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It’s important.

“If the local church is not the most creative, innovative, and alive place on the planet,
we are failing as leaders.”

-Ed Young   The Creative Leader
 
Some churches will play rock concerts, have art shows, lighting effects, and have amazing graphic design. Other churches lean more to the traditional side of bulletin board announcements, mass choirs, and stained glass windows. Neither is bad. I want to stress that I’m not bashing the traditional church. But, which one of these groups do you think will attract my generation into an environment where they can meet Christ?

I am a big pusher of creativity in the church. I like to see art, different music, and anything other than the expected at the Sunday morning service. Creativity in the church brings about raises some hairs. Some will argue that tradition and the sacredness of preserving the Holiness of the church doesn’t leave room for creativity. While these things are important and should be protected, we should also realize that our God, the One that all of us are striving to be like, was the original creator. What was the fifth word in the Bible?

%70 of Jesus’ words in the Gospels were based on application. He knew that it just isn’t just an “artsy” person that learns visually. Everyone does! He would use parables and talk about His Fathers’ beauty on this Earth.
 
Another thought: God has given all of us creativity. We are made in the image of the image-maker. Who are we to squander that and not use that creativity to the fullest?

As a graphic and web designer, I’m always engulfed in Photoshop tricks and imagery. I love it. Most ministry work I do today involves the skills that pass through my keyboard. I get to design background worship images, title slides, flyers, bulletins, and other attractive media.

The college ministry I get to be a part of, Water’s Edge, is huge on the arts and with staying relevant to my generation. We have a team that meets twice a week just plan out different environments so that services won’t get stale. At Water’s Edge, it won’t be out of the ordinary to see a funny YouTube video, hear the band play a cover song from Audioslave or The Cranberries, or hear the pastor make jokes for 10 minutes before diving into the sermon.

Why do we do it this way? Because it works. It creates an environment where students can feel comfortable, and actually engage in the teaching, instead of worrying about feeling out of place. Most kids walk through the doors with a past of their parents dragging them to church, but when they encounter a creative and fun environment, they feel comfortable. Last week I watched 8 college-age students respond to the alter call and give their lives to Christ.

Creativity in the church is important, and as more emergent churches grow bigger as my generation responds, I feel like this statement will become more and more important for the more traditional church to embrace.
 
These images are how I express myself, they are not for me. I pray that
they attract my age to the right environment to meet God: