Book Review: Idols and Images

By: VT Clark    January 20, 2020

Summary

When one thinks about Christianity, creativity may not be one of the ways the Christian faith would have been described, but a look through history shows how through Christianity, not only is science explored, but the very essence of the idea of beauty.  One perspective of Christianity may evoke images of dryness or stereotypical lack of appreciation, but a look through Scripture and even in the world around us, is the discovery God’s creation is around us and He speaks to humanity through the essence of unique creativity. Holly Ordway writes in her book, Apologetics and the Christian Imagination, “Literature and the arts, for instance, can provide a glimpse of the world as Christians see it, so that a skeptic can for a moment see the world in the light of Christ.”1

Through the medium of imagination, there is an ability to develop bridges between non-believers and believers and open up conversations or convey ideas about the Christian faith. This is especially helping in creating foundations for discussions versus direct discussions which in some cases can lead to arguments. Prime examples are Lord of the Rings and Chronicles of Narnia known for its rich symbolism and cross-cultural appeals.  Even in the Bible are examples of creativity given to humanity by God.

One example can be found in Exodus 35:30-35:

Moses then said to the Israelites: “Look, the LORD has appointed by name Bezalel son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
³¹ He has filled him with God’s Spirit, with wisdom, understanding, and ability in every kind of craft ³² to design artistic works in gold, silver, and bronze,
³³ to cut gemstones for mounting, and to carve wood for work in every kind of artistic craft. ³⁴ He has also given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.
³⁵ He has filled them with skill to do all the work of a gem cutter; a designer; an embroiderer in blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen; and a weaver. They can do every kind of craft and design artistic designs (CSB).

Exodus 35:30-35 is a description of how Bezalel, who filled with God’s Spirit is able to create with excellence inspiring objects for the Israelites and with it the ability to teach them as well. This is an excellent reminder for us as Christians, creativity is a tool, a gift, given to us by God and not something to be shunned or fear, but embraced and can be used for His glory. Recently at an Apologetics event, the concept of “Beauty in Faith” through music was explored, but with Images and Idols, creativity and how it is tied with the Creator, God is explored within lavishly decorated pages.

On page 143, beautifully designed and rich-filled book exploring creativity and Christianity, Images and Idols explore the tie between creativity and Christianity and how as Christians the world of creativity does matter for us and has become an underexplored element. Not only is creativity a way for Christians to explore and express worship to God, but it also serves as a bridge between Christians and non-Christians in many avenues and particularly in the modern world. With various forms of entertainment and technology along with traditional methods of music and art, Images and Idols encourage Christians not to fear or reject, but to embrace creativity as an element of the Christian faith.

The book is written by Thomas J. Terry and J.Ryan Lister and is hardbound in a leather-like cover which evokes images of traditional old books and elegant covers which served more than simply to cover the pages within, but often served as works of arts themselves. Thin and an easy read of 143 pages, Images and Idols at once draws the reader in first visual and then followed with both text and images within its covers. Broken into five chapters followed with acknowledgments and well laid out notes which details the references used within the book, Images and Idols is a book that both challenges the reader to think about the role of creativity while being a work of art on a visual level for the reader.

One of the authors, Thomas J. Terry is the owner and artist of Humble Beasts. He is a spoken word artist, member of Beautiful Eulogy and also an Executive Pastor. J.Ryan Lister, author as well of Images and Idols is an associate Professor of Theology at Western Seminary and an author of another book, The Presence of God: Its Place in the Storyline of Scripture and the Story of Our Lives. He is also the Director of Doctrine and Discipleship for Humble Beast. Together they have written a book exploring an underexplored topic in Christianity and the Christian faith: creativity. As they write in the book, “Creativity begins and ends with God. This has two implications: one centering on God’s glory, the other on His goodness.” (37)

Obviously, anything created by God and used by humanity is subject to exposure to ultimately the brokenness of humanity as we all have fallen short of the glory of God (Ro 8:23) and with this fallen state, so has creation fallen short from God’s original design.  This does not mean as we embark in the daily act of sanctification, the tools provided by God such as the gifts of creativity and other elements can’t be used as part of our personal Christian growth and an expression of the Christian life; But creativity like anything is at risk of being used as an idol which is addressed in Chapter 3: The Corruption of Creativity.

The five-chapter book covers a different topic, The first chapter explores the Creator of creativity: God, the second chapter is a look at humanity and creativity, the third chapter addresses corruption and creativity, the fourth is a look at Jesus and what He has to do with creativity and is followed with the final chapter, a look at the new Creation and what it has to do with humanity and creativity.

Each chapter is a creative form of doxology in it takes basic doctrine and interlaces it with creativity to bring Christians in this journey from fearing or not knowing what role creativity plays in the Christian faith and bringing Christian to an understanding how to embrace creativity and the Christian faith. Examples are used throughout the book to reinforce how Scripture supports the use of creativity, but at the same time, expressing timeless truths about God and the Christian faith.

Images and Idols is a symphony, a musical piece, of God and how He can be revealed in creation through creativity and through the honoring of the tools He gives humanity.

Benefits
The uniqueness of the book is each chapter begins with quotes designed to bring the reader into a new phase of the journey and as the reader goes through the new chapter, imagery brings to life the topics being explored by the authors. Even the cover itself is provocative with the overtones of different shades of black and grey which draws the eye not only to read the book itself but explore visually what the cover artist seeks to convey about the book itself. As Images and Idols expresses at one point, “…the point of glorifying God through your creativity isn’t that you make great art for Him. Rather, it’s that He uses the gifts He has given you to make you into one of His masterpieces.” (139)

Images and Idols spur people to take another look into creativity and how can they infuse not only their ministry but even their daily lives using gifts given to them by God. There is fair warning, art is not about us or “our needs, assumptions, desires and purposes” (132), nor is it an attempt to replace God. This is addressed in the concluding chapter about the New Creation and us and how creativity is not about our future, God is. Creativity is about a reflection of Him.

Immediately drawn by the cover, but also the intrigue of how creativity and the Christian faith can go hand in hand served as a reminder a book like Images and Idols is good not only for those in ministry or even studying to be in ministry, but for those who are new to the Christian faith, or in this case, adolescents with gifts in the creative arts such as music, art, photography and even in technology such as video games. Creativity is not limited to a specific medium, but in the daily acts of simple crafts to more complex projects such as a symphony or in mundane cases the creation of a story and even a video game. This book helps show it is okay to be creative and there is a way to use one’s creativity to glorify God.

1. Holly Ordway, Apologetics and the Christian Imagination: An Integrated Approach to Defending the Faith (Living Faith)(Steubenville: Emmaus Road Publishing, 2017), 150.

Rating  10 cups of coffee out of 10

Editor’s Note: On a previous version of this post, the wrong book cover was added. This was my fault and not that of the author. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. – BC

About the Author

VT Clark received a Masters in Theological Studies from Liberty University, Rawlings School of Divinity, and a Bachelors in Christian Ministry with a minor in biblical studies. VT is currently working on a certificate in Apologetics from Biola University. In the meantime, when not teaching Bible studies or apologetics, VT is a fulltime geek and nerd whose focus is on family, missions both local and overseas, and culture.

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