CONTENTS:
-----------
1. INTRO / 2. ARTICLES
/ 3. BOOKS / 4. CONFERENCES
5. ORGANIZATIONS / 6. SCHOOLS
/ 7. SEMINARS
8. VIDEOS / 9. WORKSHOPS
/ 10. TRANSFORMATIONS information
CONTENTS
------------
DISCIPLING
THE NATIONS: Music & the Arts Fitting into the Big Picture
INTRO:
------------
It is likely that you have heard people talking about "reclaming
the arts" or "discipling the nations", or "redeeming cultures",
etc., but perhaps you're not sure what they mean by that.
Perhaps various ones have various interpretations of what these
phrases mean, but our understanding of these phrases/worldviews
is taken from various passages in Scripture, such as from the
following:
One of them, of course, is --
Then Jesus came and said unto them, "All authority in heaven and
on earth has been given to me . THEREFORE, Go and **MAKE DISCIPLES**
OF ALL NATIONS, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them TO OBEY EVERYTHING
I HAVE COMMANDED YOU..." (for example, how to interact in the
business world, how to raise your family, how to be a godly musician
or artist in the marketplace, etc.)..." (Matthew 28:18-20)
Another is Isaiah 61:4, but here it is in it's context: Isaiah
61:1-4, etc.)..."The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because
the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has
sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for
the captives and release for the prisoners, to proclaim the year
of the Lord's favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort
all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow
on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness
instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit
of despair. THEY will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting
of the LORD, for the display of HIS splendor. THEY WILL REBUILD
THE ANCIENT RUINS AND RESTORE THE PLACES LONG DEVASTATED FOR GENERATIONS..."
Along with this goes the theme of rebuilding in the book of Nehemiah,
etc. (see article on Nehemiah)
There is much in Scripture about REBUILDING and God's desire to
rebuild us as people and nations AS WE RETURN TO THE LORD. 2 Chronicles
7:14...IF...My people, who are called by My Name, will HUMBLE
THEMSELVES, and PRAY, and SEEK MY FACE, and TURN FROM THEIR WICKED
WAYS, ****THEN**** will I turn from heaven and will forgive their
sins and HEAL THEIR LAND."
As we look about us, even our formerly so-called "Christian nations"
are becoming far more 'discipled by the world' than they have
been 'discipled' by disciples of Jesus, aren't they?
Even though there are many churches and ministries and missions,
especially in N. America and Europe, etc., we have seen rapid
DECLINE in evidence of true disciples of Jesus, rather than an
increase as one would expect if we have been faithful to what
we've been called to.
So what has happened? Where have we gone awry?
Well, let's begin by looking at what it means to 'disciple a nation'.
What does it mean? and is it possible or even biblical for us
as disciples of Jesus to not only anticipate this possibility
but to trust God for it in faith and begin to allow Him to reshape
our worldview to include the much larger perspective of 'discipling
the nations' instead of trusting only for a much smaller goal
of hoping for only a few people or groups of people coming into
His family?
Growing numbers of believers around the world are becoming inspired
and encouraged by what they've seen in George Otis Jr.'s/Sentinel
Group's TRANSFORMATIONS
video, and this, unified prayer for the cities among disciples
of Jesus in that city, is a crucial foundation to seeing our nations
reclaimed, rebuilt, redeemed or restored, etc.
Along with this is the need for repentance of the believers in
these cities and nations...we have generally not walked/lived
as Jesus lived and calls us to live, or we would see quite a different
picture in our cities and nations than we see, and so we need
to repent of the areas that the Holy Spirit brings to mind.
One major aspect which we as western nations need to seriously
consider is how we have generally separated our Christian lives
from the rest of our lives when what we've been called to is a
life of discipleship which has been integrated into every area
of our lives -- how we spend our time, how we raise our families,
how we socialize, the way we run our businesses, the way we raise
our families, the way we spend our money, the things we strive
for, etc. One of the reasons the Islamic faith has been as successful
as it is is because of the fact that their faith is lived out
and practiced in every area of life (by orthodox Muslims). This
is how Christianity is intended to be lived out, but we have often
relegated it to only a certain aspect of our lives. God wants
to be LORD of our whole lives.
In order for western nations to be rebuilt and in order to see
God heal our land, in addition to prayer and unity in the Body,
do we not also need to repent of this separation and allow God
to integrate His life and principles, power and love, His purposes
and His desire for our whole-hearted worship into every area of
our lives?
In order for us to be a true disciple, does not the life of Jesus
need to become evident in every aspect of our lives? and in order
for our nation to be healed, do we as disciples of Jesus not need
to live out His life as individuals, churches and ministries in
every aspect of society? An excellent article to help understand
how the various sectors of society need to be affected is DISCIPLING
THE NATIONS: Seven Influential Sectors of Society Hold the Keys.
(this link seems to be having trouble so if you'd like the article
and can't link to it, contact: gcwac@hotmail.com and we will email
it to you)
Can you imagine what your life would begin to look like, and what
your church would begin to look like, what your neighbourhood
and city would begin to look like if you/we as believers took
seriously Jesus COMMAND to DISCIPLE THE NATIONS? Can you imagine
how passionate we as His disciples would become if our hearts
began to grasp the thrill of being cooperators with Him in His
purposes for this planet which has no hope apart from Jesus and
apart from His disciples living out His commands with the power
of His love to transform and disciple the nations?
More specifically, can you imagine what the realm of music & the
arts and media could develop into in your city/nation if musicians
and disciples that are true disciples of Jesus would live out
their lives and gifts in the marketplace and in the church?
Jesus' desire is to see us DESTROY THE WORKS OF THE DEVIL and
to set the nations free to love and worship Him whole-heartedly.
Seeing this as our mandate, as well, in living out lives where
our vision is to disciple the nations is something worth getting
passionate about! Being true disciples of Jesus in every area
of life is something many believers around the world are passionate
enough about that they're willing to die for this!
Although we live in the now and the not yet, when Jesus Presence
and miracles are here, but where we have not yet experienced the
full extent of His power and love on the peoples of this planet,
we as believers are being called into these directions and we
need to begin to take steps of faith and obedience that way.
Does it seem impossible? It is!...except for the fact that if
God has called us to this, then we must be about His business
and we must trust Him to be able to lead us by His Spirit so that
He can do the impossible through us.
So in the area of music, the arts and the media, we as Jesus'
disciples that He has graced with these gifts, must live godly,
biblically established lives where we develop and use the gifts
He's given us in a way that God intended. And rather than getting
discouraged about how the arts and the media are being taken by
the world, let us as musicical and artistic disciples of Jesus
be involved in the marketplace with our gifts and begin to reclaim
these aspects of society for Christ.
Our part is vital to nations being discipled.
We believe God is calling us to radical transformation in our
own lives as increasingly passionate worshippers of Jesus Christ
who will live out our God-given roles as artists and musicians,
where we take back the land the enemy has stolen and reclaim the
arts for the Kingdom of God and for whole-hearted worship of Him.
Satan and man have robbed God of much glory. Let us cooperate
with what the Holy Spirit is doing in these days by allowing Him
to transform us into passionate, biblically established, whole-hearted
worshippers/disciples of Jesus Christ who take seriously the mandate
He gave us to "disciple the nations".
How does one begin to go in these directions?
Here are some helpful resources to help you to begin on this journey.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Arts: A Biblical Framework - Colin Harbinson
The Artist: A Spiritual Foundation - Colin Harbinson
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is a set of 8 cassette tapes. The second set includes 4 tapes
& a booklet with full color diagrams that follow the tape series.
This set sells for $50.00 US plus $4.00 S&H within the US. Outside
the US the S&H varies depending on the weight. Colin¡¦s 30+ years
in using the arts in ministry and his natural teaching gifts have
enabled him to create extraordinary resources for the Body of
Christ, especially but not exclusively for those interested &
called to performance ministry. To order or request further info:
Adama48@aol.com, P.O.Box 81, Peninsula, Ohio 44264-0081 USA. Make
the checks out to Colin Harbinson Tape Ministry, if you will please.
Some Topics Included:
The Artist and Ego
Creation, Commission and Caution
The Reconciliation of All Things
The World, the Kingdom and the Arts
Creative Communication
The Artist and Spiritual Warfare
=========================================
The Arts & Cultural Restoration - Colin Harbinson
=========================================
This is a set of 4 cassette tapes & includes a booklet with full
color diagrams that follow the tape series. It deals with the
redemption & restoration of our cultures for the Lord. This set
sells for $50.00 US plus $4.00 S&H within the US. Outside the
US the S&H varies depending on the weight. Colin¡¦s 30+ years
in using the arts in ministry and his natural teaching gifts have
enabled him to create extraordinary resources for the Body of
Christ, especially but not exclusively for those interested &
called to performance ministry. To order or request further info:
Adama48@aol.com, P.O.Box 81, Peninsula, Ohio 44264-0081 USA. Make
the checks out to Colin Harbinson Tape Ministry, if you will please.
Some excerpts from the excellent booklet included with the tapes:
God¡¦s Original Intention:
"God, the 'Original Artist', created the Cosmos. It had order,
design, intelligence and purpose. Into His world, God placed man
and woman created in His image. They had the ability to think,
feel, and be creative. God delighted in His 'artistry'¦ and had
a special love relationship with these two made in His likeness.
He spoke of His original intention when He blessed them and said,
"Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth, and subdue it and
rule over the fish of the sea - Gen 1:28)
It was through this mandate that culture was formed and mankind
became stewards of it.
God's Original Intention Distorted:
God intended for human beings, in relationship with their Creator
and living in obedience to His Word, to develop cultural expressions
that would reflect truth and beauty, while exercising His loving
rulership in the earth. Instead, rebellion, sell will and idolatry
marked human response to the Creator and, as a result, cultural
expressions began to reflect the distortions of those who shaped
them. Idolatry is an exchange (Rom 1:23,25) - Idolatry takes place
when truth is exchanged for a lie. God's original intention is
distorted when lies inform our personal lives and our cultural
expressions.
Culture:
Culture is man's footprint on God's Creation.
At the centre of culture is its world view. The fact that all
cultural expressions grow out of the religious belief system of
a people group, has lead one write to comment that CULTURE IS
RELIGION MADE VISIBLE. All cultures reflect something of God's
original intention, despite sinful distortions. This is the result
of God's grace and sovereignty and the fact that fallen human
beings still reflect aspects of the image of God in which they
were created.
Spiritual Dynamics:
"Spiritual dynamics" are identifiable in every culture,
though in differing proportions
* Natural: Natural aspects of culture reflect the unique amoral
creative expressions of diverse people made in the image of God
* Redemptive: Redemptiveaspects of culture are present whenever
here is understanding or demonstration of biblical truth, whether
people realize it or not
* Demonic: Demonicexpressions of culture are those which have
been affected by direct interaction with evil spirits or the result
of such involvement
* Distorted: Distortedcultural expressions no longer reflect God's
original intention for His Creation
Cultural Restoration:
Cultural redemption involves a process of celebration, affirmation,
opposition and restoration. These responses are the means by which
individuals and nations can be brought back into harmony with
God's intention for them.
* Celebrate the Natural
* Affirm the Redemptive
* Oppose the Demonic
* Restore the Distorted
The Arts and Cultural Restoration:
* Art can Celebrate - Art is a universal and joyful way to celebrate
natural expressions of our God-sanctioned cultural uniqueness.
Art celebrates!
* Art can Reinforce - art can reinforce cultural identity by communicating
the spirit and traditions of a people. The arts are, therefore,
able to affirm the redemptive values and stories of a culture
in an incarnational way.
* Art can Challenge - Because of its prophetic nature, art can
also challenge the meaning, purpose, and values of a culture.
Art can be spiritual warfare. The arts oppose demonic expressions
by exposing their nature and influence.
* Art is an Exchange - Ideas shape our values. Our values inform
our behaviour. Unless distorted ideas and values change, there
can be no genuine restoration in an individual or culture. Works
of art provide a 'meeting place'for artist and audience to 'dialogue'.
Ideas can be exchanged through the power of the imagination. This
exchange of ideas opens the possibility for new understanding
and revelation to be received. Art, informed by a biblical world
view, can shed light on every area of human thought and experience.
The Nature of Art:
Because culture is never static, the role of the artist is not
only to reinvest old myths and symbols with new meaning, but to
create new symbols that will have redemptive intent and meaning
for a culture.
* Art involves the imagination
* Art enables revelation
* Art is prophetic
* Art contains meaning
* Art
offers an experience by engaging the emotions as well as the intellect.
It can, therefore, bypass our consciously held value system.
* Art deals with universal truths
God¡¦s Original Intention Restored:
God's rule and reign will come in all of it's fullness when Christ
returns, yet Jesus declared that the Kingdom had already come.
God has begun the process of restoring all aspects of His fallen
Creation. God is bringing ALL THINGS into harmony with His original
purpose (Col.1:20). He called us to the same ministry when He
gave us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18). Our message
to individuals, spheres of work, and to societal structures is
BE RECONCILED TO GOD! (2 Cor. 5:20) be brought back into harmony
with His original intention.
The Gospel of the Kingdom transcends culture. But, its transforming
power and purpose must be worked out within each unique cultural
framework. God's restoration plan includes the 'healing of the
nations'¨
------
Colin Harbinson is the Founder and President of International
Festival of the Arts and also serves as the International Dean
of the College of the Arts, University of the Nations, and is
the President of Lamp Arts and Media Productions. He is a sought
after conference and seminar speaker and lives in Paris, ONT,
Canada with his wife. To contact Colin: http://www.colinharbinson.com
CONTENTS
----------------------
ARTICLES:
------------------
Christians,
Come Forth!! - Reclaiming the Arts for Christ
A Discipled Nation
Plan
CULTURE
and the BIBLE - Jerry Solomon
Drumming,
Dancing, Chanting and Other Christian Things: Getting Beyond the
Fear of Syncretism to Face the Challenge of Sanctification
Redeeming Cultures
¡V Turns Barriers to Gospel to Bridges - Sosene Le¡¦au
FORGETTING TO REMEMBER: RESTORING 'REMEMBRANCES'
- The Biblical Strength of Spiritual Landmarks
God
is An Artist - Marlene Dickson
THE
HANDY GUIDE TO CHOOSING SONG GENRES
FOR INDIGENOUS HYMNODY - Paul Neeley
More
articles about how music has been reclaimed for God's glory in
various cultures
Identification
in the Intercultural Communication of the Gospel
Is
Music Morally Neutral?
Is Any Music Style Appropriate For Worship? -
Dr. Barry Liesch
Not
A White Man's Religion: What Native Practices are Beyond Redemption?
What
is Christian in Music?
#####################################################
GOD's
ANOINTED ARTISTS AND CRAFTSMEN: A Prophetic Word Regarding the
Redemption of Artists
#####################################################
Contents: The Anointed Team-Work
That Builds the End-Time Temple or House of God / The Tabernacle
Was a Pattern of the True / The Tabernacle Prefigured the Simplicity
Found in the Lordship of Jesus Christ our Messiah / One Lord,
One Faith, One Baptism / Jesus Christ is God's Tabernacle, Temple
& Pattern for the End Time Church of God / One Master Builder,
One Sure Foundation - But Many Artists and Craftsmen: God Calls
And Anoints Artists Or Craftsmen To Carry Out His Work - God Knows
Each Artist By Name - God knows of your family and your whole
life - He knows where you came from - God Is Well Aware of Your
Skills Or Qualifications, for God Is the "Father of Lights
and every good and perfect gift is from Him, in whom there is
no variableness nor shadow of turning." ( James 1:17) - We
should glorify God with our gifts - The secularized use of gifts
and talents originated with the family of Cain, after he apostacized,
or fled from the presence of God - God wants to redeem the arts
to their proper place as tools of evangelism, or to abilities
which He can anoint in the building of His house - God Called
And Anointed A Fiber-Artist Named Aholiab - God Called and Anointed
Many Other Skilled Workers - Make Christ-likeness Your Primary
Goal - There are artists who are multi-talented, and have a certain
expertise in a variety of mediums. But some specialize in a particular
field like Aholiab - The Lord Jesus Christ knows the joys and
the frustrations you feel as an artist or crafts-person / The
Bible Illustrates How God Involves Himself in Ones Career / God
Gives Artistic As Well As Spiritual Giftings / No matter what
artistic ability we may possess, our dependence must be upon God
and not merely upon our natural ability, our training, or our
performance.
+ + +
Following are some good
points in this regard from Terry Baldridge¡¦s article: Indigenous
Hymnody on the Mission Field: Worship in the Language of the People
'¡KThere are some general guidelines, however, which can be followed
(Hunt 1987, 121-121).
1. Everything good in a culture should be retained.
2. Everything obviously and inherently evil should be discarded.
3. One may trust the Holy Spirit in the gray areas, especially
as He guides a new believer if that believer is being carefully
discipled.
4. Missionaries should carefully and prayerfully evaluate how
much of their message and how many of their standards are biblical
and universal and which are conditioned by their own cultural
background.
5. The missionary should regard the tools of culture as an important
means of communication, second only to language¡K'
---------
Excellent article! - DISCIPLING
THE NATIONS: Seven Influential Sectors of Society Hold the Keys
(this link seems to be having trouble so if you'd like the article
and can't link to it, contact: gcwac@hotmail.com and we will email
it to you)
Some helpful insights into redeeming the arts - Redeeming
the Arts - Colin Harbinson
Redeeming
the Arts - Colin Harbinson
Restoring
the Arts - Colin Harbinson
The
Arts and Spiritual Warfare - Colin Harbinson
THE
ARTIST AS PROPHET -
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contents: God's Voice in the
Arts is the "Revealing" of the Word of God in Visual
Form / I Do Those Things I See My Father Do / Symbolism in Art
/ Cultivating the Hearing Ear / The Prayer Life of the Prophet
/ We Wrestle Not Against Flesh and Blood / Vessels of Honour Fit
for the Master's Use / The Hearing Ear / If the Trumpet Give an
Uncertain Sound / The Prophetic or Elijah Task in the Arts Today
/ The Mystery of Godliness Vs. the Mystery of Iniquity / The Cry
to Get Back to the Garden / Reclaiming the Arts
+ + +
Excellent look at biblical mandate for discipling the nations
- Discipling the Nations
¡V OT Template ¡V Landa Cope
Another article which you might find helpful and interesting,
which is written by Charity
Dell...
CONTENTS
BOOKS:
------------
CALLED
TO HONOR HIM: How Men & Women are Redeeming Cultures
Books on Reclaiming the Arts, etc.
CITY REACHING
on the Road to Community Transformation -- Jack Dennison
Transforming
the City – online book
HEAL THE LAND Handbook
- by Inuit Ministry International (34 pgs.)
----------------------------------------
Very helpful in beginning to consider the need to deal with land
and First Nations issues. "If my people with humble themselves,
and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, THEN
I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and HEAL THEIR
LAND.¨ (Chron.) To order contact: IMI, PO Box 81270, Fairbanks,
AK 99708 908-455-6342
Email: imi1@juno.com Fax: 907-479-3613
BEYOND RAVEN'S VEIL: Spiritual Mapping Canada's
West Coast
------------------------------------
- by Darryl Jones - dpjones@island.net
Gives some very helpful insight into the foundations of N. American
nations and the need to deal with these issues through prayer
and spiritual warfare as a crucial and priority aspect of seeing
our nation transformed. First Nations spirits and practices impacting
our nations are looked at as a major aspect of this.
To order this 132 page book, for further information
contact: Darryl Jones, PO Box 66, Tlell, BC V0T 1Y0 Canada
CONTENTS
CONFERENCES:
-------------------------
God
Reclaiming the Arts Gathering/Conference
November 9 - 10, 2001
Woodlands
22 Woodlawn Road
Dorchester, NB
Canada
----------------
Many Nations,
One Voice Celebrations
CONTENTS
ORGANIZATIONS:
---------------------------
Island Breeze
¡V New Zealand
Island Breeze
Wiconi International
CONTENTS
SCHOOLS:
---------------
Principles
of Redeeming Cultures School
PRINCIPLES OF REDEEMING CULTURES SCHOOL, New Zealand (PRCS)
Visiting us from South Africa, Hawaii, Tonga, Samoa, New Zealand,
the Philippines, Canada, Australia, Niue, and USA were staff and
students for the PRCS. Held right here in Tauranga from September
through to December 1999, we watched as God presenced Himself
daily in our midst and brought forth freedom and revelation to
each of us. Each staff and student that was apart of the school
has now returned to their respective locations where they are
now sharing with others, and applying in their own ministries,
the things that God taught them during the 3 months of the school.
Island Breeze International is currently running a PRCS in Hawaii
where two of our team members, Vania Hotereni and Brent Eru, are
serving for the next 3 months.
For further information on this school, please contact Island
Breeze International at:
Registrar - PRCS Intl. ibreezeintl@compuserve.com
CONTENTS
SEMINARS:
--------------------
Culture, Christ
and Kingdom Seminars
CONTENTS
VIDEOS:
---------------
Watchman for the Nations (more info to come)
Indigenous World Christian Gathering (more info to come)
CONTENTS
TRANSFORMATIONS Information:
------------------------------
TRANSFORMATIONS
What Kinds of Things Can Happen When God Comes to Town??
Watch TRANSFORMATIONS to find out!
As churches begin to pray together in unity, God is able to do
FAR MORE than we have asked or imagined! We want to see our cities
and nations discipled? TRANSFORMATION provides some powerful examples
of what God is doing in cities around the world in these days!
¡§¡KFrom a hillside metropolis run by Colombian drug lords to
a rural village in Kenya, and even metropolitan Southern California,
whole communities are being transformed because of united prayer.
Imagine a community where the city jails had to be closed due
to drastic declines in crime, where agricultural productivity
has reached biblical proportions, where bars were turned into
churches. Journey with host George Otis Jr. to transformed communities
on three continents. Learn how prayer might lead to similar results
in your own neighborhood; one hour..¡¨ (4 city examples of what
God is doing).
ORDERING INFO:
Transformations video is $29.95? in Canada
250-652-4275 or e-mail them at: sentinel-canada@home.com
1-800-668-5657
The Sentinel Group, P.O. Box 6334, Lynnwood, WA 98036, (425) 672-2989
Fax: (425) 672-3028, Orders: (877) 672-2989, E-mail: SentinelGp@aol.com
Website: www.SentinelGroup.org
OR from:
http://www.ywam.org/books/vid_transf.html
„h by Email: wcnnews2@aol.com
„h call tollfree within the USA: 1 (888) WCN-NEWS (926-6397)
„h call from outside the USA: 1 (719) 380-0507
„h Fax: 1 (719) 380-0936
„h By mail: WorldChristian News, PO Box 26479, Colorado Springs,
CO 80936 USA:
Some additional related resources:
----------------------------------
City Reaching Quiz
What
is Prayer Evangelism?
Light
the Nation 2 hr video re being a lighthouse
CONTENTS
===========
WORKSHOPS:
SCRIPTURE SONGWRITING WORKSHOP for
Local Ethnic Christian Musicians & Poets
CONTENTS
================================
FORGETTING TO REMEMBER:
RESTORING ‘REMEMBRANCES’ - The Biblical Strength of Spiritual
Landmarks
=================================================
- Grace Wiebe, Sept 2001
“SET UP ROAD SIGNS; PUT UP GUIDEPOSTS. TAKE NOTE OF THE HIGHWAY,
the ROAD THAT YOU TAKE...how long will you wander?…” Jer. 31:21,22
+ + +
We greatly rejoice that in the midst of the increasing darkness
in the earth, it is also a day when God is in the business of
RESTORING the lost things that have been stolen from the Church
and a day when He is increasingly bringing in the Harvest at an
unprecedented rate as He prepares to usher in His Kingdom in its
completeness! We are seeing this on many fronts, especially as
God is stirring in the Church His heart to see the nations discipled!
There are, of course, many aspects to this, and God wants to reclaim
everything for His glory and bring it under His headship, as is
stated in many places in Scripture – for example: Eph. 1:9, 10
“And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to
His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, to be put into
effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment – TO
BRING - ALL THINGS – on heaven and on earth together under one
Head, even Christ.”
Over the past number of years, the theme of this article, that
of seeing the restoration of spiritual ‘remembrances’ or ‘spiritual
landmarks’ has been growing significantly in my heart and I have
been becoming increasingly excited about what God seems to be
doing in this regard in these days, especially as I see how vital
it is to the on-going growth and strengthening of the Church in
a time of increasing persecution and darkness! The Church is in
huge need of encouragement, faith and hope in these days as Satan’s
attacks on the Church increase and where there is no end to pain
and discouragement, fear, wavering faith and a sense of hopelessness.
In Luke 18:8 we read, “...when the Son of Man comes, WILL HE FIND
FAITH ON THE EARTH?”
This question has haunted me over the past decade and I’ve been
asking God to reveal to the Church ways in which we can encourage
and stir up faith in our hearts so that He will indeed find the
faith He is looking for. I believe that the vital commands of
‘remembrances’, erecting spiritual landmarks, ‘witnesses’, etc.,
which proclaim and declare His glory, are one vital way to do
this. Spiritual landmarks/remembrances can represent an event,
an answer to prayer, a particular revelation of God’s character,
etc.
In Isaiah 61:3, 4, we read that the oaks of righteousness will
display God’s splendor, and we read that they will REBUILD THE
ANCIENT RUINS and RESTORE THE PLACES LONG DEVASTATED; they will
RENEW THE RUINED CITIES that have been devastated for generations.”
Again, although there are many ways in which God is setting about
restoring these wastelands through His oaks of righteousness,
I believe that the practice of setting up spiritual landmarks
is one of the vital practices that He is wanting to restore in
these days...for the display of His glory and for our strengthening.
It is a major way that our art can be used in worship to God,
and draw others into worship of God.
Though it may initially not seem very significant to us, because
it seems to have become a lost art in the western Church especially,
I believe the significance of what God is wanting to restore in
this aspect of the life of the Church is going to have dramatic
effects on the Church
I have been recently impacted again by the book of Joshua and
how God gave the Israelites the principles of spiritual warfare,
one of which is the setting up of spiritual landmarks. Another
principle was that although God had promised them the land, and
faithfully gave it to them as they obeyed and trusted in Him as
they moved forward one step at a time, God gave them specific
instructions on how to take each city in order to see it reclaimed.
In our process of reclaiming music and the arts as part of seeing
the nations discipled, I believe God is in the process of giving
us specific strategies and instructions on how to see the many
parts restored, and I believe that the setting up of spiritual
‘remembrances’ is going to increasingly play a vital role in the
reclamation process. It should be a natural outflow of the life
of a disciple and community of believers, and I believe it will
become that, but it has become, as it was so often in Israelite
history, a largely forgotten thing.
The biblical results of what happened when the people FORGOT to
REMEMBER was horrific, and we as the Church are experiencing horrifying
consequences, as well, in our tendency to FORGET to REMEMBER the
works and character of God through the ‘remembrances’ and spiritual
landmarks that I believe He is calling us to see restored in our
day.
Throughout Scripture, and especially in the Psalms, we are commanded
by God to:
Proclaim
Remember
Do Not Forget
Set Up as A Witness
Encourage Each Other
Bring an Offering of Worship
Declare
Meditate
Definitions – (Webster’s Dictionary)
* Mark – a visible sign by which anything is known; notify by,
or as by a sign; take notice of; impression
* Symbol – an emblem or sign representing something else; mark
or character used as an abbreviation; summary of faith or doctrine;
* Witness – attestation of a fact or event; testimony; evidence;
one who sees or has personal knowledge of anything
* Altar – a place of worship
* Proclaim – announce officially; publish
* Remember – to recall to mind; attend to; keep in mind with gratitude,
regard or reverence; to exercise the power or memory
* Declare – to make known; tell openly or publicly; proclaim formally;
publish; make a solemn affirmation before witnesses
* Worship – act of paying divine honor to God; a feeling of respect
or reverence for power, position, merit or virtue; dignity, worth,
devotion, etc.
* Meditation – to muse or ponder; think abstractly; to think upon;
design; purpose
* Sign – a mark, token or symbol; that by which anything is known
or represented; visible representation; memorial; to represent
with a sign; convey formally; to make a sign or signal
* Memorial – commemorative; preservative of, or contained in,
the memory;
1) PROCLAIM
---------------------------
“Sing to the Lord, all the earth; PROCLAIM His salvation DAY AFTER
DAY. DECLARE His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds
among all peoples. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise:
He is to be feared above all gods...ASCRIBE TO THE LORD, O families
of nations, ASCRIBE TO THE LORD glory and strength. Ascribe to
the Lord the glory due His name. Bring an offering and come before
Him; WORSHIP the Lord in the splendor of His holiness...”
“Sing praises to the Lord, enthroned in Zion; PROCLAIM among the
nations what He has done.” Psalm 9:11
In Romans 9:17 it says that we have been raised up as displays
of God’s power in us and to PROCLAIM His Name in all the earth.
Many times when I have read this I have wondered how God wanted
me and the rest of the Body, to do this...I have known that preachers,
evangelists, Christian radio and TV, articles and books, stories
and poetry written by believers can and have done this. These
ways, and now the internet, etc. are ways of proclaiming; I have
also known that each of us is to live the lifestyle of a whole-hearted
disciple of Jesus and therefore be witness by word and deed. Yet
I felt that there must be more ways, especially as musicians and
artists, that we could have potentially greater impact, THROUGHOUT
THE NATIONS, through our musical/artistic expressions, than just
through these ways of proclamation, though all are very important
and all are gifts of God.
As artists and musicians, we know that ‘proclaiming’ includes
much more than verbal communication and that art is a major communicator,
and so though we may not always have opportunity for verbal proclamation,
witness or preaching, etc., we can respond wholeheartedly to God’s
commands to proclaim His glory among the nations through the arts
which can often communicate much more in one piece of art than
a whole preached sermon, because though much of art can be direct,
so much of it and so much of the power of art is the indirect
responses that it stirs within our hearts without our even realizing
it.
Also, if we want to encourage the non-reading, blind or deaf believers,
or reach the non-reading, blind or deaf people who are, so far,
outside the Kingdom of God, we will need to utilize other art
forms to communicate effectively to them as God uses our art to
stir their hearts towards Him.
One vital way, is, I believe, the Holy-Spirit-directed creation
of spiritual landmarks in our own lives, in our families, in our
churches, in the city Church, in the national Church and in the
international Church. Some of this has been done throughout history
and is indeed being done, but much has been lost. Non-western
cultures seemed to have been more faithful in this, probably largely
due to the fact that so many of them are oral cultures and not
as tied to written words as western cultures.
Indeed, the Bible is full of these types of commands and the following
commands! Why? Is it because He thinks we don’t have enough to
do down here? More on this in a bit...
2) REMEMBER
------------------------------
1 Chron. 16:12 “REMEMBER the wonders He has done, His miracles
and the judgments He pronounced...”
Job 36:24 “REMEMBER to extol His work, which men have praised
in song.”
Is. 46:8 “REMEMBER the former things, those of long ago...I am
God and there is no other...” In other passages we are told to
forget the past...but we are told to forgive and forget the things
which pull us away from God...we are told to REMEMBER the things
that draw our hearts TO God.
Ps. 111:2-4 “Great are the works of the Lord: they are pondered
by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are His deed,
and His righteousness endures forever. HE HAS CAUSED HIS WONDERS
TO BE REMEMBERED; the Lord is gracious and compassionate...”
HOW has He caused His wonders to be remembered? Some of the ways
are through His own symbolic landmarks such as the rainbow, the
empty tomb, the Skull (hill) where His cross had been, Creation,
etc. He has also caused them to be remembered through His Word,
and through people who know His Word, but a major way that He
has CAUSED His wonders to be remembered is through the arts, and
in addition to that, for greater impact He has used spiritual
landmarks as a witness and representation of these significant
events, answers to prayer and reminders of His character.
Ps.77:11,12 “I WILL REMEMBER the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will
REMEMBER your miracles of long ago. I will MEDITATE on all your
works and consider all your mighty deeds...” Chapter 77 is a major
reason WHY God wants us to REMEMBER! The chapter begins with the
author being in great distress, being discouraged, and having
many questions for God about his current circumstances...ie. “Will
the Lord reject us forever” Will He never show His favor again?
Has His unfailing love vanished forever? Has His promise failed
for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has He in anger
withheld His compassion?” – Sound familiar??
It was at this point that the change comes...notice why...
v. 10 – ‘THEN I THOUGHT, “To this will I appeal: the years of
the right hand of the Most High.” I WILL REMEMBER the deeds of
the Lord...” etc. (see above). It was his REMEMBRANCE of the significant
spiritual events and deeds that God had done – his spiritual landmarks
– which encouraged him again. The chapter ends up with Him in
praise to God and a sense of victory and faith in his heart.
If we don’t make some kind of ‘landmark’ that we can see or hear
which encapsulates these significant events, they are easily lost
as so many pictures we wish we would have taken but thought we’d
always remember.... Spiritual landmarks and remembrances can greatly
assist us, when we least expect it and when we most need it, to
help us to REMEMBER and NOT FORGET what God has done! The more
spiritual landmarks we have in our homes, churches, etc., the
more opportunity we will have to be encouraged and see our faith
and hope rising again when we’re discouraged and need some spiritual
encouragement. Many times these landmarks can ‘bring us back’
to that event so deeply that we experience God almost as clearly
again as we did when He first did whatever cause this spiritual
landmark to be created.
Why are they so significant? And why does God want us to remember?
They are a representation to us that GOD remembers, and to Him
that WE remember.
It strengthens our relationship with God and causes us to rise
above our circumstances as we fix our gaze on Him.
The Rainbow – Gen. 8:20 and Gen. 9:15 God said, “...I will REMEMBER
my covenant between me and you...” When we see the rainbow, He
is telling us that He REMEMBERS and He is reminding us of that...for
those of us that know the meaning of this symbol, it encourages
faith and hope and speaks of God’s goodness and faithfulness,
grace and mercy, etc.
“When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord
said to Joshua, ‘Choose twelve men from among the people, and
one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from
the middle of the Jordan FROM RIGHT WHERE THE PRIESTS STOOD and
to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where
you stay tonight.’ So Joshua called together the twelve men...and
said to them, ‘Go go over before the ark of the Lord your God
into the middle of the Jordan. EACH OF YOU is to TAKE UP A STONE
on his shoulder, according to the number of the bribes of the
Israelites, TO SERVE AS A SIGN AMONG YOU. In the future, WHEN
YOUR CHILDREN ASK YOU, ‘WHAT DO THESE STONES MEAN?’, tell them....So
the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them...” Josh. 4:1-8
An interesting point here, which I find significant, is that God
wanted them to participate in this TOGETHER. The sign or marker
is extremely meaningful to those who are involved in creating
it. So if a family is inspired to set up a spiritual landmark
or create a remembrance, it will most likely benefit everyone
in the family more if everyone can be involved. Not everyone may
be artists, in fact some or none may be very gifted that way,
but as each person prays and asks God for direction about design,
color, texture, dimension, words/verses to use, pictures, symbols,
melody, tune, rhythm, whatever, it will be more meaningful to
the whole family and have greater significance, as well as help
to create deeper unity and family focus on Jesus Christ. It can
also be a step of obedience which can bring more joy as one sees
God bring their strength in their weakness and enabling them to
do what they thought they could not do.
Another example: the 10 Commandments – the tablets of stone. Ex.
34
And what is the result if we FORGET?
3) DO NOT FORGET
------------------------------------
Deut. 6 “...Hear, O Israel, and BE CAREFUL TO OBEY SO THAT IT
MAY GO WELL WITH YOU and that you may INCREASE GREATLY in a LAND
FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY, just as the Lord, the God of your
fathers, promised you. Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord
is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that
I give you today are to be UPON YOUR HEARTS. IMPRESS THEM ON YOUR
CHILDREN. TALK ABOUT THEM WHEN YOU SIT AT HOME and WHEN YOU WALK
ALONG THE ROAD, WHEN YOU LIE DOWN AND WHEN YOU GET UP. TIE THEM
AS SYMBOLS ON YOUR HANDS and BIND THEM ON YOUR FOREHEAD. WRITE
THEM ON THE DOORFRAMES OF YOUR HOUSES AND ON YOUR GATES. When
the Lord your God brings you into the land He swore to your fathers...BE
CAREFUL THAT YOU DO NOT FORGET the Lord who bought you up out
of Egypt...Do not follow other gods...Do not test the Lord your
God...Do what is right and good in the Lord'’ sight, SO THAT IT
MAY GO WELL WITH YOU and you may go in and take over the good
land that the Lord promised on oath to your forefathers, thrusting
out all your enemies before you as the Lord said. In the future,
WHEN YOUR SON ASKS YOU, “What is the meaning of these stipulations,
decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?”, tell him..”
How naturally these kinds of conversations and opportunities can
arise in our homes – as artistic remembrances, and with our guests,
as artistic witnesses, when we have spiritual landmarks around
that pique their interest and stir up questions we can then respond
to!
Psalm 103:1,2 “Praise the Lord, O my soul, all my inmost being,
praise His Holy Name. Praise the Lord, O my soul, and FORGET NOT
all His benefits..” (some of which are then listed).
What happens if we DO forget? We become discouraged, we lose sight
of God in our circumstances, we become fearful and depressed,
increasingly despondent and feeling increasingly helpless and
hopeless. There is GOOD REASON why God continues to emphasize
and re-emphasize that we need to REMEMBER and NOT FORGET! His
commands are commanded in love because He knows they will HELP
us to have the kind of life and relationship with Him that He
longs for us to have out of His Father heart of love for us. Thus
such verses as: “He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me,
and” (in so doing) “he prepares the way – SO THAT – I MAY show
Him the salvation of God” (in whatever area we have need). Ps.
50:23
Psalm 106:7 “When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought
to your miracles: they DID NOT REMEMBER your many kindnesses,
AND THEY REBELLED BY THE SEA...”
Psalm 78:11 “...THEY FORGOT what He had done, the wonders He had
shown them. He did miracles in the sight of their fathers...”
Do our children know of or ‘remember’ the wonderful deeds that
God has done in their lives, or in our lives? Do we remember the
deeds done in the lives of our parents? If not, how will we be
able to see them passed on through the generations? And if they
haven’t been remembered, why haven’t they been? I suspect that
much of the reason is because we have thought our memories would
remain clear but over time these things have faded.
We could significantly enhance our ability NOT TO FORGET by creating
spiritual ‘remembrances’ which can instantly ‘bring us back’ to
that place and provide an immediate platform for us to share the
stories, as well.
Note that in Ps 78 the result, too (see the chapter) is discouragement,
doubt, fear, rebellion and idolatry. This is a natural result
if we FORGET TO REMEMBER.
“BE CAREFUL NOT TO FORGET the covenant of the Lord your God (which
He reminded Himself and them of through a spiritual landmark)
that He made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the
form of anything the Lord our God has forbidden. For the Lord
your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.”
4) SET UP AS A WITNESS
---------------------------------------------
There are many places in Scripture where markers, stones and altars
were set up as WITNESSES – to God and to themselves and others...
“...The Lord has made the Jordan a boundary between us and you
– you Reubenites and Gadites! You have no share in the Lord. So
your descendants might cause ours to stop fearing the Lord.’ That
is why we said, ‘Let us get ready and BUILD AN ALTAR – but not
for burnt offerings or sacrifices.’ On the contrary, IT IS TO
BE A WITNESS between us and you and the generations that follow,
that we will worship the Lord at His sanctuary with our burnt
offerings...Then in the future your descendants will not be able
to say to ours, ‘You have no share in the Lord.’...
“...’See!’ he said to all the people, ‘This stone will be a WITNESS
against us. It has heard all the words the Lord has said to us.
It will be a WITNESS against you if you are untrue to your God.”
Josh.24:27
See also: 1 Sam. 6:18; God’s covenant confirmed with a witness
– Ex. 24:4;
This is also something people of other religions do. How much
better for us to encourage people of all nations to set up WITNESSES
and markers, altars and stones to be a witness for God’s glory
rather than seeing people of other religions increasingly marking
territory and spiritual landmarks for the enemy?! The earth is
filled with memorials to the false gods....why don’t we as believers,
who have been commanded to set up remembrances, fill the earth
with memorials to our God? Tourists spend millions of dollars
every year traveling to these memorials to false gods...may God
inspire us to ‘take back the land’ by erecting God-honoring memorials
which can inspire and give hope, and which can draw tourists and
local worshippers to Himself!
Imagine how the spiritual atmosphere could begin to change!
5) ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER DAILY
-------------------------------------------------------------
“...but LET US ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER – and ALL THE MORE AS YOU
SEE THE DAY APPROACHING.”
Friends, the Church and the world is in dire need of encouragement.
May we use whatever God has given us to encourage each other and
ALL THE MORE as we see the Day approaching!
“But ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER – DAILY - , as long as it is called
Today, SO THAT NONE OF YOU MAY BE HARDENED by sin’s DECEITFULNESS.”
Heb. 3:13
A major antidote for deception is to constantly remind ourselves
and our brothers and sisters of God’s GOODNESS and true character
and of His wonderful deeds! Spiritual markers can be such an effective
aid in seeing this happen and such an effective aid in encouraging
each other!
6) BRING AN OFFERING OF WORSHIP
---------------------------------------------------------------
1 Chron 16:29 – “...Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name.
Bring an offering and come before Him; WORSHIP the Lord in the
splendor of His holiness...”
If our worship to God can be expressed through the artistic gifts
He has given us, can it not be an offering of worship to Him to
create, under His direction, spiritual landmarks which help to
strengthen our relationship with Him and bring glory to Him? We
are commanded to worship the Lord our God with all our heart,
soul, mind and strength, and love our neighbour as ourselves –
these markers can assist us in both ways.
7) DECLARE
---------------------------
Ps 19:1 “The heavens DECLARE the glory of God.”
Though they do not speak with words, they speak volumes to us
and are a REMEMBRANCE for His children and a WITNESS to those
that are not yet His children.
Ps. 96:3 “DECLARE His glory among the nations...”
8) MEDITATE
--------------------------
“May my MEDITATION be pleasing to Him, as I rejoice in the Lord.”
Psalm 104:34 – this comes at the end of a WONDERFUL passage in
Scripture which helps us NOT TO FORGET.
“I will MEDITATE on all your works and consider all your mighty
deeds.” Ps. 77:12
“I REMEMBER the days of long ago; I MEDITATE on all your works
and consider what our hands have made.” Ps. 143:5
“One generation will COMMEND YOUR WORKS TO ANOTHER; they will
tell of your mighty acts: They will speak of the glorious splendor
of your majesty; and I will MEDITATE on your wonderful works.
They will tell of the power of your awesome works and I will PROCLAIM
your great deeds. They will CELEBRATE your abundant goodness and
joyfully SING of your righteousness...” Ps. 145:5-7ff
A wonderful way to COMMEND HIS WORKS FROM ONE GENERATION TO THE
NEXT is to have spiritual landmarks around our homes that will
elicit questions from the children and give us wonderful opportunities
to tell the stories. What incredible heirlooms to pass on to them,
as well, and to leave as an inheritance!
The Role of Symbolism in Scripture & in Spiritual Landmarks
------------------------------
The Bible is full of symbolism! One of the reasons the Old Testament,
especially, is so vital for believers, even though we’re under
the New Covenant, is because of the rich symbolism of the Old
Testament, which of course the New Testament is based on. Without
this foundation - for those that don’t know or normally don’t
read the Old Testament - they are missing out on so much meaning
in the New Testament and don’t really understand the depths of
the richness of the Gospel.
Symbolism seems to course through God’s veins in His desire to
communicate with us beyond our intellect, but also in conjunction
with it.
We, especially, as God’s artists, would do well to increasingly
incorporate appropriate symbolism into our artistic expressions.
In utilizing symbolism in our spiritual landmarks, it would be
helpful for us to do a biblical study on the many types that God
and His people have used in history.
Biblical Examples:
------------------------
Above were some examples, and below are some additional ones for
further study: These, however, are just a few.
Creation – God’s first landmark – represents a huge event, represents
God’s goodness and love and many, and perhaps all?, of the other
aspects of His character. Creation is meaningful to Him and to
us and as we meditate on His landmarks, we become more intimately
connected with Him.
The Bible – another artistic representation and witness of events
which ascribe greatness to Him and which are meaningful to us.
Again, the more we meditate on His landmarks, the more intimately
connected we become to Him.
The Temple and everything in it
The Ark of the Covenant
Noah’s Ark
Circumcision
The Sabbath – a sign – Ezek 20:12
The bronze serpent
Communion – Luke 22:19; 1 Cor. 11:24
Isaac being sacrificed – altar
The cross
The dove
Jacob’s dislocated hip
Jesus’ nail scarred hands
Baptism
Tongues of fire
Passover
Pillar of cloud/fire
Rending of veil
Manna
Sacrificed lamb
Etc.
So WHY Should We Consider Creating Spiritual Remembrances?
------------------------------
Here are some benefits...
It is commanded and for our good and the good of our
brothers and sisters
It is an evidence of faith – and God is pleased with
and looks for faith
It is honoring to God
It is an offering/act of worship and obedience which
involves our emotions, spirit and physical being
It is a witness to us and to God
It helps us to remain encouraged
It is an effective and natural way to open doors of opportunity
with our children and others to share the stories of God’s wonders
It is a way which we can encourage ourselves in the Lord
at the least expected times as we are reminded again of the things
God has done for us and who He is in the midst of our discouraging
times
Artistic symbols can create a concise holistic summary
of the event represented which includes the physical, emotional
and spiritual dynamics – and reminds our whole person of the event.
Just as being reminded of negative events in our lives can retard
and stunt us spiritually, being reminded again and again of specific
miracles and answers to prayer and other significant spiritual
events/seasons in our lives help to encourage spiritual strength
and growth. This concise ‘package’ can make it easier to communicate
the story because of the way it encapsulates the event, answer
to prayer or God’s character, etc.
Provides a visible or audible, more tangible way of more
accurately recalling instances – rather than depending on our
fleeting and often selective memories – very similar function
to a photograph – we use photos to help us recall so many aspects
of our lives, but in our culture preserving memorabilia of the
landmarks of our spiritual journeys has often not been seen as
being valuable or CRUCIAL in our continued spiritual growth
It is a blessing to us personally and to all involved
in creating or choosing this landmark and can help to draw together
and bring a deeper spiritual and emotional bond/unity to those
that have shared the experience and are also affected by the same
symbol of the particular event or answer to prayer
Seeing or hearing these landmarks again and again inspires
and encourages/stirs up faith and hope to rise as it reminds us
of God’s goodness and faithfulness, His power, His grace, His
provision, His healing or many other aspects of His character.
It helps us to fix our eyes on Jesus rather than on our circumstances
It can be a pleasant and subtle, or even not so subtle
WITNESS to those who visit our homes – more often than not, these
unique creations will not be something anyone else has seen and
can easily become a natural conversation starter, opening the
door to natural opportunities to share your personal testimony
of what God has done in this situation to cause this landmark
to be created, and potentially providing the opportunity for on-going
witness – and deepening relationship. It can be an easy way to
move from surface talk to spiritual substance as non-believers
ask questions about the landmark and the reason for it.
It is a sacred gift to you and to the Lord which also
helps to further strengthen your relationship with each other...creating
these landmarks is an act of worship.
The more we meditate on the meanings of these ‘remembrances’,
the more intimately connected we become with Jesus Christ
They help us to focus on Christ instead of on our circumstances
– they remind us that He has done great things and will continue
to do great things as we trust in Him.
Restoring Remembrances – Bringing this Biblical Command Into our
Daily Lives
--------------------------------------
Where Can We Put These Spiritual Remembrances?
-----------------------------------------------
- in our homes
- in our yards
- in our cars
- in our offices
- at our jobs – on our desks
- in our churches
- in our towns – on our streets, in parks, on mountains, city
gateways, etc.
How Can We Begin?
------------------
Perhaps there has been a recent spiritual event of great significance
in your life. Perhaps a major answer to prayer, or possibly God
has given you new freedom in a particular area of life, or maybe
He has revealed Himself to you in a particular way, etc. which
you would like to encapsulate in a spiritual landmark.
My encouragement to you would be to ask Him to help you to create
a spiritual marker which will be meaningful to you (and perhaps
others could be involved as well if they were part of the event)
and which will be meaningful to Him.
Ask for specific direction as to design, structure, colors, layout,
dimension, materials, size, background, foundation, melody, words,
symbols....whatever... You do not necessarily have to be skilled
in a particular art form for Him to be able to use you to create
something meaningful for you and for Him, and you may be very
surprised at what He uses you to create, even if you didn’t think
you were gifted in that way. If you are already a gifted artist,
this is probably not something very new to you and you would probably
feel more comfortable with it.
My Own Story and Some Examples of Friends
------------------------
Personally, I have expressed my artistic gifts in many ways over
the years but have never developed my drawing/artistic gifts in
terms of ‘making a piece of artwork’.
Recently God brought me through an incredibly significant landmark
in my spiritual journey and He greatly used a particular passage
of Scripture to minister to the depths of my being in that situation,
He used that passage to reveal Himself to me in new ways and to
draw my heart much closer to His. Almost as soon as I had meditated
on the passage (after many tears because I was touched so deeply),
I felt that He wanted me to create a piece of artwork around this
event as a spiritual landmark in my journey. I felt it was to
be put on my wall so it would be readily available to see when
I would go through more difficult times in the future.
I have no art background in this form of art that I have felt
He was/is asking me to create, and felt totally inadequate and
helpless. So it is/has been a new step of faith for me but as
I began to ask Him what He had in mind, He began to be very specific
about it....and it began to develop in my mind. I started to write
out the ideas and began to work on it, not knowing how it all
was supposed to go, and as I have been taking steps one at a time,
He continues to reveal the next part.
My Mother has also been greatly impacted by this event that has
happened in my life, and I felt she, too, was to give some input
on how to create this art. She is an artist but hasn’t done any
art for many years, but when I began to talk with her about it
and ask for her ideas where I was at a loss, she came up with
ideas that I immediately knew were the answer to some of my questions,
and as she came up with the design of some of it, I felt that
God was giving me the symbolism of the things she was describing,
which totally help to communicate the event. I have become so
excited about this project and know that God will help me with
the rest of it, too!
It is a very symbolic piece of artwork – everything about it symbolizes
something about the event, and even though I’ve only started,
when I work on it I feel such pleasure from God and such increasing
intimacy with Him because of this step of faith and obedience
and this point of physical, emotional and spiritual intersection...I
truly sense that it is an offering of worship to Him and it has
a sacred place in my heart because of what it symbolizes.
I also feel that it is an important and significant bond between
my Mother and I, and I believe it is an encouragement for my Mother
to be working on this as well, since this event affected her so
deeply as well.
I have a dear friend who recently felt that God was leading her
and her family to create a kitchen table which also was very symbolic
of something He was doing in their lives. As I recall, it is a
mosaic symbolizing ‘unity’. Though they don’t see themselves as
having artistic gifts, they prayed and asked God for specific
direction, and the whole family, including small children, began
to work on it. She sent me a picture of the finished product and
I cried when I saw it. It was incredible and is a constant reminder
to their family of what it symbolizes. It has been very meaningful
for their family to make it and continues to be a constant reminder
to them at every meal! It has also opened many doors to talk with
guests about it because it is such a conversation piece!
Another dear friend was over the other day and when I showed her
what I was making, she shared with me that she, too, has felt
that God has been wanting her to create these types of things
in their home. She also shared with me one of the things she feels
she is to make soon is artistic wallpaper borders which are subtle
and beautiful and include, for example in the bathroom, borders
with beautiful leaves intertwined, and the words “This is the
day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it”. There
would be other themes in other rooms.
Growing up, I remember my Mom having plaques all over the walls
with verses on them. Though I don’t consciously remember memorizing
those verses, I still remember most of them. I have a couple plaques
on my walls – one is the Love Chapter, and one is an incredibly
encouraging, faith-building poem which has helped me, in the most
unexpected times, to rise above the situations because of the
faith-exhorting words written on it. I would have missed out on
so much even if that one plaque wasn’t there!
Many believers had these kinds of plaques on their walls when
I was young, but I have hardly seen any of that in the past few
decades. And I wonder how much we have lost as a result?
Some other friends of mine create pieces of artwork or shop for
symbolic things, together, as a family, when they go through these
landmark times in their spiritual journeys, and they have them
all over their home. It is a faith-building experience and a great
joy and a way to get to know them and God better by sitting and
listening to their stories of God’s faithfulness as they go around
the room and recount the reason they have each one, or why they
created what they created and what it symbolizes.
What a heritage!
I have determined in my heart that my home will increasingly become
a place where symbolic artwork will be not only a way to honor
God and to encourage myself in the Lord, as we are exhorted to
do in Scripture, but also a place where these symbols are inviting
any guests visiting my home to ask to hear the stories!
Encouraging Indigenous Landmarks
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As artistic missionaries who are church planting in other cultures,
you could greatly help to strengthen the local emerging Body by
encouraging them in these directions as well.
Not only will they utilize biblical symbols, but their cultural
symbols as well. They will likely differ, often, from our western
symbols. It’s the meaning of the symbols that’s important, and
it has to be meaningful to them in order for it to encourage them,
so although you may not understand all of the symbolism they use,
due to the differences in cultural meaning, you can encourage
them to develop God-honoring spiritual landmarks/rememberances
which are meaningful to them and to their particular people group.
Many art forms can be used. In Muslim cultures, for example, where
art is such a major part of their culture, the vast array of opportunities
to utilize various art forms is almost endless.
What can be used? Architecture, pottery, stories, proverbs, poems,
paintings, sculptures, artwork, music, calligraphy, their wonderful
rugs, etc. Whatever God wants us to use...
Conclusion:
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There is a growing move around the globe of our homes becoming
‘lighthouses’ in our neighbourhoods. I would venture to say that
this is one way that our homes could become brighter lights in
our neighbourhoods and a way in which our yards and places of
work, etc. could also become brighter lighthouses.
It would do us well to ask God how we can develop in this area
in our personal lives as well as in our corporate life as the
Church. How can local partnerships of worship/arts ministries
work together to help assist the local city Church in creating
these types of landmarks and remembrances in our cities?
As disciples of Jesus, whether artistically gifted or not, seek
Him on how they can create artistic symbols, through His direction,
representing these significant points in their spiritual journeys,
I believe that our homes and neighbourhoods will becoming increasingly
transformed and begin to take a greater role in seeing our nations
discipled!
May God indeed stir in our hearts His commands to REMEMBER and
NOT FORGET and show us artistic ways of assisting that remembrance
through symbolic spiritual markers!
All verses taken out of the NIV translation. All CAPS mine.
*** ALSO SEE THE
FIGHTING HEART by Rick Joyner ***
CONTENTS
