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For the Beauty of the Church: Casting a Vision for the Arts
Think of your local church. Without art--music, song, dance, etc.--it would be a much poorer place. But if protestants have any vision for the arts, it tends to be a thin one. This unique book is an attempt to contribute to a robust, expansive vision for the church and the arts. Its specific aim is to show how the many parts of the landscape of church and art hold together. You can think of it as a kind of helicopter flyover, but one with expert pilots. The guides include the likes of Eugene Peterson, Lauren Winner, Jeremy Begbie, Andy Crouch, and John Witvliet, helping to inspire readers and empower pastor-leaders with a vision of the church and the arts that is compelling, far-seeing, and profoundly transformative.
204 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
40 people are currently reading
594 people want to read
About the author
W. David O. Taylor
14 books73 followersW. David O. Taylor is Assistant Professor of Theology and Culture at Fuller Theological Seminary. He is the author of "Open and Unafraid: The Psalms and the Life of Faith" (Thomas Nelson: 2020), "Glimpses of the New Creation: Worship and the Formative Power of the Arts" (Eerdmans: 2019) and editor of "For the Beauty of the Church: Casting a Vision for the Arts" (Baker: 2010). He has written for The Washington Post, Image Journal, Christ & Pop Culture, and Christianity Today, among others. An Anglican priest, he has lectured widely on the arts, from Thailand to South Africa. He lives in Austin with his wife Phaedra, a visual artist and gardener, and his daughter Blythe and son Sebastian. Twitter: @wdavidotaylor. Instagram: @davidtaylor_theologian.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
July 6, 2015
As always, with collections of essays from different authors, a mixed bag but there were none of these essays that I thought were a waste of time. Generated following an "arts in the church" conference in Austin, TX, the essays trace the positive and negative aspects of bringing artists "into the fold."
Overall, the book made me yearn for a situation in which I could once again explore my own artistic passions in a church or para-church environment and in which I could encourage other artists. At the very least, I need to reconnect with some artists who are Christians with whom I have let relationships fall fallow.
Overall, the book made me yearn for a situation in which I could once again explore my own artistic passions in a church or para-church environment and in which I could encourage other artists. At the very least, I need to reconnect with some artists who are Christians with whom I have let relationships fall fallow.
July 11, 2020
Utterly indispensable for any Christian artist or leader. Loved this book! It touched on some topics that I've been thinking about for a while now: arts' role in corporate worship, how to support artists, engaging culture, some of the dangers surrounding art and the church.
Something I admired the most was the fact that it compromises EIGHT different authors. That's humility right there - to include eight different perspectives on a discussion, and be okay with difference! I am so grateful to all the contributors in this book, and am leaving feeling encouraged, challenged, and liberated more in my walk as an artist and person of faith.
Something I admired the most was the fact that it compromises EIGHT different authors. That's humility right there - to include eight different perspectives on a discussion, and be okay with difference! I am so grateful to all the contributors in this book, and am leaving feeling encouraged, challenged, and liberated more in my walk as an artist and person of faith.
January 1, 2021
There are not many books which look at the church and the arts honestly but this one does. It does not shy away from the admission that the church has largely abandoned the arts and it is the poorer for doing so. There are chapters addressing pastors and chapters addressing the artist. The chapter written by Barbara Nicolosi about the challenges facing the gifted artist was achingly beautiful as I recognized struggles of my own artistic children. A very worthwhile collection of essays appreciating art and celebrating grace, beauty and redemption.
November 9, 2013
This is one of those books where you don't agree with everything or with every contributor, but you just love that a book like it was written and that some folks had the courage to really dig into the particular conversation. Very helpful in a lot of ways.
March 11, 2019
Written in several essays geared towards pastors who are discipline artists. There are a mix of both artists/ministers and ministers who have pastored artists. My understanding is that this book was born out of a gathering of pastors and artists in Austin a few years ago (at the time of writing this review)
If you are in church leadership and are looking for a book to read specifically about discipling artists, this is the book I recommend as a fantastic starting point (and “starting point” isn’t a knock at all - this is a great resource!). While it’s not geared as much towards artists in ministry, I still recommend the read, especially the sections by Begbie, Crouch, and Taylor himself.
If you are in church leadership and are looking for a book to read specifically about discipling artists, this is the book I recommend as a fantastic starting point (and “starting point” isn’t a knock at all - this is a great resource!). While it’s not geared as much towards artists in ministry, I still recommend the read, especially the sections by Begbie, Crouch, and Taylor himself.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2022
Did not finish
As a professional musician (performance and education) of over 15 years, working in the public, private and non profit sectors, I found the first 50ish pages of this book so bland and uninspiring that I was bored at the thought of my own profession. I understand what Shaw was going for. But for a book devoted to “casting a vision for the arts”, it lacked any sense of vision and the unnecessary drudgery made it a chore to return to. I honestly didn’t see how I was going to learn anything from Shaw in the way of the arts or vision or even planning to combine the two in a healthy, religious setting.
But then again, maybe the last 50 pages were better than the first? I’ll give the author the benefit of the doubt, but not enough to commit more time to this book.
As a professional musician (performance and education) of over 15 years, working in the public, private and non profit sectors, I found the first 50ish pages of this book so bland and uninspiring that I was bored at the thought of my own profession. I understand what Shaw was going for. But for a book devoted to “casting a vision for the arts”, it lacked any sense of vision and the unnecessary drudgery made it a chore to return to. I honestly didn’t see how I was going to learn anything from Shaw in the way of the arts or vision or even planning to combine the two in a healthy, religious setting.
But then again, maybe the last 50 pages were better than the first? I’ll give the author the benefit of the doubt, but not enough to commit more time to this book.
April 3, 2018
Art in the church has been a conversation of the past and in our era of post-Christendom we have all but forgotten about art’s place in our faith circles. I find it interesting that we are constantly surrounded by physical objects that tell a story about our communities of faith and similarly, we are constantly engaged in the hearing of stories and music that shape our understanding of how God is working in the world. But we have lost the reflection of these forms of media in our religion because we are preoccupied with other aspects of life that often draw us away from seeing the beauty in what is around us. So, we ask the question “where does art belong in our practice of the church?” Is art merely a byproduct of our faith or can it play a more central role in how we connect the world and God? For the Beauty of the Church allows us to dig into the aspects of art that are transformative to our religion and offers helpful guidance into practices that guide us into seeing art as a transformative approach to seeing God with creative eyes.
The precipice for this book came at a conference that the contributors attended. What became of that gathering were six pieces that came together to build one vision: “a vision of the church and the arts that is theologically informed, biblically grounded, liturgically sensitive, artistically alive, and missionally shrewd.” This book does a good job at hitting most of these ideas yet most of the topics find themselves intertwined. But art has a higher purpose than just being a part of who we are as people, it is our expression of who we are as God’s people living in the great Creation. In whatever way it is produced, art finds itself as a medium for us to connect to God and in various ways, at some level, deepen our relationship with God because we have an avenue of recognizing God in the world. This happens in worship, in prayer, through a picture of a milk-maid painted by Rembrandt, and it is done through the hearing the stories that grandma used to tell when she was reminiscing about the Great Depression. Regardless, we need to see art in the form of worship as “a gift.” We should understand that “the world is a gift, culture is a gift” and through our “graceful play and pain” we as Christians, not just artists, can “discover Christ taking, blessing, breaking, giving” which is the beauty of this Creation.
In our discovery of these practices of art in our midst we must not focus the arts just on traditional worship spaces like many people seek but see art as a part of our life of continual worship. Yet, there are meaningful expressions of art in our worship spaces even when we are not aware of it. For example, when we sing the Kyrie Eleison there is more than just a song but it is also a prayer. But there are barriers to overcome in our gatherings, like the idol of “sentimentality”, and we need to move towards “acts of covenantal engagement.”
The next section of text that grabbed my attention was the focus on pastoring the artist. The author of this chapter, Barbara Nicolosi, looks for ways in which we can notice the artists among us. She starts by saying that artistic ability “shows up in people from an early age”. Next, we have to recognize if the artist produces art with “emotional power”. Then, we have to look for the “artist’s work to have freshness and a startling quality of something new.” Lastly, “artists are obsessed with details of form.” All of this should be encouraged by the faith leader and be able to uplift and support the artist as much as we are able. In some cases people see artists as lazy or crazy, unorganized or anxious, but we have to recognize their gifts. The work that they produce is for the furtherance of the beauty of God’s creation and the expression of the holy Church.
In the last chapter, the future of art and the Church is discussed. Here, we realize that “homogeneity” is a comfort zone for the church and we often ignore uniqueness in one another. We also “mirror late-modern, urban consumerism” and lose our sense of wonder about what the Holy Spirit is doing. When we separate from our homogenous comfort zones we can create “divergent ways of approaching the same realities.” Through this work of “discovering the Spirit’s unity of the unlike” pastors and artists will find languages that will speak to the “worship and mission” of the body of Christ. Also, the Spirit’s work “generates excess” and the arts show that we could simply never grasp the enormity of God’s creation. Art also allows us to see that the Spirit re-creates and improvises. While there are some common assumptions about what God has bestowed upon us, the Spirit is working to draw us into an understanding that what has been made and broken can be remade again. Also, God improvises in fulfilling God’s divine will by changing what has already been done and surprising humanity with love, peace, and mercy. We experience this all through the beauty that we encounter in the art that is produced through the power of the Holy Spirit.
I find it refreshing to see that this is hopeful conversation and does not draw down the experience of the present. Instead it points towards a future of beauty for the Church.
The precipice for this book came at a conference that the contributors attended. What became of that gathering were six pieces that came together to build one vision: “a vision of the church and the arts that is theologically informed, biblically grounded, liturgically sensitive, artistically alive, and missionally shrewd.” This book does a good job at hitting most of these ideas yet most of the topics find themselves intertwined. But art has a higher purpose than just being a part of who we are as people, it is our expression of who we are as God’s people living in the great Creation. In whatever way it is produced, art finds itself as a medium for us to connect to God and in various ways, at some level, deepen our relationship with God because we have an avenue of recognizing God in the world. This happens in worship, in prayer, through a picture of a milk-maid painted by Rembrandt, and it is done through the hearing the stories that grandma used to tell when she was reminiscing about the Great Depression. Regardless, we need to see art in the form of worship as “a gift.” We should understand that “the world is a gift, culture is a gift” and through our “graceful play and pain” we as Christians, not just artists, can “discover Christ taking, blessing, breaking, giving” which is the beauty of this Creation.
In our discovery of these practices of art in our midst we must not focus the arts just on traditional worship spaces like many people seek but see art as a part of our life of continual worship. Yet, there are meaningful expressions of art in our worship spaces even when we are not aware of it. For example, when we sing the Kyrie Eleison there is more than just a song but it is also a prayer. But there are barriers to overcome in our gatherings, like the idol of “sentimentality”, and we need to move towards “acts of covenantal engagement.”
The next section of text that grabbed my attention was the focus on pastoring the artist. The author of this chapter, Barbara Nicolosi, looks for ways in which we can notice the artists among us. She starts by saying that artistic ability “shows up in people from an early age”. Next, we have to recognize if the artist produces art with “emotional power”. Then, we have to look for the “artist’s work to have freshness and a startling quality of something new.” Lastly, “artists are obsessed with details of form.” All of this should be encouraged by the faith leader and be able to uplift and support the artist as much as we are able. In some cases people see artists as lazy or crazy, unorganized or anxious, but we have to recognize their gifts. The work that they produce is for the furtherance of the beauty of God’s creation and the expression of the holy Church.
In the last chapter, the future of art and the Church is discussed. Here, we realize that “homogeneity” is a comfort zone for the church and we often ignore uniqueness in one another. We also “mirror late-modern, urban consumerism” and lose our sense of wonder about what the Holy Spirit is doing. When we separate from our homogenous comfort zones we can create “divergent ways of approaching the same realities.” Through this work of “discovering the Spirit’s unity of the unlike” pastors and artists will find languages that will speak to the “worship and mission” of the body of Christ. Also, the Spirit’s work “generates excess” and the arts show that we could simply never grasp the enormity of God’s creation. Art also allows us to see that the Spirit re-creates and improvises. While there are some common assumptions about what God has bestowed upon us, the Spirit is working to draw us into an understanding that what has been made and broken can be remade again. Also, God improvises in fulfilling God’s divine will by changing what has already been done and surprising humanity with love, peace, and mercy. We experience this all through the beauty that we encounter in the art that is produced through the power of the Holy Spirit.
I find it refreshing to see that this is hopeful conversation and does not draw down the experience of the present. Instead it points towards a future of beauty for the Church.
March 25, 2015
Well, I "liked" this book well enough to read it for a second time...
March 5, 2025
I loved getting to read about a vision of a future for the arts within Christianity. Having grown up in a church culture with little explicit focus on the arts (other than worship), I love how the study of art can be used to further and develop one's faith, especially as it's enriched my own faith.
Favorite Quotes:
"Whether it's gardening, or cooking, or needlepoint, or whatever it is that you do, everyone has to master the details of a craft in order to keep their life vibrant and their perception of God in the 'tiny whispering sound' keen."
"And this is the perennial temptation for us: we want to be like God, we want no limits. But the beautiful makes us content in our creaturehood: 'I'm small, and that's okay.'"
"Now what's not dangerous is to continue pursuing healthy habits and traditions. These are the gifts our forebears pass on to us for our provision and protection. We've always proclaimed the Nicene Creed. We've always honored the Word of God in our gatherings. These are good things always to be doing. What is dangerous is when we stubbornly close God off from refreshing, redirecting, or even replacing elements in our corporate practice of Christian faith."
Also, all of Chapter 1
Favorite Quotes:
"Whether it's gardening, or cooking, or needlepoint, or whatever it is that you do, everyone has to master the details of a craft in order to keep their life vibrant and their perception of God in the 'tiny whispering sound' keen."
"And this is the perennial temptation for us: we want to be like God, we want no limits. But the beautiful makes us content in our creaturehood: 'I'm small, and that's okay.'"
"Now what's not dangerous is to continue pursuing healthy habits and traditions. These are the gifts our forebears pass on to us for our provision and protection. We've always proclaimed the Nicene Creed. We've always honored the Word of God in our gatherings. These are good things always to be doing. What is dangerous is when we stubbornly close God off from refreshing, redirecting, or even replacing elements in our corporate practice of Christian faith."
Also, all of Chapter 1
Read
February 25, 2021I definitely found a lot of encouragement in these pages.
However, my one disclosure is this: i'd suggest skipping ch. 5 completely. The author of this chapter presented an extremely ethnocentric, racist view point of art and was not culturally inclusive. I found this chapter offensive and absolutely maddening that it made it in this book. I did not finish that chapter. I think this book can be a pick-and-choose what you read because of the format (Each chapter is written as an essay by a different author). Read with care.
However, my one disclosure is this: i'd suggest skipping ch. 5 completely. The author of this chapter presented an extremely ethnocentric, racist view point of art and was not culturally inclusive. I found this chapter offensive and absolutely maddening that it made it in this book. I did not finish that chapter. I think this book can be a pick-and-choose what you read because of the format (Each chapter is written as an essay by a different author). Read with care.
June 29, 2023
This is a collection of essays by 8 different authors and a forward by Luci Shaw that attempts to cast a vision for the Arts (in the broad creative sense of the word) for the Church. As with most collections of this sort there were some that deeply moved me and challenged me and inspired me - and there were a few that left me flat or even yawning. But isn't that the arts? Definitely worth a read - and I'll not name which authors were which for me, for it may not be the same for you! And that's not just fine - it's wonderful.
July 3, 2018
This book is an ecumenical exploration of art’s engagement with the church and how the two need each other. Like baseball’s Barry Bonds, this book hits home runs or strikes out entirely. We remember his home runs, however, and not his misses and I think I will do the same with this book. The first chapter by Andy Crouch and the last chapter by Jeremy Begbie are worth the price of admission. Rich fodder for contemplation.
March 23, 2020
The most surprising book I’ve read in a while. It provides a solid theological and inspirational vision for art in the Church. I thought it was going to be boring but I found that every essay offered insights. I learned much about the value of art and artists, and how to value them and communicate them.
March 25, 2020
As with nearly all collections of essays, I found some here more helpful than others. Several of the writers come from a much more conservative religious tradition than my own, so I wasn't as interested in the need to justify the place of arts. I was more interested in the contributions that described options for integrating more art in worship and in church programming.
May 3, 2021
I found this an interesting read with some helpful nuggets for those interested in how the arts and the church connect. However I would give 5 stars to the wonderful chapter on ‘How Artists Shape Pastoral Identity’ by Eugene Peterson. A gentle challenge to all those called to pastoral ministry to notice what they can learn from artists. A chapter I will revisit again and again.
June 12, 2021
I truly enjoyed this volume of essays. The book helped me to envision how my faith and my art might integrate even further. Both practical and theoretical in its scope. I hope to share this volume with my pastor in order to further understand how to integrate the arts more effectively and minister to artists more holistically.
April 27, 2018
Such a good book. Beauty matters. Don't settle for a sterile, sleek, hospital-like vision of the church. It's a garden, thriving in the beauty of the Son. Enjoy it. Cultivate it. Support it.
May 7, 2024
A captivating vision of how art and the artist relate to the Church and its worship. Thought-provoking discussion of beauty and cultivating a Christian understanding of it and appreciation for it.
March 29, 2015
I've read this book multiple times. It has been absolutely formative in building my view of art in the church. We have been created by THE Creator, who has given us the gift of creativity. So many believe that art has no utility and therefore no place in the church, but this book reminds us that the Christianity is not about utility. It is not about us, nor is it simply a means to an end. Instead, it is the all-encompassing, artfully-designed relationship of God with His people.
A quote that hits a little too close to home about those of us who tend to be a little heavy on the right-brainedness:
"Artists are extremely sane when they are working on their projects. These people can be crazy about the details of their noncreative lives, completely unable to mail back their auto insurance payments. But honestly, if you only have twenty-four hours in a day, what's more important?" (119) Amen. I'm thankful for a husband who likes to pay bills.
This book takes a stand on the fact that art should be moving and challenging rather than self-soothing. Art is not Precious Moments. This is one of the most marked up books I own. If you are a creative and a Christian, you need to read this book.
A quote that hits a little too close to home about those of us who tend to be a little heavy on the right-brainedness:
"Artists are extremely sane when they are working on their projects. These people can be crazy about the details of their noncreative lives, completely unable to mail back their auto insurance payments. But honestly, if you only have twenty-four hours in a day, what's more important?" (119) Amen. I'm thankful for a husband who likes to pay bills.
This book takes a stand on the fact that art should be moving and challenging rather than self-soothing. Art is not Precious Moments. This is one of the most marked up books I own. If you are a creative and a Christian, you need to read this book.
June 10, 2016
Like pretty much all collections of essays, this book is uneven. There were a few pieces that I found very helpful, and a few that I ended up skimming my way through after just two or three pages. That probably reflects my own starting point as much as anything, for the essays dealing with making a case for art in the church were pretty much just recapping things that folks like Cal Seerveld convinced me of decades ago.
I think my favourite was Lauren Winner's very personal piece on being an art patron. Winner had me on her side with her subtitle: "Someone Who Can't Draw a Straight Line Tries to Defend Her Art-Buying Habit." I can relate... though in my case it could be "Someone who can't play an instrument tries to defend his music (and music-related book) buying habit".
I think my favourite was Lauren Winner's very personal piece on being an art patron. Winner had me on her side with her subtitle: "Someone Who Can't Draw a Straight Line Tries to Defend Her Art-Buying Habit." I can relate... though in my case it could be "Someone who can't play an instrument tries to defend his music (and music-related book) buying habit".
December 26, 2015
What complete crap. Is there some weird newsletter I'm not receiving? I'm Catholic yet I feel my views on things religious, spiritual and temporal are utterly foreign. Imagine a group of essayists who have found yet one more way to box in an ineffable God and this time with art no less. If you are that fearful of someone creating something subversive or damaging to the faith, maybe they aren't the problem? I have no time for small minded people who find idolatry and blasphemy in anything that does not perfectly agree with them. If you're from an open-minded Catholic background, don't bother with this book as it tells you precisely nothing. Dreadful.
January 28, 2016
This book was a wonderful conglomeration of artists and pastors working together to see the world how it is, how it could be, and how we can work to bring about an artistic awakening in the Church (not just the local church, but the global Church).
I normally hate to write or highlight in books, but before I had even finished the introduction, I had to underline paragraphs of great words, both challenges and encouragements.
If you are in anyway associated with art and church, read this book! It has helped clarify my calling and better articulate art to church goers and church to art doers.
I normally hate to write or highlight in books, but before I had even finished the introduction, I had to underline paragraphs of great words, both challenges and encouragements.
If you are in anyway associated with art and church, read this book! It has helped clarify my calling and better articulate art to church goers and church to art doers.
August 7, 2010
By the time I finished this book, nearly the whole thing was underlined--- very thought-provoking and encouraging as a Christian and as an artist!
An additional comment would be to encourage those who read this book to further follow the discussion (which is what it was written to provoke) through David Taylor's "Diary of an Arts Pastor" blog and its many enlightening links--- I wouldn't consider this book to be conclusive on its topics, but rather opening a door for growth in this area of our Christian faith and artistic experience in the 21st century.
An additional comment would be to encourage those who read this book to further follow the discussion (which is what it was written to provoke) through David Taylor's "Diary of an Arts Pastor" blog and its many enlightening links--- I wouldn't consider this book to be conclusive on its topics, but rather opening a door for growth in this area of our Christian faith and artistic experience in the 21st century.
March 21, 2017
The book is ten chapters written by ten accomplished advocates for art in the church. Advocates for artwork that is more than a sermon illustration or an effort in following trends, but art that is forming and being formed by whole and healthy persons. So, if you are an artist or a pastor or a church-goer or an ex-church-goer or a patron or just someone who likes to read well-written non-fiction - go buy the book.
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June 10, 2010they probably should have specified in the title that they were focusing on the beauty of a United States, mostly White Church, not a breathtakingly diverse and Global one...
but this could just be me lackin' some grace. on the positive, I am actually digging some of the thoughts from the pastors who contributed essays on liturgical worship...
but this could just be me lackin' some grace. on the positive, I am actually digging some of the thoughts from the pastors who contributed essays on liturgical worship...
December 1, 2010
There were some good points made in the introduction and the Barbara Nicolosi piece was excellent. It was basically the reason I bought the book as I've read her stuff before and find it well-reasoned and inspiring. I didn't get that feeling from many of the other chapters, some which went on and on without making much of a point.
May 2, 2016
Excellent book for pastors. Excellent book for lay leaders. Excellent book for ALL those interested in how to best integrate arts and artists within the local church. Would make a great small group study book (and I'd love to be a fly on the wall as you discuss).
August 22, 2010
Like any art work, I have some criticisms but overall I think there was some definite substance and food for thought. I particularly enjoyed Barbara Nicolosi's chapter.
December 15, 2012
Must read for artists and pastors
May 4, 2013
Excellent collection of essays, enjoyed meeting the author and hearing him speak at Gordon College.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews