Engage Art Bible Cluster: Dying to Serve

Presenting During March Bible Cluster

I was so privileged last evening to give a short presentation of this piece during the March Engage Art Bible Cluster

Since this painting has such a story and rich meaning, I have written it’s story below and also created a video to explain how God led so emphatically in it’s creation. The video is linked at the end of the article: if you don’t like to read, feel free to scroll through and click on the link!

Who or What is Engage Art Contest?

Engage Art Contest is an organization designed to encourage and challenge this generation of artists to contribute a contemporary take on the depiction of the grand story shared in Scripture.  They not only sponsor a cash awarded contest yearly, but there are rich resources, classes, an app that keeps you connected to scripture, and a facebook page and group that presents the monthly Bible Clusters.

I’m always looking for gatherings of Christ-followers around the subject of creativity and art. It’s a hunger inside many artists who follow Christ, I expect, for artists are not often specifically discipled. So when I found Engage Art Contest and the Bible Clusters that are held monthly, I began to attend. It’s so encouraging and uplifting to spend an hour or so talking about how art and scripture intersect with Christians from around the world.

The Challenge

I was surprised and humbled when EAC asked me to present at the March 2022 Bible Cluster. There have been so many really professional artists presenting at the Bible Clusters that I have attended that I didn’t even feel my art was good enough. And yet, when I heard that the scripture passage for study during that evening would be Romans 12:6-13–which includes my own verses for this year, I accepted.

Romans 12:9-11 is one I’ve had on my radar for a few years now, and it felt right to prioritize it this year. 

Once I accepted (honestly, I had to be persuaded!) My conversation with God at that point went something like this:

“God I have zero idea how I can paint something in my style without being kitschy to go with this scripture passage.”

“Be anxious for nothing. Study to show yourself approved. Meditate on it.”

The Connection

Days later, my tiny brain and heart make a connection: all of the things in this scripture passage are ways to die to self. In fact, all the gifts mentioned are ways to die to self…not things to boast about, like we tend to think.

“Ok, thanks God. But I still don’t have an image in mind for a painting.”

“Abide in Me.”

The Realization

More days pass. I realize finally that all the gifts and activities in the passage are to be used…they are things to use in ministry to others. “Cleave” means to stick to or be welded to…”muddled”! All the gifts, dead to self, muddled together. Flowers and herbs (my usual subject matter) have traditional meanings…and they are picked (they die!) and often “muddled together” for our use…

GOT IT! And a vague composition is impressed on my mind.

The Image

The vague image has a good composition, all I have to do is figure out how to paint it. There’s no reference photo, so I gather meanings of flowers and herbs, match them with the items in the scripture, and mentally arrange them in the composition.

Love=roses

Goodness, devotion=lavender

Brotherly affection=Yarrow

Honor=bay leaves

Zeal=Thyme=service, fervent in spirit

chamomile=energy in adversity, patience, comfort

Dying to self=mortar and pestle

Here is the original drawing:

 

The gifts are used by The Great Apothecary and Physician crushed and muddled together into healing balm (oil) and poured out as he ordains. We suffer, we die to ourselves so that others may be healed.

The Olive Branch represents Christ and his people, completing the shadow of the cross.

Here is the video.