By Daniel Adrian Leonard
Christian art possesses a certain intangible quality that sets it apart from other works, an additional touch that can only be attributed to the deep relationship of the artist with God. When the relationship is genuine, artists have the potential to create something that mirrors the Gospel and inspires faith. How can we understand this phenomenon? Can God speak through a work of art?
In the Old Testament, Bezalel is tasked with building the Ark of the Covenant. Exodus 31:1-4 reads, “The Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze.'” His artistic work was divinely commissioned and inspired.
Similarly, Jeremiah and Ezekiel are known for their poetic expressions. Their writing includes vivid imagery, metaphors, and symbolism. The story of how God chooses them to prophesy reveals, like Bezalel, that the Lord worked through them. Jeremiah 1:9 reads, “Then the Lord put out his hand and touched my mouth. And the Lord said to me, ‘Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.'” Likewise, Ezekiel 3:4 describes how God inspires Ezekiel’s poetic prophecies: “And he said to me, ‘Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them.’”
While few artists are present in the New Testament, there are instances where God speaks through chosen individuals to convey His messages to people. In these instances, the emphasis on the Holy Spirit is clear. In Matthew 10:19-20, Jesus instructs his disciples about the support they will receive from the Holy Spirit: “When they deliver you over, do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” The event of Pentecost is another example of when the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples, empowering them to speak to spread the message of the Gospel. Peter also posits in his second letter, 1:21: “For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
Evidently, the Holy Spirit is present when individuals become vessels through which God communicates with people. In addition, this form of relationship with God is established despite fear or lack of confidence; the power of the Holy Spirit is so strong that it overcomes these emotions and ensures faith in God’s grace. The artist, then, can hold courageous trust and complete receptivity towards God.
Throughout history, many artists have attributed divine inspiration to their Christian works. For instance, Bach frequently marked his compositions with the Latin phrase “Soli Deo Gloria” (Glory to God alone). After completing the “Hallelujah” chorus from Messiah, Handel reportedly told his servant, “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself seated on His throne.”
These examples show that these works are connected to a higher power during their creation. The Holy Spirit ultimately grounds all divinely inspired works in the message of the Gospel. The blessing of this message is not only affirmed in the artist as he creates, but the audience who experiences the artist’s work. Indeed, one of the ways we are spiritually uplifted and reminded of the Gospel is encountering art. Christian art thus serves to reinforce or ignite faith, an instrument to hear God’s voice.
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