tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866783683800111854.post8398046509372331145..comments2024-02-26T02:24:13.559-06:00Comments on anthemsweet: All fairest beautyanthemsweethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01419702110074033426noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866783683800111854.post-4344940697411523002014-10-13T16:53:50.550-05:002014-10-13T16:53:50.550-05:00First of all is love, which is 'the beauty of ...First of all is love, which is 'the beauty of holiness." Without love, both true doctrine and beautiful expression are nothing but "clanging gongs and clashing cymbals," and will ultimately do more harm than good, in a Christian setting. I really don't think beauty is secondary, though, but a necessary, completely integral part of telling the truth, of telling the story, of worship, of being who God intended, what God wills. In some strains of Christianity beauty and the arts are not valued--or are only valued as a tool, so the arts there are mediocre and lifeless and young artistic Christians are wounded by subtle lies and seek refuge elsewhere. I don't think knowing or even caring nothing about visual beauty disqualifies a person in any way--we are different and each of us bring our unique gifts and treasures. I do think something is very wrong in a church if some of its members have truly beautiful homes and artistic imaginations while the church remains forever ugly. I believe this is connected to a misunderstanding of creation, the incarnation and of grace. We could have a deep and nuanced article length (book length?) discussion about this--but I'm guessing agree more than we disagree about this when it comes right down to it.<br /><br />The title of this post is from a lesser known verse of the hymn Fairest Lord Jesus:" All fairest beauty, heavenly and earthly, wonderfully Jesus is found in thee." It can't be separated out, and each of us express different visions or aspects of that one beauty.anthemsweethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01419702110074033426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866783683800111854.post-75240435226088570802014-10-13T16:07:20.211-05:002014-10-13T16:07:20.211-05:00I pray that you will find your work fulfilling and...I pray that you will find your work fulfilling and rewarding as you try keep it all in perspective. Blessings to you, Linda.anthemsweethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01419702110074033426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866783683800111854.post-36631348929465576072014-10-13T16:05:06.128-05:002014-10-13T16:05:06.128-05:00Thank you, Janice, for your appreciation and for t...Thank you, Janice, for your appreciation and for the link.anthemsweethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01419702110074033426noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866783683800111854.post-7380180930999560672014-10-13T13:23:37.897-05:002014-10-13T13:23:37.897-05:00I have perhaps an opposite perspective, in that I ...I have perhaps an opposite perspective, in that I grew up in a church that had plenty of beauty and intentionality about symbol, but fractured over doctrinal and practice issues. I have come to believe that the sincere outworking of love for Jesus, and a thorough love for Scripture, are the foundation points in church, and that beauty is a tool but can't become an end in itself. I never heard the clear presentation of the gospel where I needed it most, in my church and home, and I have to think that the intellectual and artistic pursuits became a little too central in my background. That's not perhaps the whole story, but it's important to keep the two in tension. Presenting Jesus first and foremost, His word, and letting beauty be a second tool, not an end in itself. Some of the most sincere and forthright presenters of the gospel to me didn't know a lick about beauty, but they sure shone with Jesus' face, and that was beauty enough to draw me to HIM. The beauty of holiness perhaps.Margarethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09773188143799348188noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866783683800111854.post-42219709698509398012014-10-13T07:02:41.148-05:002014-10-13T07:02:41.148-05:00Since I work for a church, sometimes I get caught ...Since I work for a church, sometimes I get caught up in the work instead of the feelings of the people who attend. Your post gives me a good reminder about what it's all about, and beauty is a big part of that. Janice's painting is beautiful.Linda Hensleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11929626735450807904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5866783683800111854.post-55681843303172243192014-10-12T20:30:22.503-05:002014-10-12T20:30:22.503-05:00Melissa, I appreciated your thoughts on Beauty and...Melissa, I appreciated your thoughts on Beauty and the Church. I have also linked you in my latest blog post. http://janiceskivington.blogspot.com/2014/10/fairest-beauty.html<br />Thank you for writing this and thank you for making such a touching statement about being a visually perceptive person of Faith.janice skivingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07907400457045945037noreply@blogger.com