Soul: The Essence of Art

When the church tells you that you're not a creative, they reinforce this belief by pointing to the one person who has been designated as the resident artist. Growing up, this was my mother. As I grew older, I was expected to follow suit.

At the time, it didn't bother me. Not at all. I was the most creative person in the youth ministry and no one could take that away from me. It was my job to make sure that we look presentable to visitors so we could show them how fun we were before presenting them with the reality that there was only a handful of people allowed to participate in the fun.

As a teenager, this all went to my head. My ego was inflated and my schedule was full. It wasn't until the pressure and the stress started that I decided to leave the church all together. People were starting to be mean.

Most Christians will tell you, as an artist, that you have a God given gift. Not just anyone can be creative. But I've always held to the belief that everyone needs to express themselves in some way. Making your spreadsheets a little more colorful this quarter or decorating your office just the way you like it. There is art in the little things and it kills me that the American church continues to stifle that creativity.

My grandmother left the Mexican Catholic church sometime after her oldest son was born. He was the third of eight. She left to join the Church of God. One of the main difference you'll notice about those churches in Mexico is the sanctuaries and how they are adorned. The Catholic Church was the most prolific patron of the arts in all of history and that legacy can still be seen in art galleries and cathedrals alike. Even their small parishes are beautifully adorned. It's not hard to talk to God in a Catholic church, no matter what religion you are. I firmly believe it's because of the beauty that God allowed the Church to create. 

My grandmother will never miss a chance to say that Catholics are sinners and will go to hell unless they convert to Protestant Christianity.