Grace Christian College % Correct

English High School Department

Third Grading S.Y. 2023-2024
Social Gr. 10 -1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Name _________________________________________________ CN ____
Handout 3|Lesson 11: Teacher: Mr. Alex C. Torreda
The Christian, the Arts,
and Entertainment Date_______________ Parent’s Signature___________________________

THE CHRISTIAN, THE ARTS, AND ENTERTAINMENT. The arts – both performing and visual – are often ignored by the
church of Jesus Christ.
“Christian” doodads, trinkets, T-shirts, and bumper stickers are the only major contribution Christians today make to
creative expression.
o To neglect this area is to _____________ a pivotal sphere once _______________ by Christians.

Creativity: A Christian Concept

o God is a God of beauty, creativity, and variety.
 Because we bear his image, __________________ is part in the image of God.
o That primary stewardship has not been altered or erased because of sin.
o As image-bearers of the living God, there are no limits to our expressive creativity.

A Definition of Creativity.
o Creation – bringing something new into existence out of something previously existing.
1. Creativity is not quantitative, but ________________.
2. Creativity is a ______________ that involves movement, progression, and change.
3. Because creativity is a quality and a process, it ________________________.
4. Because “create” is a transitive verb, it always has an __________________.
o Thus, the creative process always has a product
5. Creativity is an actualizing of potential.

Biblical Principles of Creativity.

 Human creativity derives its value from __________’s creativity.

 Humans are to subdue and have dominion over His creation.
o When we exercise that dominion status, we are exercising the creativity He entrusted us.
 Human creativity manifests God’s image.
 Bearing God’s image means at least we resemble Him.
o Because God is creative, we carry that same capacity as His creatures.
 Creativity is a capacity to be developed in all persons, not just a creative elite.
 All humans have some creative potential.
o Since we all bear His image, all have some dimensions of creativity.
 Creativity extend to all cultural activities, including art, science, work, play, thought, and action.
 If He is Lord of all, then that Lordship extends to all dimensions of life.
 Human creativity exists for the glory of God.
 Each time we exercise our creative potential, we are giving glory to the One who created and gifted us.

Characteristics of the Creative Christian

 The creative person is well-rounded.
 One does not exercise creativity in only a single area of life but in all areas.
o The mature, growing Christian is a balanced person.
 The creative person is curious.
 Curiosity is the inquisitiveness about something, an eagerness to learn and grow.
 The creative person is courageous.
 It takes courage to learn a new subject, a new area of knowledge, or to do an activity never attempted before.
 The creative person is humble.
 The realization of absolute dependence on God is the beginning of creativity.
o Humility and proper understanding of self are the keys to the proper exercise of God’s gifts.

What Inhibits Creative Potential?

One of the greatest killers of creative potential is the “_______” – television, the computer screen, smartphones, iPads, etc.

 It demands our time.

 More time spent in front of TV and less serving God, family, or others.
 It distorts the perception of reality.
 Confuse real life with TV life and tend to adopt TV’s values.
 It dulls moral sensitivity.

1|Contemporary IssuesS.Y.2023-24
  Obsessive viewing of such activities produces an acceptance and toleration of acts repugnant to God.
 It destroys meaningful family life.
 It is lethal to creativity and enjoying family relationships.

There have been three great communications revolutions in human history

 The printing revolution
 Ignited by Johannes Gutenberg.
o Developed the movable type in the mid-1450s.
 Radio, television and movies
 Transformed the information and entertainment.
 The Digital Revolution
 Internet, digital appliances, and new modes of communication and technologies.
Digital networks, social networks, and Internet blogs are not only communicating information.
They are also shaping public opinion.

Most Astonishing Developments of this Digital Revolution

1. The new social media
 Facebook. Transforming how we communicate and  Twitter. Major platform for instant news and analysis.
get information.
2. Effects of the Digital Revolution to the brain.
 People who are highly invested in digital involvements are less emphatic, less attentive, less patient, and less to remember
something as basic as a conversation.
3. Opportunities for effective ministry
 Assist in community  Assist in inspiration
 Assist in communication  Promote more transparent introductions of people
The Digital Revolution can be a curse or a blessing.

Several Guiding Principles

 Principle of _____________ of time. Includes entertainment choices and the amount of time those choices require.
 Principle of ______________. Knowing what we know about the effects, this is the only wise choice.
 Principle of ___________ purity. We must choose what we allow into our mind.
 Principle of _____________. Most of those forms may not edify or build us up in our Christian faith.
 Principle of God’s ____________. We do all for God’s glory.

Practical suggestions for wise decision-making on entertainment

 Be creative in choosing family entertainment. The television or the movie theater are not the only choices.
 Read carefully and critically program descriptions. Prepare what children will see and discuss the entertainment content,
themes, and worldview presented.
 Keep a log on how much money the family spends on entertainment. Evaluate with children whether too much is being
spent.
 Do not passively stare at commercials. Discuss the content and the product with children and with one another
 Practice turning off the TV, the computer, the iPhone, and the iPad. When things offend or when behavior is becoming
addicted, it is important to exercise such self-control.

CHRISTIANITY AND THE ARTS

 This confusion and misunderstanding further result in one of two attitudes about art: antagonism or neglect.
 There is within evangelical circles minimal patronage of the arts, and even less interest in integrating that segment of
culture with the Christian faith

The Value of the Art

 Both expresses and shapes people’s values and their worldview.
 Art usually deals with the major issues of life: life and death, love and hate, etc.
o Withdrawal from the arts is so potentially devastating for Christianity
 Enables one to experience newfound insights into ourselves, others, and the world around us.
 Well-written story about someone grieving over the death of one’s father.
 A good painting about poverty
 Likewise has emotional power.
 It is able to communicate one perspective of truth as nothing else can.

The Value of Specific Art

 Is the artist skilled? Mastered the artistic medium. In skill, He is pleased with excellence.
 What is the content? What is the artist attempting to convey? He is pleased with truth.
 How creative? Does it provide fresh perspective? He is pleased with quality and depth.

But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you our potter; we are all the work of your hand.
– Isaiah 64:8

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