Since moving to Montana the idea of the Christian aesthetic has pressed on my mind. Maybe it was the fact that the landscape surrounding is an obvious indicator that our Lord is concerned with beauty. The Creator's craftsmanship is to such a grand scale that forces one to dwell on creation, creating, and creativity. Being inundated in a beautiful scape causes a desire to create beauty. The other possibility is that joining a church that meets in an old stonework building with quartersawn oak pews and fabulous stained glass has revealed the once prevalent value of Christian aesthetic. In fact, it might be that I myself have endeavored in building furniture and am making a livelyhood building pleasing things. Whatever it is, my yearning for a Christian aesthetic has been hightened.

There was a day when Christianity was the authority on art and beauty. It seems that recently (at least post conservative '50's) the desire for Christians, as an entity, to create new, fresh and beautiful things has dimished. Instead, there is conservative lack of creativity prevalent in modernistic un-aesthetic buildings, wall-hangings, and sterile metal chairs. This is not to say that it is wrong to build things that are modern, but would it not be better serving for Christians to dictate the cutting edge. To create in such a way that reflects the meticulus attention to beauty that our Creator does. To watch detail painstakingly, not to be obnoxious or unreasonable, but to demonstrate that the Lord honors and enjoys beautiful things done unto Him.

It is no mystery that it is fulfilling to create. There is excitement in making something new, something beautiful, something worthy. It is in every Christian to be a creator. To worship by creating is to emulate a God that demands our obediance and encourages us to follow His divine example. Indeed, every Christian should create and have a high standard of beauty. I have found an ability to express my creative worship in woodworking and in folk art. I have suprised myself with my ability, and have thouroughly enjoyed the purposefulness and satisfaction of being a sub-creator. The body of Christ must once again put emphasis on art and beauty and creating things of value.