A Call For The Recovery Of The Visual Arts In Charismatic Worship

Art is a gift from God. The Bible itself records many examples of the arts. Written by a leading mime artist in the charismatic community, this article defends the importance of the arts for the Christian life and in Christian worship.

Throughout Scripture, God has used dramatic expression to communicate his will and his Word. This might be in mime, acting, storytelling, parable, allegory, song, dance, gestural communication, or sign. God's Word is full of examples of ministry through arts. However, we have failed to see what is obviously there. Why? Simply because we read the Bible instead of seeing it. We read what they enacted. There are numerous examples of the arts in prophecy. Mime is recorded over forty times in Scripture. Over one-third of the ministry of Ezekiel was done in mime. Parables, as a form of storytelling, are used over forty-nine times; the majority of them were spoken by Jesus. Parable, in a general sense, is seen over 250 times throughout the Old and New Testaments. The Song of Solomon is a narrative allegory. The life of Hosea was a living prophetic drama. Hosea 12:10 brings out many important points about the arts: 1. God chooses to speak through the use of the arts 2. The artist is a minister of God, separated unto God, and under the direction of God 3. The ministry of the arts is a prophetic call If we can understand the drama and art found within Scripture in a living, dramatic way, we will gain a richer comprehension of God's word, and therefore, of God. Jewish Mime Jewish mime, seen when a prophet uses gestures and movements to communicate his message, is delivered in three ways: 1. Actions with no narrative 2. Actions with narrative before or after 3. Actions with narrative given at the same time Eighty percent of communication is nonverbal. This makes the message delivered with mime powerfully clear and very well communicated. Those who would no longer hear the word of the Lord … could see it. The eight messengers who used mime were Agabus, Ahijah, the angel in the book of Revelation, Elisha, Ezekiel, Hosea, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. Mime is used to show God's judgment (1 Kings 11:30–40), to show God's provisional will (2 Kings 13:15–19), to illustrate judgments of shame (Is. 20:1–6), to foretell and warn (as seen in the prophesies of Ezekiel and Jeremiah), and to make clear the results of one's actions (Acts 21:1–11)—the list can go on. Mime is used to clarify, illustrate, and demonstrate. The Ministry of the Arts In these days when God is restoring all things to their proper place, there will arise again a ministry of the arts. All expressions of creativity are from God, who alone is the creator (Gen. 1; John 1). It is by his breath and gift that we create and express ourselves artistically. We might misuse this gift, as many have, but the gift is still from God. How shall we use these gifts? "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever" (1 Peter 4:10). The Uses of Art Art can bring a person recognition with dignity and honor (Exod. 28:2, 3, 39). It can speak of the glory of the heavens, as the tabernacle is a faint copy of heaven's glory (Exod. 24:9–18, 25:40; Heb. 8:5). All things are done to glorify God. His creation shows us his truths. If we paint a waterfall, we do not need to justify the painting by putting a Scripture on it, as many do. The waterfall itself is a testimony of the power and glory of God (Rom. 1:20). Art can communicate glory, beauty, and joy, which are godly of themselves. However, the arts can be and have been used to bring people to repentance, salvation, and a greater revelation of God. This time from the start, the very start. Loving God, that is where it all begins. Using our God-given bodies to express ourselves: to each other in a hug, to God in uplifted hands, and in the movements of drama. All art is the extension of our longing to love and communicate with God … and everyone loves …