Creativity (Essentials Blue)

“For: The Institute Of Contemporary And Emerging Worship Studies, St. Stephen’s University, Essentials Blue Online Worship Theology Course with Dan Wilt”

The Institute
SSU - http://www.ssu.ca
Dan Wilt
Essentials Blue

Over the last week of the essentials course, I have been thinking about the role of creativity in human beings - what it means, what it reveals, and how good it is.

For the last few years of my life, I have been very involved in various, more "direct" forms of ministry. I have led worship, I have prayed for people, I have gone on outreach et al. These things have overshadowed my more recreational involvement in music and the arts, specifically in terms of importance. When I have considered whether it was more valuable or meaningful to preach the gospel to a street person, or to play my guitar at home, the latter always felt like an embarrassing shortcoming.

This kind of thinking did a great deal of harm to my own personality as well as to some very dear friendships. I suppose I couldn't find a place where creativity was as celebrated, as important even, as doing the more deliberate of spiritual activities. I didn't see creativity as a spiritual activity per se.

In the last week, I have realized (once again) that creativity is a deep, profound part of who God is. As an individual in His image, creativity is a deep, profound part of who I am as well. And when I have stifled or belittled creativity in myself (in whatever form it emerges) or in others, I am actually stepping away from who God has made us to be.

I would also like to add (since this is my blog after all!) that I think modern Christianity has often done a dis-service to creativity in individuals. We often don't have room for creativity qua creativity. Creativity is celebrated when it has an explicit, direct "spiritual" purpose - if someone writes a passion play or if someone paints a picture of Jesus on the cross. What we have failed to recognize is that the very enterprise of creativity is itself something to be celebrated, something important, something godly. In creating, we reflect something of the nature (and perhaps even vocation) of God. We can also reflect creation back to God.

Now, I believe that creativity is not meant to be in opposition to more "direct" ministry. These two things are two pillars of the same temple, so to speak. God would not, for example, rather have me preach the gospel than create. He would probably rather have me to do both.