We need musicians who will craft new songs, not based on a cool musical hook, but on endless hours in prayer and the Word until they emerge with lyrics set to a melody that magnifies Jesus and melts our hearts.

We need writers who will start with a blank page or screen, then write draft after draft from the core of their God-breathed being until something emerges that is bigger than themselves.

We need painters, graphic designers, architects, dancers, sculptors, filmmakers and poets who will seize the spark of the creator within them to help us see the greatness and glory of God in ways we’ve never imagined before.

We need teachers, plumbers, farmers and accountants who see the art and beauty in their work as they do it unto the Lord.

We also need pastors who will be open to all the artists – including the artist inside themselves. The church needs brave men and women of God who will lead the church beyond business-as-usual.

We need to be daring. To try things that frighten us much as they excite us.

We need to be able to make massive mistakes, then say “that’s okay, we’ll do it better next time,” instead of being accused of heresy simply for trying and failing.

We don’t need to impose ministry into art projects. That always looks and feels as phony as it is. We need to find the art in ministry. In vocation. In everyday life.

Like Bezalel and Oholiab, who were anointed to “engage in all kinds of artistic craftsmanship” as they built the tabernacle (Ex 35:33), we need to put art, creativity, passion and beauty front-and-center in the church again.

Who Jesus Calls, He Inspires

The art of today won't look like the art of yesterday.

Jesus has never done the same thing twice.

The church has. Over and over. But Jesus doesn’t.

Jesus doesn’t call committees.

He calls artists and visionaries.

Holiness prophets and boundary-pushers.

Weeping hermits and life-of-the-party encouragers.

And, I'm hoping, maybe even a blogger or two.

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