What is the role of art in Christian life/worship?

Beauty is that which moves the affections and passions in a pleasing way. So when I say that I have an insatiable desire to experience beauty, that is to say, I long to be moved – I desire an ordering of things which upon observation causes me deep seated joy at the core of my soul.

Art is the creation of beautiful things. Dostoevsky’s Prince Myshkin says “beauty will come and save the world.” Call me an Idiot, but I believe him.

Beauty has the possibility of restoring humanity’s outlook on the world from a dominating view to a marveling one, thus causing us to relate ourselves to the world with amazement and thankfulness. In other words, the realization of beauty will teach us that the material world is not merely for utilization, it is for appreciation. Beauty enables us to be grateful for what has been donated to us – the world and everything in it – rather than to exploit it.

The way in which we judge what is ugly or beautiful is in many ways analogous to the way in which we judge right and wrong. In this sense, aesthetics is the mother of ethics. In a world where morality and meaning have eroded to the point of virtual non-existence, we have yet to entirely forget our sense of beauty. As long as we still have aesthetic good taste there is hope that we can continue to appreciate righteousness, and thereby be drawn to the beauty of God.

May the church be full of art and artists – may the world be moved to believe.