Creativity in the Bible
I recently finished my third book, Creative Potential: Principles for Unleashing Your God-Given Calling, and one of the overarching themes of the book is the role creativity plays in scripture. Growing up, I never used to think that creativity was really a biblical concept. And every once in a while I’d find something where creativity was found among the scriptures, but nothing massive.
It wasn’t until I started doing a lot of research for this book that I recognized how much of the bible speaks about creativity, so I thought I would share a few interesting tidbits on creativity in the bible.
Create. It’s the fifth word in the bible and it’s found in 60 of 66 books of the bible. Which equates to being repeated in some form or fashion over a thousand times from Genesis to Revelation (create, make, formed, designed, etc). Creativity, one of the core characteristics of God (Romans 1:20) has been given unto us, so we may go and be creative in the Image of him. (Exodus 35:52).
Creativity is so powerful, that just taking the first 11 chapters in the bible, we see creativity as a major theme throughout. Creativity started, stopped, unified, and scattered the people and plans of God. Take a look:
It was creativity that brought Adam to life (Gen 1:27)
It was creativity that gives us breath (Gen 2:7)
It was creativity that gave animals their names (Gen 2:19)
It was creativity that invented clothing (Gen 3:7)
It was creativity that caused a family to survive a flood (Gen 6:14)
It was creativity that scattered the nations, and created people groups (Gen 11:3)
I could go on and on and on. Creativity is everywhere, but in every single instance of creativity in the bible, it’s for, by, through and from the purposes of God (Col 1:16-17).
I want to take a look at the acts of creativity I mentioned above one more time and investigate where in scripture it gives proof that all creativity is for, by and through God:
Adam’s life is for the will and glory of God Himself (Rev 4:11)
Our breath was given so we may proclaim God’s truth to a lost world (Psalm 145:4)
Names are given to have perspective for the Name of all Names (Philippians 2:9)
Cloth making exposes value of a wineskin and our lack absent of Christ (Mark 2:22)
In the storms of Life, Jesus’ becomes our ark and protection (Matthew 8:26, 14:29)
It’s by our scattering that we can accomplish the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19)
Creativity is God’s. It’s from God, and it’s for God. I hope this helps just quickly show you how prominent creativity is in the bible, and how He’s beckoning us to step into the fullness of our creative potential. In the book, I unpack the four key principles found throughout scripture on how to reach your creative potential and unleash your God-Given calling.
Suggested Tweet: "Creativity is God’s. It’s from God, and it’s for God. And you and I were made in the image of God to show off the characteristics of God.@lukemcelroy"
You and I were made in the image of God to show off the characteristics of God. What if our role in culture is to show off the beauty and mystery of God through the beauty and mystery of creativity, technology, media and music?
