We are created in the image of God. In Genesis in the Bible it says, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness."

God, by nature is creative. I mean, he created things like color and mountains and flowers -- well, everything. Therefore, being in his image, and bearing his likeness, we are creative. Our abilities to create -- be it to write, sing, paint, play an instrument, sculpt, build, work on a car or draw a cartoon -- are a reflection of God our creator whether we choose to praise him with them or not.

Francis Schaeffer -- a really cool writer and thinker says that all of life is given to us by God and is under the leadership of Christ. And, as we've said before, we are made in God's image as creative beings. To admire and develop this creativity in every area of life is to give glory to our Creator. Rather than dividing our lives into superficial categories, God gives us the fullness of life to be lived artistically to his glory.

For a long time a division between the physical and the spiritual has crept into Christianity. People would say that going to church, reading the Bible and praying are spiritual; but science, school, jobs and especially the arts are worldly. It seems that there is pressure to "Christianize" everything in the arts to make it ok. Like, the word "Jesus" has to be in the lyrics of a song, or a painting can only be of "Christian" things and therefore, art can loose its originality, rich expression or sometimes become shallow. The creativity of the arts leads us into deeper imagination, understanding, and wonder of God's creative character and the world in which we live.

We often are self-conscious about our creativity. That's ok. We are all in a process of becoming what God wishes for us to be and that holds true for our artsy qualities too. Your story or song or drawing are just as glorifying to God as Michael Angelo's masterpieces because just like him -- you too are living proof of your heavenly Father's love by reflecting his image through your creativity. Keep in mind what C.S. Lewis said about creating, "No man who values originality will ever be original. But try to tell the truth as you see it, try to do any bit of work as well as can be done for the glory of God, and what men call originality will come unsought."