The Art of Bible Study
Photo by noodlepie
“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up.”
–Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
A few days ago Marilyn and I visited our two grandchildren, Carissa (nearly five) and Jocelyn (nearly three) in the lovely town of Pana (rhymes with “Cana” and in fact Carissa swears that Jesus once visited the town to attend a wedding!). Oh yes, we also visited our daughter and son-in-law, Rachel and Joe.
As soon as we walked through the door both girls asked Grandma and Papa if we would make puppets with them. I still have not figured out a way how to say no to either girl, so I accepted their invitation. They asked us to sit down at the dining room table and after we did they began to place all around us puppet making materials — paper sacks, coloring pencils, markers, and a box of “Cool Foam Stickers” filled with colorful sticky-like shapes (hearts, lips, circles, squares, etc.). You can stick them (safely!) on anything, including paper sacks. So I began to create a puppet out of a plastic sack using the above ingredients. I really got into it. But then, when I play with Lincoln Logs or Play Doh, the inner child in me breaks out. After about thirty minutes I had completed my “Papa Puppet.” The Papa Puppet had earrings, a rather colorful shirt, and a visible heart showing through the fabric. Pens were sticking out of the pocket. The hair was black and not gray and the eyeglasses were rather striking. When I had finished I held it up for everyone to see. I was more impressed with it than anyone else at the table.
On August 1, I began my thirty-third year of teaching at Lincoln Christian Seminary (I’ll offer some reflections on this anniversary in another post). In my exegesis classes I share with my students that studying Scripture is both science and art. Many of them have the basics down (they know how to color and what colors to use), but they often fail to let the artist side surface. They are restrained, thinking they have to do things step-by-step. Such diligence is appropriate for working through computer software but not for studying Scripture or much else in life.
My conclusion? Once again I am ready to share with students that every student of Scripture is an artist, the problem is how to remain an artist once you start seminary and involve yourself in ministry.
My question? How do you maintain the artist side in studying Scripture or in doing ministry? Drop me a note and let’s create something together.
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Sometimes, its coming to the level of a child and visualizing what they think as they are read a Bible story or when they sing a song in church.
I still think there should be a class to teach students how to “relate” to kids and their minds!
Dr. Lowery,
Excellent way of thinking about it. I agree that it is necessary to “remain an artist.” I believe that much of an artist’s inspiration comes from their spirit. In much the same way, an exegete’s inspiration comes from the Holy Spirit. However, I see the art in a slightly different way.
Is it good to think of the Bible as a connect-the-dot sketch without numbers? As the artist, are we determining how to connect the dots to paint a picture of who God is in terms that we can understand? Perhaps even the connect-the-dot we form while looking at a particular passage is on a dot in the larger picture. I suppose this lends one to the idea that God is the true artist, and we merely uncover what he has already created. However, it does take an artist to connect with art. Art-critics can tell you a lot about the art by looking at it, but only an artist can tell you about the artist by looking at their art. Similarly, we can not merely be Bible students, but we must be disciples who can tell others about God through the study of the Bible.
The one piece of Bible study that has really challenged my artistic juices is application. It is easy to come up with a general application for a passage, but it takes some creativity to take that general application and flesh it out. People can not relate to general application; they need to know what it looks like. How does that general Biblical principle apply to what is going on in their life? An artist can really take the general principle and give it color and life. That is where I see the need for me to remain an artist.
Wonderful thoughts!
Gary
Bob,
I really appreciate your insight. Unfortunately “education” often drives the artist out of us if the environment is one of pure scientific rigor. Most children really are more creative until they go to school than after they have been in the system for a while. Even at that they are still more creative than most adults. Certainly exegesis must be exacting and done with the utmost attention to good exegetical principles; however, I wonder if remaining creative with biblical exegesis comes down to the application and grace with which the truth is delivered. Part of reaching each new generation is finding a way to tell the truth in the language of the hearer. This is the ultimate creative endeavor. Truth that cannot be understood is not a life giving commodity. There will always be a tension between staying close to the texts original, literal meaning and how that translates into culture. It is an amazing dance between text, culture and the Holy Spirit that truly allows creativity to be fully expressed. Perhaps the Holy Spirit is the author of creativity?
Glad you enjoy creating with your grandchildren…it is fun to play in the realm of anything is possible it is an act of faith.
Keep playing – Holy Play!
Dr. Lowery,
I appreciate your metaphor for Bible Study being an art and true students of the Bible must retain an artistic spirit. It is a reminder that the point of our work is not just getting better systematics, but in producing real transformation.
However, my one concern is this. The heart of artistic expression is innovation. The great artists produced work that was fundamentally different than what came before, either in form or quality. It seems to me that innovation in Bible study generally leads to heresy. (The Reformation being the exception that proves the rule.) How do we cultivate the heart of the artist and yet guard against seeking novelty where orthodoxy is required?
Thanks for asking the question…it has prompted some serious thought in me…
I appreciate the responses to this post. Let me offer some reflections in light of comments submitted:
1. Rachel, perhaps it would be good for all who teach adults to teach children from time-to-time or at least playing with childen.
2. Gary and Dawn, when we participate in God’s saving plan, we become part of the picture. Furthermore, you are spot on with regard to application. It takes creative preaching and teaching to connect the ancient text with today’s world. We don’t have exactly the situations Paul faced, for example, and yet his word to the Philippians still lives and speaks. The image of “Holy Play” both in studying Scripture and in living it out is a delightful image.
3. Doug, there are always limits to an analogy. And yet surely as you preach you have been an artist, developing new ways to communicate the ancient truths. Studying Scripture is not like following the operating instructions for using software, for example. There is an overlap between doing word studies and historical context and literary setting, for excample. Even in innovation, the artist takes what already exists in some state or another. Similarly, we take the Word and learn to reapply it.
Thanks for all for some helpful insights.
Now go play. And be holy.