Images And Idols: Creativity for the Christian Life (Reclaiming Creativity) - Hardcover

Christians ought to be leading the way in creativity, but we rarely do.

God is the Creator of all things, and He created us in His image. Creativity is woven into the very fabric of our humanity. Therefore, Christians should value and champion creativity as a vital part of our image-bearing role. Instead Christians often don’t know what to do with creatives and creatives don’t know what to do with Christianity. On one side you have Christians who neglect or discount art, imagination, and beauty altogether. On the other, you have artists who make idols out of each of these good things.

Ryan Lister, a theology professor, and Thomas Terry, a spoken word artist and founder of Humble Beast, team up to help restore the connection between creativity and theology. Images & Idols is a theological and artistic exploration of creativity in the Christian life. It will help creatives build a strong theological foundation for their art, while challenging the church to embrace a theology of beauty and creativity.

Many Christians are skeptical about what creativity might do to their faith. At the same time, a lot of creatives worry about what Christianity might do to their talents.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

God and creativity are not in opposition. Far from it. God is the creator of creativity. He made you creative. This is why your creativity needs theology and why your theology needs creativity. If we really want to know and practice creativity to its fullest, we should begin where creativity begins. We should begin with God.

When we do, we find that where many Christians have stayed silent, God still speaks. And where the world so often distorts, God gives clarity.

Now is the time to listen. Now is the time to see creativity from God’s perspective.

God is reclaiming creativity. For His glory. And for our good.