Creativity flows from the very character of God. Our God is a creative God. In fact, He invented creativity. It was His idea. Creativity is part of the very nature and character of God. The fifth word in the Bible is created. “In the beginning, God created …” (Genesis 1:1). God kicked off the creative process, and it’s been moving forward ever since.
Ponder creation for a moment. God created the entire universe out of nothing. He formed all original things, as an inventor or manufacturer. What an incredible designer God is! Nothing is dull, drab, or boring about God’s world.
God created three primary colors with up to 10 million different hues that a human eye can see. He created textures—rough, smooth and everything in between. He created infinite varieties of shape and form.
God created movement and rhythm—wind and running water, animals and humans busy with all sorts of activities. He created sound and music, from crashing thunder to the sweet chirping of a bird. God created seasons—winter, spring, summer, autumn. Then He created the human personality, along with unique fingerprints for billions of people. God is not into cloning.
Creativity & God
Everything God creates is unique, teeming with the freshness of life and innovation. Looking at creation should drive us to worship God. His creativity is on display not only in creation but also in redemption. God made salvation available to us apart from our ability to earn it. He sent Jesus to pay the price for our sin. He offers us forgiveness and salvation as a free gift we can’t earn. What an amazing and creative plan!
God calls us to be like Him—creative! Let’s look at one of my favorite Bible passages:
“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:8-10)
Paul declares the creativity of God in both creation and redemption. We are God’s workmanship, literally “a work of art” (Greek poiema, from which we get the word poem). Then God calls us to continue his creative works for the benefit of other people.
Jesus Modeled Creativity
Jesus was an incredibly creative communicator. He taught with parables (Matthew 13:34). He drew in the sand, used a Roman coin, cursed a fig tree…to explain truth. Jesus multiplied fish, turned over tables, and put a child on his knee…to illustrate important lessons. Jesus delivered his life-changing message in dynamic and creative ways. He understood that a point gets to the head while a picture gets to the heart.
About 72% of Jesus’ words focus on application, or putting His teaching into practice in daily life. He understood about visual and multi-sensory learners 2,000 years ago. Jesus constantly used visuals and never used the same approach twice. Everything He did was unique. He was a master communicator and the master of creativity.
The Spirit Empowers Us to Be Creative
We are to be imitators of God. He created us in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:27). So we are to be like Him. This means God designed us to be creative too! You have a unique contribution to make.
When we look at who God is and what He has done? We have good reason to be creative—to sing, to write, to paint—to express our love and adoration for Him. See what you’re doing as a work of art that displays God’s glory.
In “The Creative Leader,” Ed Young writes:
The entertainment industry is filled with actors, musicians and entertainers of all varieties who capture the imagination of all ages with their creative gifts. Hollywood, Nashville and New York are meeting the deep-seated need that people have for creativity, adventure and excitement in their lives—a need the church should be filling through the creative power of the Holy Spirit.
Young adds, “Some people don’t have much to say but they sure know how to say it, while the church has everything to say but often doesn’t know how to say it. That’s why creativity should grace everything that touches our leadership and our ministry.”
So let’s unleash our creative potential and use it to communicate the most compelling message ever given to humanity. Creativity is not an option for the church. It is a biblical mandate that flows from the very character of God.
