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Hello! I’ve had some questions on my mind for a while & thought it would be a go one to discuss.
Can creativity become a god/idol?
If so, how can Christians fight back or prevent it?Hey Tenshi, that’s an interesting question. The simple answer is yes, anything and everything can become an idol. How does something become an idol? The answer to that is also quite simple. If an individual puts an activity above worshiping God as a Church (Sunday’s for most people) by performing that activity instead of attending Church. Also, if an individual puts so much time and effort into one activity that they spend much less time doing the things God would have them to do (reading the bible, praying, spending time with one’s spouse or children), then that activity is also becoming an idol. Thus, if one spends their Sunday morning (or whatever time your church has set aside to worship) creating things and filling their mind with that process instead of the bible, then creativity has become an idol. If one does an excessive amount of creativity activities to the detriment of say, reading their bible (or other responsibilities), than it has also become an idol.
To fight back against it, simply do not do the things listed above. Put God and church and family and responsibilities first, and don’t become too addicted to creativity to the point that you are ignoring or slacking in those God-given responsibilities.
Hi Tenshi (@tenshichispa)
Noah has raised some good points, but I would like to add that the creativity God has given to you is a precious gift and has a place within God’s plan.
It is not an either or thing. It’s not an:”If I serve God, do I have to give up my enjoyment of creativity?”
God wants things in perspective and in proper, priority.
Scripture says:
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. [James 1:17 KJV]
God doesn’t give us gifts of creativity to have us put them on the shelf and forget about them. He wants us to express them, in partnership with Him, to bring glory to Him, through the talents He has invested in us.
If, however, we make using our gifts a means of displacing Him in priority, then yes, they become idols in our lives because we have made them so.
Our gifts give us the greatest joy when they are illuminated by Him.
Scripture also says:
Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. [Psalm 37:4 NKJV]
As the Good and Perfect Father He is, God delights in the joy of His children.
Put God first in whatever you do, and He will bring everything else into the proper order.
Brian Stansell (aka O'Brian of the Surface World)
I was born in war.
Fighting from my first breath.@noah-cochran
Thank you for responding.I like that you focused on emphasizing simplicity. Sometimes, as people, we can get the temptation to overcomplicate things. Do you think creatives have an extra struggle to overcomplicate in doing actions that require a lot of thought, or does that not make a difference? If yes, how do you see this playing into the temptation to idolize creativity?
@obrian-of-the-surface-world
Thank you for your post.I think you’re right about not seeing this as either-or. It is a mindset we must be watchful for in our lives. But, as far as what is over the thrown of our hearts, only one can be God, the #1 priority. The key is, as you said, to use the gift God has blessed us with in partnership with Him.
On the topic of priority, I hear quite a bit that if writing (or any other endeavor) is critical to an individual, they should make it a priority. How can we balance making progress on our projects without creativity becoming the ultimate priority over God?
Hi Tenshi (@tenshichispa),
That is a good question:
On the topic of priority, I hear quite a bit that if writing (or any other endeavor) is critical to an individual, they should make it a priority. How can we balance making progress on our projects without creativity becoming the ultimate priority over God?
One thing I would say is that if “making progress” impedes your time of prayer, worship, and fellowship with the Lord, then it needs to be relegated back to a subordinate role. God says to set no other “gods” before Him, so His proper place should be given in your time, focus and energies. Since all of our gifts come from Him, we partner with Him in creativity. If we break that fellowship with Him in the process, it is like becoming disconnected from the “power source” and all of our creative efforts will fizzle out anyway. When you partner with the Lord in your creativity, the process becomes enlivened and a joy. Without Him, the process usually falls flat.
Read the Scripture with intention, asking the Lord to speak to you and through you as you study His Word. Ask Him to give you clarity in your writing, and to allow His timing to lead you, rather than judging “progress” by your own artificial benchmarks.
Be willing to listen to God’s guidance as your write, for the product of your joint creativity should serve to bring God glory rather than your own.Trust the Lord in the creative process and make serving His purposes for your creativity greater than your own desires.
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil. [Proverbs 3:5-7 NKJV]
God always has an outcome that far exceeds anything we could ever accomplish on our own. If the Lord directs you to sit down and write, be obedient to that. If the Lord directs you to take a break, there may be some aspect of the story He wants you to reconsider or pay attention to something in your present experience that may give you a fresh perspective and approach to what you’ve been writing. Allow God to give you those starts and stops, for the writing process is as much about drawing from within yourself and finding how God uses that exercise to grow and mature you through it.
If the process of creativity does not affect you profoundly, the chances are it will not affect others as you intend either. Allow God’s creative gift to open up unexplored areas in your own heart and gain epiphanies and insights as God leads you through. Yield to His pacing. Think of it as a dance and He is your lead. Follow His steps and movements. Don’t fight Him. Listen for the tempo He sets and enjoy the dance.
Brian Stansell (aka O'Brian of the Surface World)
I was born in war.
Fighting from my first breath.@tenshichispa Hello Tenshi! I think that’s a great question, and one every writer/artist should probably ask themselves at some point or the other. I think the most important thing to remember is who it brings glory to–ourselves or God? I believe God wants us to be creative and make things–He gave us that ability. But He also wants us to give the glory back to Him. Remember that while God absolutely condemned the making of idols, He was the One who actually gave the instructions for making the cherubim on top of the ark of the covenant, which obviously took great skill and craftmanship. Same with the building of the ark and the temple. He Himself is a great designer and artist, filling the world with great beauty that both inspires us and causes us to realize that we cannot even begin to measure up to the genius and creativity of an omniscient Creator.
So I think that writing/making things/artwork and creativity, in and of itself, is definitely not evil. But what we do with it, what our motives are, can be either good or evil. Remember that we’re supposed to do everything to the glory of God (I Cor. 10:31, Col. 3:17). I think some great questions to ask oneself would be, what message am I trying to convey through my writing? Does it display a truth that points back in some way to God? That doesn’t mean all stories should be cheesy, preachy, and squeaky clean either. Sometimes writers need to show the dark side of humanity, the fallen nature, as well as the grace and goodness of God in contrast to that. Some of the most powerful narratives in the Bible contain things that readers may at first cringe at –but it’s truth. The whole, sometimes gritty, yet revealing truth. And that truth is that, yes, human nature is fallen and at times depraved, but it is for that very reason why we need a Savior to redeem us. And that should be the whole goal of a Christian writer–to point, in some way, to the common thread that weaves throughout the Bible–how God had a plan to save sinful humanity, so that we could have communion with Him again, just like He had originally purposed for us.
With that in mind, to echo what Brian Stansell said, the ability to write is a great gift given to us by God. I don’t think we should be intimidated by it and “bury the talent,” but recognize that it is our responsibility as Christian writers to use it as an opportunity to reach people. And both Brian and Noah gave some great practical advice as well. As long as your heart is focused on pleasing God and following His will, everything you do will be permeated by that desire. Whether it is writing or something else, seek His kingdom first. Then pick up the tools He entrusted to you, and put them to use.
I hope this helped and encouraged you in some way! May God continue to guide you in your writing journey!
(P.S. So to boil all this down to a few sentences… Idolatry is basically worship of self. It does not seek to glorify God or be under His authority, but self. But the worship of God is a lifestyle of submitting everything to Him–actions, words, thoughts–everything. And through that surrender we can then give glory to God.)
@k-a-grey
Thank you for your thoughts.There are tons of people in the Bible who did creative works & projects God requested of His people that we can learn from (thank you for bringing this up, it is a good point to ponder).
Are there examples that go along with this discussion, you think?A painter once said of his impression on the stars: “Well, not bad, but there are decidedly too many of them, and they are not very well arranged. I would have done better.” As you said, idolatry is ultimately self-worship & pride. But, if we, limited individuals, had made & arranged the stars, would sailors & travelers be able to navigate? Would we tell seasons as they change? Would they transcend generations & cultures?
Not only is knowing what our theme essential, but for who is also. It will better help us remember why & let God lead us to them.
I liked the verse you used. I think not being wise in our own eyes (being humble & trusting God) is critical. If creativity is an idol, it is easy to become overly protective of our work, as we want our creativity our way rather than what’s best.
Sometimes it seems that people forget that writing is more than sitting at a desk & thinking. One must live life with its flows of planting, harvest, & rest. To live life with people (writers & nonwriters), responsibilities, & everyday experiences.
It’s easy to see creativity as a comfort, an escape from reality. But, is reality what we need to run from, or are the lies that warp our view? If our project is to reach others where they are, should we be running from what God wants to show us?And this was a good read for this topic:
Don’t Let Writing Stall Your Life: Your Words Matter, But Your Life Matters More
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