Welcome to a blog dedicated to Creative Arts in the Church!
Saturday, October 22, 2011 at 3:46PM It is my hope that you are inspired and challenged by the ideas presented in this weekly blog. First, let me introduce myself. I am Laura Payne, Music and Creative Arts Pastor at Goodlettsville Pentecostal Church in Goodlettsville, TN. Through this blog, I hope to give you an insight into the creative process as it is lived out in a local church setting. I also hope to give you a glimpse into the practical workings of a creative arts team as it lives out God’s purpose in the local church. I love my team here at GPC and I am continually inspired by their gifts.
The question has been posed: Why do we need to make room for the creative arts in the church? It makes me ask: Why fresh coats of paint? Why new power-riding lawn mowers instead of old push mowers? Why lights on dimmer switches instead of candles? Why cars instead of horse-and-buggy? Why calculators instead of abacuses? Why keyboards instead of grand pianos? Why CD instead of record players? Why tell a Bible story in a modern context? Why change? Why invent? Why create?
Because God created. God invented. God carefully strategized to make the world an interesting, artistic place. God didn’t just give us one shade of blue! He gave us the deep aqua of an ocean, the vibrant blue of a sky and the brilliant hue of a sapphire. He was creative with his words as well. Instead of dry lessons, Jesus presented intriguing parables to attract his listeners. God loves to express himself creatively. He was the first great inventor, who placed inside His beloved creation the drive to explore, investigate, research, build, write, compose and perform.
The gifts we “creative types” demonstrate are part of what it means to be “formed in His image!” Every time we purpose to be creative for HIM, God smiles in delight. It’s like a Dad who sees a part of himself in his little boy. When we find a creative way to share the gospel or teach a Biblical truth, we are expressing the nature of God.
That’s what our team is committed to do here at GPC. We don’t choose to be artistic or creative just to gratify ourselves. But we do it because we believe that God must be declared and magnified in our community.
Join our journey by reading this blog regularly, and see how GPC is living out the gospel in a creative way. Thanks for stopping by!
