Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts

Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts, by Philip Graham Ryken is a solid resource, which aids in nurturing a deeper understanding of the arts and assists in cultivating a Biblical worldview and theology of the arts. Art for God's Sake is an unassuming, simple, and easy to read book about recovering the arts and restoring them to their right place in God's kingdom for God's kingdom purposes, and to God's own Glory. Ryken summarizes his work, "This is the Christian view of art: the artist is called and gifted by God-who loves all kinds of art; who maintains high aesthetic standards for goodness, truth, and beauty; and whose glory is art's highest goal." Ryken proposes that art has a redeeming purpose in God's plan and that art deals in the currency of reality and truth. This reality should include the hopeful aspects that the gospel narrative gives us. Ryken says, "Christian art is redemptive, and this is its highest purpose. Art is always an interpretation of reality, and the Christian should interpret reality in its total aspect, including the hope that has come into the world through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ." Philip Graham Ryken assesses the importance and the value of art in God's world saying, "At its best, art is able to satisfy our deep longing for beauty and communicate profound spiritual, intellectual, and emotional truth about the world that God has made for His glory." Not only is the aesthetical value of art highlighted here, but also the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and truth-value as well. The majority of the book, Art for God's Sake, looks at these themes and God's calling and equipping of the visual artists Bezalel and Oholiab in Exodus 31. From this passage and these two artists, Ryken uncovers four fundamental principles for a Christian theology of the arts. The four fundamental principles for a Christian theology of the arts are: 1. The artist's call and gift come from God. 2. God loves all kinds of art. 3. God maintains high standards of goodness, truth, and beauty. 4. Art is for the glory of God.

A short and yet quite thought-provoking read! I liked this especially as a primer to refine my own thinking on the arts and why I write.

Dr. Philip G. Ryken [...] offers a profoundly simple and highly practicle approach to an ever increasing need for good christian arts in cafe, stage, gallery, musuem, church, and/or home. In an ever changing world where lines all blur from art, medicine, science, new media, and technology dare we consider a view from the unchanging great "I AM" as central to our being and Art itself? The need and desire to create art has always existed in man regardless of age, faith, creed, or sex and regardless of utility/gestalt, sacred/profane, and/or symbolic/representational intent. This book traces the very steps back to the first and greatest Artist: God. And it recalls the account of the first divine calling for man to Create art, not for the sake of art but as the duty to G-d and his fellow man. Those who are chosen for lives dedicated to the Arts in all its forms will be kindly instructed and soundly inspired by the contents of "Art for God's Sake". This book offers a G-d's eye view of the arts and its significance to the artist, the culture, and G-d Himself. "Art for God's Sake" is a delightful and insightful read that will illuminate your mind like a jewel, making undim and vivid a brilliant new approach to the arts. Discover what really lies in the eye of the most high beholder. Will you answer the challenge/call to reclaim the arts and do all things in His name and for His Glory?

This book gave me a greater appreciation for art as a way to glorify God. We are called to create works of goodness, truth and beauty.

I am very concerned with our present culture's definitions of beauty since "repulsive" is fast becoming the new normal. This is one of the topics Philip Ryken addresses in his booklet, Art for God's Sake: A Call to Recover the Arts. It's a manifesto for artists of all types to do what they do for the glory of God, basically debunking the addage that art needs no reason for being, i.e, It's just "Art for art's sake." Not only is the book meant to encourage artists in their calling, it is also meant to give nonartists a short introduction to thinking Christianly about the arts. Some reviewers at Goodreads said it was too simplistic, but for someone like me (with no art background), the simplicity was a huge plus. My favorite quote: "The problem with some modern and postmodern art is that it seeks to offer truth at the expense of beauty. It tells the truth only about ugliness and alienation, leaving out the beauty of creation and redemption. A good deal of so-called Christian art tends to have the opposite problem. It tries to show beauty without admitting the truth about sin, and to that extent it is false - dishonest about the tragic implications of our depravity. Think of all the bright, sentimental landscapes that portray an ideal world unaffected by the Fall, or the light, cheery melodies that characterize the Christian life as one of undiminished happiness. Such a world may be nice to imagine, but it is not the world God sent his Son to save."

Book Review: Art for God's Sake Author: Philip Graham Ryken Format: Softback Topic: Art Theory Scope: A Christian Primer on Art Theory and Criticism Purpose: To encourage Christians to see art correctly and Christian Artists to make art that glorifies the creator. Structure: There are 6 chapters in the book and an introduction. They are all really short essays covering a topic about how God sees art and our responsibility. What it does well: *This is a great primer. Ryken does give the reader a desire to promote the arts. *Ryken really clings to promoting the arts "for God's sake". Every point he makes is pointing to this larger goal. *The overall feeling of the book is supremely hopeful. Ryken doesn't spend too much time chastising the Church for treating artists badly or being pessimistic about the current state of art today. Instead, he continually points out that artists glorify God and the Church can partner with God in using art to bring about the kingdom in a real and true way. What it lacks: *This book is really short. Don't expect a definitive statement that covers every possible scenario. *The author uses the term "calling" in a way I struggle with. He explains that God "calls" artists to be artists. I do not doubt that God has specifically asked some people to become artists, but it seems that our everyday experience is one more of gifting and glorifying God through choosing which gifts we will employ. Not a big deal, but I don't really see this idea of "calling" in the Bible in this way. Some quick highlights: "Art is always tempted to glory in itself, and nearly every form of art has been to communicate values that are contrary to Scripture. Art is as fallen as any other aspect of human existence."-12 "Art is an imaginative activity, and in the act of creating, we reflect the mind of our Maker."-24 "Artists also avoid idolizing the arts by resisting the temptation to isolation and instead living in the Christian community, where worship is given to God alone, where a God-centered orientation to life is the basis for daily discipleship, and where every earthly calling finds its true significance in relation to the higher calling of God."-49 "...making art is an expression of our love--love for God and love for our neighbor."50 Recommendation: This is a good book. I recommend it to anyone struggling to become an artist, and to churches (small groups, pastoral staff) to help learn how to encourage the artistic among us.

Quick with a powerful punch. If you are a called artist and are feeling the need to justify your calling, this is the perfect tool. But more importantly it reminds you that your calling is good, true, and beautiful and Biblically sound. Uplifting and inspirational. This book will live on my shelf for the rest of my career. Highly recommend!!

This short book is helpful for building a theological basis for understanding the value art from God's perspective. I did think the book was overly simple, and I wish there were more examples or illustrations for helping me understand the Christian standards of truth, beauty, and goodness. The book left me wanting to know more about the seemingly preference-based standard of beauty.

It's a must have! Easy read with great insight

Despite others crits I found it brief but very helpful.

Excellent little read.

Good book but failed to deal with real issues such as what is considered decent, pure etc re nudes in art. What is acceptable to hang in a church or church hall.