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The Tabernacle:

Fine Artsch11

People in the Presence of God

Supplement

The Tabernacle:

Fine Artsch11

People in the Presence of God

Supplement

©2014Barry Liesch Biola University La Mirada, California©2014Barry Liesch Biola University La Mirada, California

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When you are visiting churches and When you are visiting churches and doing your reports you will see doing your reports you will see art work & church architectureart work & church architecture

Evaluate itEvaluate it How is it functioning?How is it functioning? What feelings, impressions expressed?What feelings, impressions expressed? It is abstract or representational?It is abstract or representational? Theological significance?Theological significance? What does it tell you about the values/ What does it tell you about the values/

vision/character of this church? vision/character of this church?

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Sunday Service is for Evangelism! Sunday Service is for Evangelism! (premise)(premise) Make worship space Make worship space comfortablecomfortable for seekers for seekers No offensive Christian symbolsNo offensive Christian symbols - secular look - secular lookReduce singing, prayer, expository teachingReduce singing, prayer, expository teachingTeachTeach/worship/pray /worship/pray WedWed nights (not Sunday) nights (not Sunday)

Earthquake results of Survey?Earthquake results of Survey?““Change of direction is a necessityChange of direction is a necessity””Revise budgetRevise budget! ! put money into put money into basicsbasics!!

Is Sunday Worship mainly for seekers?Is Sunday Worship mainly for seekers?http://www.christiancoachingcenter.org/index.php/russ-http://www.christiancoachingcenter.org/index.php/russ-

rainey/coachingchurch2/rainey/coachingchurch2/

Willow Creek (Bill Hybels in Chicago)

Survey Seeks Answers 2004

Willow Creek (Bill Hybels in Chicago)

Survey Seeks Answers 2004

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Some Church TerminologySome Church Terminology1. Seeker Driven1. Seeker Driven2. Seeker Friendly2. Seeker Friendly3. Worship Evangelism3. Worship Evangelism4. Sunday Worship4. Sunday Worship is is NotNot for for SeekersSeekers Avoidance of seeker terminologyAvoidance of seeker terminology Thought to be a “slippery slope”Thought to be a “slippery slope” Can’t have worship and evangelismCan’t have worship and evangelism Not at same time. It Doesn’t mix.Not at same time. It Doesn’t mix.

What do you think?What do you think?

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Building of TabernacleWhat will be the approach?

Building of TabernacleWhat will be the approach?

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Building of TabernacleWhat will be the approach?

Heavy or Light

Use of Religious Symbols?

Building of TabernacleWhat will be the approach?

Heavy or Light

Use of Religious Symbols?

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Who was called

by God

to do the work?

Who was called

by God

to do the work?

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Skilled Artizans Called into ServiceSkilled Artizans Called into ServiceMoses then called Bezalel and Oholiab and every Moses then called Bezalel and Oholiab and every skillfulskillful one whom the one whom the Lord had given Lord had given skillskill, everyone to whose , everyone to whose heart was stirredheart was stirred to come to do to come to do the work.. Ex 36:2 the work.. Ex 36:2

I have appointed Oholiab…and I have given I have appointed Oholiab…and I have given skillskill to all the to all the skillfulskillful, so , so that they that they may make may make all I have commanded [Altar, Ark, Menorah, etc.]all I have commanded [Altar, Ark, Menorah, etc.]

How often does “skill” “skillful” “skillfully” appear in reference to How often does “skill” “skillful” “skillfully” appear in reference to building the Tabernacle?building the Tabernacle?22 times! No skill! No invitation to serve!22 times! No skill! No invitation to serve!

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The Position of the SkillfulThe Position of the Skillful

Book of Proverbs (The book of Wisdom)Book of Proverbs (The book of Wisdom)Do you see those who are Do you see those who are skillfulskillful in their work? in their work?They shall serve kings;They shall serve kings;They will not serve common people.They will not serve common people. Prov 22:29Prov 22:29

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The Importance of Skill (Liesch)The Importance of Skill (Liesch)If you think skill in worship is not that important, you are If you think skill in worship is not that important, you are dreaming… lacking in reality.dreaming… lacking in reality.Skilled musicians Skilled musicians attractattract skilled musicians. skilled musicians.The skilled The skilled want to work want to work with skilled people.with skilled people.

Will skilled musicians be attracted by Will skilled musicians be attracted by youryour level level of musical of musical leadership?leadership?

Recall, God invited the Recall, God invited the skilledskilled to do the work to do the work(Are church/group size, age, factors today?)(Are church/group size, age, factors today?)

but there is yet more…but there is yet more…

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WisdomWisdom UnderstandingUnderstanding KnowledgeKnowledge CraftsmanshipCraftsmanship Ability to teachAbility to teach

Qualities called for in

Selection of Tab ArtistsQualities called for in

Selection of Tab Artists

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First person described as First person described as ““filled filled with the spiritwith the spirit”” (Ex 35:30)(Ex 35:30)

The Lord has called by name The Lord has called by name Bezalel…And he has Bezalel…And he has filled him filled him with the spirit of Godwith the spirit of God, in wisdom, , in wisdom, in understanding and in in understanding and in knowledge and in all knowledge and in all craftsmanship; to make designs… craftsmanship; to make designs… cutting of stones… engraving… cutting of stones… engraving… embroiderer…weaver...embroiderer…weaver...

Bezalel (Comprehensive, Chief Artist) TabernacleBezalel (Comprehensive, Chief Artist) Tabernacle

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WeavingWeaving EmbroideringEmbroidering EngravingEngraving SculptingSculpting WoodcarvingWoodcarving DesigningDesigning

Fine Arts in Tabernacle WorshipFine Arts in Tabernacle Worship

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Cherubim woven into curtainsCherubim woven into curtains Almond buds hammered in lampsAlmond buds hammered in lamps Lions, bulls in bronze standsLions, bulls in bronze stands Blue pomegranates & Gems inset Blue pomegranates & Gems inset

in priestly garmentsin priestly garments All the Tabernacle furnishingsAll the Tabernacle furnishings

Almost every form of known Almost every form of known representational art was employedrepresentational art was employed

Fine Arts in Tabernacle WorshipFine Arts in Tabernacle Worship

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The The closercloser to the Holy of to the Holy of Holies the furnishings were, Holies the furnishings were, the more the more ornateornate in figuration in figuration and and costlycostly the material. the material. The The PurplePurple//GoldGold in Holy in Holy ofof Holies. Holies.

Why? Why? Because the most expensive?Because the most expensive?

Are the arts in the Tabernacle?Are the arts in the Tabernacle?What is OT position on the arts?What is OT position on the arts?What is What is youryour position on the arts? position on the arts?

Guiding Principle TabernacleGuiding Principle Tabernacle

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You shall not make for yourself You shall not make for yourself an an idolidol in the form of anything in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.beneath or in the waters below.

You shall You shall not not bow downbow down to them to them or or worshipworship them them; for I the Lord ; for I the Lord am a jealous God…. am a jealous God…. (Ex 20:4)(Ex 20:4)

Artwork and 2nd CommandmentArtwork and 2nd Commandment

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Some interpret this as meaningSome interpret this as meaning NoNo ““representationalrepresentational”” art in the church art in the church

OthersOthers Cross, altar, OKCross, altar, OK

Still othersStill others Cruxcifixes, images of Mary OKCruxcifixes, images of Mary OK

What is acceptable to God?What is acceptable to God?

Artwork and 2nd CommandmentArtwork and 2nd Commandment

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IslamIslam Rejected Rejected all all representational artrepresentational art Accepted only abstract, decorative artAccepted only abstract, decorative art

Luther (Lutheran)Luther (Lutheran) Removed images of Mary but retained Removed images of Mary but retained

crucifixes in churchcrucifixes in church Calvin & Zwingli (Reformed)Calvin & Zwingli (Reformed)

Forbade Forbade allall paintings & sculptures in church paintings & sculptures in church

Fine Arts and Islam and Prot ReformationFine Arts and Islam and Prot Reformation

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Zwingli: Calvin’s ColleagueZwingli: Calvin’s Colleague

Great expositor of Scripture

A musician, composer! but...

allowed no music, art!LutherLuther Zwingli Zwingli

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Zwingli: Silenced MusicZwingli: Silenced Music

Summer of 1524:

Clergy entered the parish churches

removed the relics and images

whitewashed the paintings and

decorations

nailed the organs shut--that no music

resound in churches again.

Why? What was going on?

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Representional & Abstract artRepresentional & Abstract art Both permitted, despite 2nd Both permitted, despite 2nd

CommandmentCommandment Abstract artAbstract art

Floral patterns, geometric design, etcFloral patterns, geometric design, etc Is God an abstract artist/creator?Is God an abstract artist/creator?

Snowflakes, spiral nebula in solar systemSnowflakes, spiral nebula in solar system Representational art requires extra Representational art requires extra

sensitivity theologically? Why?sensitivity theologically? Why?

Fine Arts in Tabernacle WorshipFine Arts in Tabernacle Worship

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Can Can symbolicsymbolic art be effective art be effective if peopleif people

dondon’’t know what it means?t know what it means?

Should peopleShould peoplebe expected be expected

to explore its meaningsto explore its meaningson their own?on their own?

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BannersBanners Nature scenes with projected Nature scenes with projected

lyricslyrics Embroidered Communion ClothEmbroidered Communion Cloth Real-Time DrawingReal-Time Drawing Picture Frame IdeasPicture Frame Ideas Stream of ConsciousnessStream of Consciousness Object Lessons (eg.Tree)Object Lessons (eg.Tree) Computer projections entire wallComputer projections entire wall

Fine Arts in Worship Practical ApplicationsFine Arts in Worship Practical Applications

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What art have you seenWhat art have you seen that wasthat was

helpful, noteworthy?helpful, noteworthy?

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Attention to artAttention to art Attention to symbolismAttention to symbolism Living room effect?Living room effect? Small, “insider” communities?Small, “insider” communities?

Have you experienced Emerging Church?Have you experienced Emerging Church?

(I’ve been to only 3 of their services. Not impressed.)(I’ve been to only 3 of their services. Not impressed.)

Fine Arts and Emerging, Post Modern ChurchFine Arts and Emerging, Post Modern Church

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