In our continuing look at the model of the Sons of Issachar in 1 Chronicles 12:32, and how that two-pronged example (understanding the times and knowing what Israel should do) applies to the artists of God’s Spiritual Israel, the Christian Church (Gal 3:6-9; Eph 2:11-22, 3:6; etc.), we saw in my last post that “knowing what Israel should do” translates into the necessity of knowing Holy Scripture as completely as possible, since It is the Divine Blueprint for all of life (art included).  We examined there the importance of a systematic, integrated approach to biblical theology for a balanced doctrinal approach to help prepare us “for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17), including the good work of a calling to musical ministry.

Doctrine is, of course, vital to truly biblical life and action.  It is a truism among Evangelicals that doctrine is primarily presented in Scripture as what is called propositional Truth (I know this seems kind of dry and technical, y’all, but hang in there with me on this, because, although it is complex, it’s also very important for Christian artists).  Propositional Truth is so called because it presents propositions, or straight-ahead statements about the Truth it presents (e.g., “. . .the Word was God” [John 1:1] or “God is light” [1 John 1:5]) and gives direct teaching (or didactic) commands (such as “Flee youthful lusts” [2 Tim 2:22] and “Thou shalt do no murder” [Exod 20:13]; etc.).  Most Christian teaching these days centers on propositionally presented biblical teaching (which is, of course, vital to the Church’s task).

Most Evangelicals would be surprised to realize, however, that the propositional presentation is not the only way that Truth is taught in the Bible.  God has also arranged another mode of communicating His Truth that complements the propositional method: the Representational or Symbolic method.

God has structured Reality in such a way that symbols stand at its heart.  What do I mean by this?  Consider the following:  Romans 1:18-22 teaches that God’s Invisible Attributes are clearly manifest, seen and known in God’s Creation; Psalms 19:1-4 teaches that the heavens themselves declare God’s Glory to the ends of the earth; Genesis 1:26-27 says that man himself was made to bear God’s Image.

Understand what this means—God made all of Reality together, and each part of Reality separately, to reveal Himself.  This is the primary and highest meaning of everything created:  to reveal the Glory of the Creator God.  Everything is a symbol of God, with man, the specific Image-bearer, as a special symbol of Himself.

The Fall has blinded us to God’s Glory in Creation, so that we will not, in our sin, allow ourselves to recognize the Truths that are inescapable in all created things, including (and especially) ourselves (Gen 3; Rom 1:18-32).

God through Christ has acted to save us from this spiritual death and blindness, bringing reconciliation and healing of vision by the Holy Spirit’s re-birth of those who turn in repentance and faith to Jesus (John 3:1-21, 1:1-17).

In this rebirth, men begin to be able to see God’s Glory in Creation again, and the Bible acts as a corrective lens for us to look through and see Him in all of Reality, His Symbol of Himself.  The reborn man also begins to learn by His Scripture-corrected vision how to help others see the Glory at the Heart of Reality (a primary task of every Christian artist).

Next week, we will (God willing) explore the importance of symbols to the artistic calling, and to knowing what Israel should do.  Selah!

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