A biblical philosophy of the arts may take its departure from the scriptural understanding of the creative activity of God. In the biblical perspective, the Creation is the result of the initiative of God in bringing order out of chaos, “dividing” light from darkness, the land from the waters (Gen. 1:3–8). The Genesis account of Creation proceeds from the appearance of basic energy (“light”) to formless substance (“the waters”), to the separation of the heavens and earth, then to terra firma with its vegetation, followed by aquatic animal life, and ending with the appearance of land animals and, finally, humankind. The created universe is coherent and planned, exhibiting the design of its Maker: “the heavens declare the glory of God” (Ps. 9:1).
By producing new forms, new artifacts, new expressions that communicate truth in fresh ways, artists function as “creators,” in finite measure, to the glory of the infinite Creator. Essentially, the work of the artist is to bring about new patterns of significance by reshaping the gifts given by God in creation. This means, above all, producing images and patterns of order, beauty, and meaning. Many of the greatest works of art in the world—the Sistine Chapel, Dürer’s Praying Hands, Bach’s B-minor Mass, Dante’s Divine Comedy—do precisely this, and elevate those who contemplate them.
Human art, however, is subject to the condition in which the human race exists, and that entails creativity within the condition of fallenness. Consequently, to communicate truth in art may mean producing accurate images of our sin, our dysfunction, our brokenness. The literary art of the Bible does not compromise on this score; it portrays humans as they are, warts and all. Similarly, Scripture vividly portrays human doubt and human protest against evil in the world. Art, then, may serve a positive function even when it shows us what is wrong in the world, and by implication points to what is right. Because of its power, however, art can also be turned to purposes that foster and justify evil when it becomes pornography or the glorification of violence or propaganda.
The creative impulse, then, is one of the greatest natural gifts of God to humanity and has everything to do with being created in the image of God. His power can be turned to the greatest possible good when, as heirs of Adam, human beings name their world in order to offer it back up to God in praise and adoration.