The constant buzz of noise followed the Louvre's two new visitors, Allie and Kaden. Strolling through the wondrous museum, the two friends continued to gaze reflectively at the artwork. Their thoughts, however, were far from similar. Allie whispered, "I cannot believe I'm almost enjoying this!" Allie did her best not to turn her nose up at the works of art. Kaden exclaimed, "How beautiful! God is so good!" Kaden let the peace wash over him. Allie's perception of the works around her was ambivalent. Art was worldly, a means for the artist to express themselves, rather than bring glory to God. Kaden, on the other hand, knew that God's hand was in all the work because art was part of His creation. The two friends, unaware of the other's interpretation of the art, continued on, one cynically and the other joyfully. Art has existed since the beginning of time. Art surrounds all people and yet, as illustrated from the short scene above, there exists a difference of opinion among Christians concerning art. Art includes paintings, sculpting, architecture, works of literature, furniture, and so much more. Unquestionably, art holds a significant part in everyone's lives. Two believers can have vastly different opinions on what constitutes art and how art is to be enjoyed. This controversy is outlined in detail in Jerram Barr's article, "Christianity and the Arts." There is much debate over the role of the arts in the Christian life; some Christ-followers claim that art should be confined to an entirely ascetic, godly aspect, while others maintain that Christians should be allowed to understand that God is ultimately behind all art and therefore should be experienced as His gift.
In Barrs's article, he offers detailed support for the Christian enjoyment of the arts. Throughout, Barr passionately expresses his intent to assist the readers to "think spiritually about the arts as Christian believers" (1). He begins simply by illustrating that art is part of everyone's lives, regardless of their beliefs concerning it. Everyone encounters art at some point, usually continually every day. Even the Christians who support the view that Christians should only enjoy art by like-minded people benefit from countless artistic things, "buildings, bridges, roads, interior decoration, clothes, or beautifully prepared and presented meals," without pausing to consider the belief system of the art's creators (1). Moreover, many maintain that Christians cannot expect others to live their lives searching for the spiritual meaning in artwork and being dissatisfied if one isn't easily discovered. Some maintain that we must not box the Christian reader as one who "is constrained to find overt or implicit statements of dogmatic theology" in an author's writing or is to disparage his writing if one isn't easily perceived (Harp 16). The Christ-follower perceives precisely what a non-Christian perceives. However, his gaze is not on just the piece of art itself, but...
