Over the years, I've met so many artists who struggle in their lives with everything from creative expression to finances, relationships to addiction, spirituality and their relationship with God. Most of the time, the overwhelmingly popular view of life among these friends tends to lean towards one of two areas; mailbox mentality or starving artist.
On the Christian side of life, many believers embrace a popular fallacy that says something like "get saved, obey God and He'll do the rest because God's in control." Everyday, these artists go out to their proverbial mailbox hoping that today is the day God blesses them with the desires of their heart, only to be disappointed. The other view of life among almost all artists is one I call the starving artist mentality. This one is pretty familiar to most creatives in that it presupposes that life as an artist is hard, you'll never make money, to sell your art successfully is to "sell out" and you just have to settle for an existence laden with poverty or at least the lack of prosperity. Thank goodness, I found a better way based in God's Word that is based on how the Kingdom of God works. Here's the 5 ways you can choose to thrive as an artist in God's Kingdom:
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One of the questions I get a lot from artists and creative types is “How can I do what I love creatively full-time?” Many times what’s underneath that question is a feeling that they know there’s more but they feel really bogged down with all the issues that life and a full-time job entail. Deeper still are feelings of being overwhelmed, frustrated and dissatisfied with life as they currently know it. Couple that with the fact that almost all creatives are major dreamers, always believing that “the grass is greener” and you’ve got a recipe for some moody artistic temperaments to begin to flair up! I’ll do my best to put this into perspective.
First off, just because you are an artist doesn’t mean you have to do it as a full-time job that supports you financially. GASP! I know, I know, you may think I’ve just broken the cardinal rule of all artists, but it’s the truth. True art and creativity are expressions of our heart – they are overflow of what we are about on the inside. Some people’s overflow is for themselves alone where as others may be for their family, local church, region or nation. Many people are creative but not everyone is called to be a full-time working artist or musician. Believe me, if you’re not called to it then please don’t force yourself there prematurely. It will lead to a place of you hating your art, being way more frustrated than you are now, and feeling tons of anxiety because the thing you just knew you were supposed to do is not really that at all. The main point here is that you have to know in your heart of hearts with great clarity what it is that God’s called you to do and then begin to walk in that direction. Now you may already know what it is that God’s called you to do but your frustration is that you’re not there yet. This is common for all dreamers. We can see the end result but get really upset because we’re not seeing it manifest in our lives right now. So what to do? I call it building a bridge. You see, we’re all on a road to somewhere. It’s up to you to define that somewhere with the Lord. The fact remains however, that there is much for you to experience, receive and learn in the process. Honestly, if God were to just place us right now into the fullness of what he created us for we would totally screw it up. Why? Because He’s still forging those attributes that we need in our life so at the right time we’ll be found ready to take the reigns of destiny and go for it! Let me offer a few signposts for you to follow as you build a bridge to your dreams.
Nobody becomes an artist just to worry about paying the bills.
Nobody becomes an artist just to have something to do or to have a job. We become artists because after trying everything else in life we finally were not happy unless were doing the very thing were created to do. We become artist because there’s this thing inside of us that won’t quit burning until we give it expression. We become artists because we can’t do anything else authentically. For many of us that journey of self-discovery has taken a lifetime. We’ve all worked jobs we hated, just for the money in order to get to do what we loved at night and on the weekends, dreaming one day that this could be our real job. We’ve all sacrificed more than many will ever know in order to get that burning in our creative bones out somehow. Sometimes I wish that I could have just POOF gotten it when I was in college and started out on the creative road to success but my journey probably like many of yours has been a long, windy, scary and exhilarating road that brings me to where I am today. And it’s that journey that we all have in common. Each so very different and yet each exactly the same. It’s our stories that bind us together. So, it sounds like we should have this idyllic life experience of life, love and creativity but for many artists – maybe even you – that’s far from reality. Too often our story becomes one of trying to make ends meet, sacrificing creativity for profits, making things that sell instead of making things that inspire us all in a package of too little sleep, growing frustration and an overwhelming feeling of ‘is this really worth it.” I wrote this book to tell you that it is worth it. You’re worth it. I also wrote this book because I have a passion to encourage you on your creative journey and to move from just surviving into thriving. Understanding the unique identity that makes us each ‘artists’ is not as easy as simply grabbing a paintbrush and putting color to canvas. For thousands of years, humanity has struggled with what it means to be an artist, even to be creative. The Greeks and Romans even thought creativity was the result of channeling daemons or a disembodied spirit they called a “genius” who would live with, speak to, inspire and create through the individual. Then the Renaissance came along and the focus shifted to the artist being the genius and humanity being the center of creativity, leaving little room for the divine. Even today, the questions remain; is creativity simply some random act of chance, the result of tenacity and hard work, an encounter with divine providence or a culmination of all of the above. We can’t do it all ourselves. We’re not wired that way. We can’t just make it happen and in fact we don’t have what it takes to be all that we desire. That smacks in the face of our good old American work ethic but it’s true. However, when we take what we have been given, mix it with hard work and thankfully offer it back to the Giver and humanity as a gift with a heart of joyful expectation, we will always find we have more than enough – fulfillment, creative inspiration and yes, financial provision. Otherwise we end up in the typical ‘starving artist’ scenario which is based in fear, scarcity and control: working more, getting less, never thinking our work is good enough and always existing in a place of lack and frustration. Our creative sensibilities are not simply the result of well-executed skills or practice made perfect, but rather collaboration between a divinely invested gift, the Giver of that gift and the hard work of artists who steward well the gift entrusted to them. (excerpted from Chapter 1 of “Crafting Your Brand: Strategies for Cultivating a Successful Creative Career” by Matt Tommey.) Have you felt it?—… an insular suffocation that leads your heart to say, “I can’t stay in this rut any longer! There must be more for me.” We all go through these seasons of yearning for a bigger pond to swim in or a new adventure to pursue. What if God is behind this restless discomfort? What if the Holy Spirit is calling you to step out of your comfort zone and into the marketplace with your creativity?
Artists of faith often feel a lot of pressure to keep their gifts within the church instead of sharing them with the world. Donating your time and artistic contributions in service to the church is a beautiful act of worship. But sometimes, it goes too far. Some leaders even encourage Christian artists to walk away from professional or financial opportunities, to “lay them down” or sacrifice them so the artist can “best serve the Lord.” When you look closely at that message, the thinking behind it doesn’t hold up. It’s like saying it’s not godly to get paid for your creative work or that the only way to serve the Lord is within the context of the local church. That mindset does not make sense. We serve the Lord whenever we steward the gifts He gives us—not only within the church but everywhere the goodness and beauty of God’s Kingdom can be a blessing. Consider the parable in Matthew 25: Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone. He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip. The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid the master’s money. After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five bags of silver came forward with five more and said, “Master, you gave me five bags of silver to invest, and I have earned five more.” The master was full of praise. “Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!” [. . .] To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. (Matthew 25:14-21,29) As my friend, the late Jack R. Taylor used to say, “I’m not anti-church, but I am pro-Kingdom.” Here are seven thoughts I hope will give you the courage to step into the vast, beautiful, freedom-filled place God has made for you within the culture. 7. Institutions Typically Breed Insulation While every Christian artist needs to be relationally connected to other believers for the spiritual health of themselves and the community, they must resist the temptation to withdraw from culture and thereby lose their voice within that culture. Involvement in the broader culture informs our worldview and allows authentic relationships to develop. Institutions breed insulation; relationships birth relevance. 6. Variety Informs Our Art Artists must continue to fill their hearts and minds with great art, music, writing, life experiences, and beauty. The Holy Spirit draws from this beautiful reservoir within you as everything you’ve seen, heard, felt and experienced becomes raw material from which to create. Are you seeking more creative depth and spontaneity in your art practice? Then seek out more experiences, build your skills, and deepen your connection to your spiritual source. The more an artist enlarges their capacity, the more opportunity they have to create with God. 5. Worship Can Happen Anywhere God lives in the spontaneous worship expression of His people—not just in a church services. Worship can and should happen everywhere as people offer their hearts and creative expression to God. In that context, all creative expression is an invitation from the artist to God to release His power and presence in and through their art. And the studio becomes a sacred space set apart for co-creating with God. 4. Called to Go and Tell As preached and modeled by Jesus, the Gospel of the Kingdom has always been a “go and tell” message, not just “come and see.” Every place artists put their feet—and artwork—they carry the Kingdom. We are transformed as we create in His presence while at the same creating works that carry His transforming presence to the world. 3. Artists are Cultural Prophets Artists are prophetic messengers to culture, designed to release the light and life of God in places that need it the most, using a fresh perspective and an artistic language unfettered by traditional religious jargon. God uses artists to challenge, encourage, edify, exhort and even provoke. Remember the old adage, “If good preaching and good singing were going to change the world, it would have already been done.” People everywhere are hungry for an encounter with God, and artists are uniquely equipped to translate the Truth of the Kingdom through creative expression. 2. Build Up the Whole Pond The local church can often be a valuable space for artistic ministry and spiritual expression of artists. That said, God most likely has a purpose for your gifting that extends beyond the doors of your church into the public square. No single space is intended to be the be-all and end-all as a venue for all your creative gifting. Have you ever heard the adage, “Impression without expression leads to depression?” Believe it! The creative gifting in the Christian artist community can and should bless and build up the church—but its audience is more extensive than that; it’s in the marketplace and culture in general. 1. Harvesting Provision by Understanding the Assignment God wants artists to live sustainably. If He has given you the ability and opportunity to make a living from your passion—what a blessing! Consistent financial provision allows artists more time and freedom to hone their skills and focus on the art making journey. Artists of faith who bring their art to the marketplace connect with buyers who will gladly invest in creative expression—as long as the artwork speaks to them. For everyone in the Kingdom, God releases ideas that generate money in the marketplace to create our provision in line with our unique design for our specific assignment. Once you fully embrace who God has created you to be, you can freely pursue all God has created you to do while resting assured He wll provide all you need. So what do you think? Let me hear from you in the comments below! |
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AuthorMatt Tommey is an artist, author and mentor who is passionate about empowering artists to thrive spiritually, artistically and in business. |