Art is of humanity, it is not of God. Not in a direct sense anyway. Neither is it for God. Humanity makes Art to communicate with itself, not really God. Just consider Art for a moment. Are you thinking? Let’s consider The David, by Michelangelo. Most certainly a masterpiece as the definition stands, however, not an act of worship.
David considering the skill we absolutely glory in what the artist has accomplished. The intricacy of the details of the hair, the sling over the shoulder, the toes captures astonishing reality. Each component is a feat of talent that we, as 21stcentury people would be hard pressed to carve, especially without electronic tools!
Even so, the artist’s thoughts were likely more connected to pleasing his master, Pope Julius, than exulting God. When in the presence of The David, I was not impressed with God; I was impressed with the artist, Michelangelo. His ability. His memory. His devotion. Yes, yes, I hear you arguing with me that surely Michelangelo’s gifts came from God, therefore the sculpture is an act of worship or something of or for God. Certainly the artist was imbued with talent from God, yet, is it really an act of worship?
Though Michelangelo is a kind of superhero in the Ninja Turtles, when he was here on earth he was merely a man and making stuff as a man, not as a god.
Upon seeing The David, indeed I marveled, however, I did not get on my knees or pray or sing to God’s magnificence. I considered what the leaders of the Renaissance were trying to say to us- us then and us now. Man is amazing! That is the tenet of that Age. Humanism. The rebirth of classicism is the re-celebration of the grandeur of humanity; its virtue, as with the Greeks and then the Romans created.
Humanity is God’s crowning achievement. Created in His image, therefore, we create. Contradictorily, the making itself does not move all of us to worship, not with intention. A key component of worship is intentionality. Do you see where I am going with this thought? Unless a work moves us to consider the greatness of God in turn, moving our hearts to glorify Him, it is not an act for God or of God. It is important to keep a foot in reality when thinking about Art. We do not want to over-spiritualize the act of making, mainly because it is a natural act not a supernatural one. Though Michelangelo is a kind of superhero in the Ninja Turtles, when he was here on earth he was merely a man and making stuff as a man, not as a god.
Mind over things that matter 