Why the Arts in ministry? Well, let’s look at how Jesus taught.
Jesus had available to Him any and all methods and styles. If Jesus had chosen to teach to a room full of thirty students, all of the same age and socioeconomic background, He could have done so.
He could have also lectured at length, using the texts of the day. He could have required tests and other performance evaluations, couldn’t He? Rather, Jesus chose to teach, primarily to adults, using the signs and symbols that the people would understand. He talked to them of wheat and wine, penny and poultry, yeast and yearning. He spoke of prodigal children and unworthy servants. He talked to the people of lost coins, dampened lights and unrestrained weeds. Who among us doesn’t know of these things in our own lives?
In short, Jesus taught with story. Jesus taught by engaging his audience with their own story. He chose to speak to adults. He chose to touch the untouchable. He chose to love the outsiders. How ironic that the very man who tells us to treat the unrepentant as "tax collectors" is the one who calls the tax collectors to His feast and to His side. (Matthew 18:15-20) Again, Jesus commands us not to get lost in our form, but rather to become immersed in His example.
Let’s teach as Jesus taught. In our world which becomes increasingly more and more hostile towards religion, where support systems have failed, let’s engage people with their right brains. This is the place where Jesus chose to be.
Go do something creative today!
