Thomas J. Terry > Quotes

“Tolkien explains, “We make … because we are made: and not only made, but made in the image and likeness of a Maker.”12 Our creativity, therefore, relies on and submits to the One whose image we reveal.”
― Thomas J. Terry, Images and Idols: Creativity for the Christian Life

“Neil Gaiman succinctly puts it, “When things get tough, this is what you should do: Make good art.”
― Thomas J. Terry, Images and Idols: Creativity for the Christian Life

“A lot of Christian creatives are skeptical of other Christians, too. Many creative believers we’ve talked to feel undervalued in the church, so much so that the church no longer feels like home for them. It seems the only time the church needs them is when they want someone “artsy” to decorate the sanctuary for the Christmas Spectacular, or when they need a “creative” to be onstage to show the congregation that they can “relate” to the culture and appeal to those “other” generations.”
― Thomas J. Terry, Images and Idols: Creativity for the Christian Life

“This is why St. Augustine’s famous prayer applies to all of us and to our creativity: “because you have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.”
― Thomas J. Terry, Images and Idols: Creativity for the Christian Life

“If sin is loving something more than God, then idolatry is what happens when we apply creativity to this twisted love. Idolatry is the prideful act of adding imagination to our rebellion in order to create something to take God’s place in our lives. Creativity and idolatry come as a package deal. Idolatry is what happens when image bearers become image makers with creation’s images. It’s why creativity so quickly became idolatry’s handmaiden after the fall. In the chaos of cosmic treason, those made in the likeness of God fashion replacement gods in their own shattered likeness through their own misplaced creativity.”
― Thomas J. Terry, Images and Idols: Creativity for the Christian Life