians and artists who try to represent Christ, let’s try to create art in this biblical context:

Art is patient, art is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Art does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7, adapted from NIV)

I think in this context, our art will be closer to the heart of God and reach more people for the glory of Christ.