For centuries, God’s people led culture. The leading poets and philosophers, artists and architects, musicians and mathematicians were Christians. God’s people didn’t just influence culture; they created it.
But it’s not that way anymore.
Nowadays, it’s not uncommon to hear people say things like, “That was pretty good … for a church.” What they mean is that much of what passes for Christian art, music and thought would never make it in the “real world.” The level of excellence (or lack thereof) demonstrated by many churches simply wouldn’t cut it in the marketplace.
What’s even more shocking is that some Christians reserve their best efforts for their own pursuits while offering God the leftovers of their time, energy and creativity.
Understanding the story of Solomon’s building of the Temple can help us counter both of these problems. Look at the care that went into the construction of the Temple. They didn’t skimp or scrape or cut corners. They were elaborate and ornate. They didn’t settle for unremarkable utilitarian buildings, square bland boxes. They valued beauty and art and creativity, good fabric, real wood and craftsmanship.
Quite a contrast to the nondescript church buildings that dot our landscape, with tile floors, cinder block walls, fluorescent lights and metal folding chairs.
Do we value beauty? Aesthetics? Art and creativity?
Would we decorate our own homes the way we decorate our church buildings? Would we be satisfied if the same level of craftsmanship used on our church buildings was used in the houses we live in?
Solomon wasn’t. As magnificent as the Temple he built for God was, Solomon’s house was even better. It took nearly twice as long to build and was even more impressive.
It’s not that we shouldn’t have nice houses. But placing a high premium on beauty and art in our homes or places of business without applying it to our places of worship may reveal more about our misplaced priorities than we realise.
God values beauty; He personifies it. All beauty on earth points beyond itself to the ultimate source of beauty, God Himself. Value it. Prize it. Seek it and allow it to guide you to a finer appreciation of the Beautiful One who wants our best for Himself.
God of glory and grace, when I reflect on the beauty and diversity of Your created order, I marvel at Your genius, Your creativity, Your personal care, Your exquisite aesthetics, Your glory and order and excellence. May I aspire to excellence in all that I do, in each arena of my influence, so that others would encounter the fragrance of Your manifest presence and lordship. Nothing less than my utmost for Your high-ness will do. Give me the wisdom to expose myself to those things that build up and nourish the soul rather than those things that denigrate and diminish. Let me be careful and prayerful about what I see, read and do, so that I will not be corrupted by that which is beneath Your vision for my life. Teach me, my God and King, in all things Thee to see, and what I do in anything to do it as for Thee.
In Jesus's name, Amen
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