Heart Of the Artist Part 1

Matthew 6:24 NIV 
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other,

or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other

Heart Of the Artist Part 1:

As artists in the Church we need to have a solid understanding of where we fit in to the Body of Christ. Is it just our job to play, sing and move the faders up and down on the audio board etc., or do we serve for a greater purpose? As Artists in the Church we use our gifts to lead others in Worship, to lead others to Christ, to reflect who we are in Christ.

Ultimately what we will discover is that our worship is our life and our purpose. It’s about loving God and praising His name which is pleasing to Him when it stems from a heart that is filled with gratitude; when it is authentic in its presentation; when it is humble and reverent.  And that is why the Heart of the Artist is so important. When we become truly authentic in our loving relationship with God, and our lives reflect a Christ-like attitude and character, the world will get a clearer picture of what Christianity really is; A relationship with the creator of the universe which stems throughout eternity for those who receive the work of Jesus on the Cross for their salvation. This place reserved in God’s kingdom for believers it what we desire for everyone. Our four fold assignment then is to love and Worship God in spirit and in truth, edify or enlighten the Body of Christ, shine the light of hope and salvation on those who do not yet know our Lord, and to do it all with excellence.

So if you want to make a positive difference in this world; if you want to make a positive difference in God’s kingdom, investigate your own heart. Is your art reflecting God’s glory or your own? Ultimately we should be playing, singing, acting, painting and creating for an audience of one.  We should not be working to gather up the Glory that is reserved for God alone. Remember it is God working in us and through us that will make the positive difference in peoples live and our own. Remember what Jesus said:

John 15:5 NIV 
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Introduction:

• Character will always be an important issue facing Artists in the Church
• Artists in the Church need to be an example of integrity and Godly Character.

           We are leading others in Worship so we need to be held to a high standards.

• There is an Artistic temperament… “Artsy types” – Stereotype

Name some Artsy stereotypes?:

Here are some examples:

• Temperamental
• Eccentric
• Difficult
• Strange/Weird
• Moody
• Emotionally unstable
• Free-spirited
• Quirky
• Undisciplined

Excuses are often made for the shortcomings of the artistic temperament more so than with any other temperament.  A problem occurs when we artists buy into those excuses and use them to justify unacceptable behavior.

Can You name some of the artists or Bands that may fit into one of the above stereotypes? 

   

What is true about artists:

• Artists look at things differently than non artists do.
• We notice detail; we appreciate nuance and beauty.
• We tend to be more sensitive
• We are passionate about our art.

The Arts in the Bible:

• The Bible itself is a work of art.
• Rich in metaphor (Metaphor: a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them)

• The Bible contains poetry written with great a great deal of skill and sophistication: The Psalms, The Book of job, The Song of Songs.

• Jesus’ stories/Parables
• Music: The Psalms a hymnbook
• Instrumental music: the word Selah (71 times occurs throughout the psalms

Refers to an instrumental interlude between verses or sections of vocal music)

(Hence we have the justification for the Guitar solo)

·         Biblical instruments:

·         Trumpet, Harp, 10 String Harp, flute, lyre, various percussion instruments,

           were all used in worship.

·         Dance is also included in the Bible.

Psalm 149:3 NIV

Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.

Even David danced before the Lord when they brought the Ark of the Covenant home.

2 Samuel 6:14-15 NIV

David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the LORD with all his might, while he and the entire house of Israel brought up the ark of the LORD with shouts and the sound of trumpets.

Artists in the Bible: (Read these Bible passages)

David: skillful musician and songwriter (1 Samuel 16:18)

Solomon: Wrote over 1000 songs (1 Kings 4:32)

Kenaniah: Great vocalist and song leader (1 chronicles 15:22)

Asaph: Heman and Ethan (the singing percussionists 1 Chronicles 15:16-19)

Bezalil: A gifted visual artist (Exodus 35:30-33)

The Power of the Arts:

The arts can have a powerful impact if they are produced by the anointing power of the Holy Spirit. In other words the Holy Spirit is our inspiration behind the creative display and giftedness not a demonstration of how talented we are. Our worship can awaken us to the truth and can be a way God uses to help change a persons life.

The Arts in the Church:

The Church is God’s vehicle to redeem a lost world. The Church being God’s people not the building.

Problems of Church ministry and stereotyping:

There is an ongoing deception in believing that a person must be part of the Christian Music industry in order to gain influence on a generation of people.

The idea of the Christian Artist has been believed to only refer to someone who is in the industry. This idea should be dispensed with as those who are part of the arts in church are Christian artists as well. Bill Hybels said that the local Church is the hope of the world. Than the importance of ministry on a local level and those of the arts can not be emphasized enough.

Those of you who are musicians/artists – need to understand that the Church is not a stepping stone to something more important. Those who believe that should go do something else.

However, the Christian artist can be the salt of the earth, a light that shines in the darkness. So whatever we do we can be ambassadors for Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:20 NIV 
We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God.

The church needs Artists that have a passion for the power of the arts.

The Church experience can be powerful in that someone who comes can experience the presence of God, they become vulnerable enough to be convicted of their sin, they face the truth about themselves. They are drawn to God. The power of God present in the arts can penetrate hearts, minds and souls.

That is why the artist must connect to God on a deeper level, that is why the worship must be God filtered through the presence of Christ in artist’s life. 

Worship:

The New Testament puts a great emphasis on corporate worship.

Ephesians 5:19 NIV

Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

Colossians 3:16 NIV

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

In scripture there is evidence of 2 types of worship:

• Spontaneous (Exodus 15)
• Organized and choreographed (2 Chronicles 5:11 – 7:7)

When the nation of Israel crossed the Red Sea, right there oh the riverbank erupted into

spontaneous worship that included singing , playing and dancing.

Example from Exodus 15 (The song of Moses and Miriam)

¹⁹ When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen ^[d] went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. ²⁰ Then Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took a tambourine in her hand, and all the women followed her, with tambourines and dancing. ²¹ Miriam

sang to them: 

       "Sing to the LORD,
       for he is highly exalted.
       The horse and its rider
       he has hurled into the sea."

On the other hand, the worship time that accompanied the dedication of the temple was highly organized and choreographed.

Excerpts from 2 Chronicles 5:

All the Levites who were musicians—Asaph, Heman, Jeduthun and their sons and relatives—stood on the east side of the altar, dressed in fine linen and playing cymbals, harps and lyres. They were accompanied by 120 priests sounding trumpets. ¹³ The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets,

cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang:
       "He is good;
       his love endures forever."

Excerpts from 2 Chronicles 7:

⁶ The priests took their positions, as did the Levites with the LORD's musical instruments, which King David had made for praising the LORD and which were used when he gave thanks, saying, "His love endures forever." Opposite the Levites, the priests blew their trumpets, and all the Israelites were standing.

There is also some controversy over the type of worship music that should be played and sung at church. Traditional vs. Contemporary.

What are the benefits of both kinds of Worship Styles?

• God focused worship
• Edify the church body
• Praise God
• Enhance the message
• Make us think and contemplate our relationship with God

Evangelism:

The arts can be especially effective in evangelism because they often reflect the seeker’s hunger and search for God.

The Church is now using the arts for something called:

·        Strategic evangelism – reaching the un-churched.

·        Speaking to people where they are at in life. Using certain styles of music, video and drama and avoiding churchy forms of communicating and Christian jargon that many do not understand.

Encouragement:

The arts can encourage and edify the Church.

Music, drama dance, literature, and the visual arts can encourage someone who’s down, someone who is struggling in his or her walk with Christ, someone who is facing trials and temptations.

We must never lose sight of the people and their needs. The Church can use the arts as a way to bring encouragement to those who need a touch from God.

·        Can you think of a song that encourages you, that ministers to you throughout the day and comes to mind? Is there a song that encourages and reminds you to stand strong even when you are deeply entrenched in difficult circumstances?

Here are some examples of the songs that I came up that have meant a lot to me because they reminded me Of God's unfailing love:

You Never Let Go

Amazing Grace

Always

Came To My Rescue

How He Loves

You Are My Stength

Music with lyrics that emphasize the Word of God has the power to penetrate our hearts and cause our attitudes to change.

The arts can excel at identifying with people’s pain and ministering the truth of God’s Word with sensitivity.

Worship is a Celebration:

Every Sunday should be a celebration of the Work and Glory of God.

The Church should be the happening place for the arts as it was back just 250 years ago in Bach’s day.  It used to be that when you wanted to hear great music or experience great art, you went to Church.

It is a privilege to serve God.

We should not only honor God with our gifts but with our lives as well.

It is time to get serious about our Character.

We need artists in the Church who are known not only for their talent but also for their walk with Christ.

 Blessings………………..Dave