One of the first and most influential works I have ever read regarding art and religion is a short little pamphlet titled Art & the Bible by Francis Schaeffer. I have personally struggled to maintain a right understanding of the role that creativity and design play in this world and how that role can bring glory to God. Francis Schaeffer’s work is most helpful and comforting. Here is a small taste of it:

“To worship art is wrong, but to make art is not.” (p 11)

“God is interested in beauty.” (p 15)

“Representational art of non-religious subjects was thus brought into the central place of worship.” (p 17)

“Therefore, the first reason that creativity has value is that God is the Creator.” (p 34)

“Not every creation is great art. Nor is all that man makes good either intellectually or morally. So, while creativity is a good thing in itself, it does not mean that everything that comes out of man’s creativity is good.” (p 34-35)

“By validity I mean whether an artist is honest to himself and to his world view or whether he makes his art only for money or for the sake of being accepted.” (p 42)

“Let me say firmly that there is no such thing as a godly style or an ungodly style.” (p 51)

“Man is fallen and flawed, but he is redeemable on the basis of Christ’s work. This is beautiful. This is optimism. And this optimism has a sufficient base.” (p 57)

“In God’s world the individual counts.” (p 60)

“The Christian is the really free man — he is the one free to have imagination. This too is our heritage. The Christian is the one whose imagination should fly beyond the stars.” (p 61)