Artistic License

Recently, a friend told me that she had heard someone say, “Good artists create, great artists copy.” That’s an interesting notion, considering the importance of intellectual property these days; any artist who copies is surely plagiarizing! However, said friend pointed out that when she’s rehearsing for a theatrical production she looks at every rendition of that production that she can find in order to get a better sense of the character she’s playing, to see how other (and better) actors have done it. Similarly, when I’m working on a new piece of music, I listen to lots of different recordings to hear what others have done with the same material, and if I like what a particular artist has done I’ll try to emulate that in my own performance. It’s not copying in the sense of stealing their work; I’m simply taking pointers from the masters and letting them teach by example.

As I further pondered this notion, I tried to find a way to connect it to my faith life and saw the obvious connection to "great artists copy"; we are to follow the example set for us by Jesus, the greatest artist. He came to preach and teach and show us how to live as God's faithful people. But I struggled for a while to come up with a parallel to the alternative, "good artists create." What exactly do we try to create that is second-rate, and how do we move past that? If Jesus is the holy perfection for which we strive, the consolation prize must be something created by us, sinful humans in a sinful world. That thought brought me to Luther's doctrine of two kingdoms. 

Luther contends that there are two kingdoms of God: the secular kingdom of this world, the one we can physically see; and the spiritual kingdom, which God provides for His people so that we may be redeemed through Christ. We as Christians are called to live in both kingdoms simultaneously, and we must answer to both earthly and heavenly authorities. So the "good artists" are those who live in the secular world, following the ways of this world and creating laws to suit the needs of the people on earth. On the other hand, the "great artists" are the ones who live in both kingdoms during their earthly lives and follow Christ’s example while still abiding by the norms of this world. It's easy to be a good artist: follow the rules established by our governments that adhere to the human principles of profit, personal gain, and generally looking out for oneself. But Jesus calls us to be great artists and live lives of Christian love and service. Give to and forgive others without hesitation, thank God for all He has done rather than congratulating ourselves on our own achievements, don't get too attached to this world and the things in it because they won't last forever. These are the sorts of things you've heard in Sunday school since you were little, but it's not at all easy to do! We must live physically in this world, just as Jesus did back in ~0 BCE, because we’re stuck here for the time being. Yet we still have to keep one foot in heaven's door to maintain that connection with God's spiritual kingdom.

So how are we, naturally sinful creatures, supposed to live like Christ in a world where everyone else is just looking out for themselves? In light of this predicament, I propose that we should learn to copy not only Jesus but also one another. We’re not in it alone, and sometimes we need to rely on our friends to show or remind us how to live out God’s love. I know I’m not always in the best of moods or particularly zealous about living as a citizen of God’s kingdom while also living in a sinful world, and Jesus is not physically next to me to tell or show me what He would do. That’s why we live as Christians in a community of faith; Jesus is present in you and me and everyone who gathers as a member of God’s kingdom. I see Jesus’ love at work in you when you reach out to others in kindness or forgiveness, and seeing that in you reminds me that I have a higher calling than this world and its selfish ways. I can strive to be like Jesus even in small ways because I have seen you do the same and I want to copy that.

I pray that we can learn from each other what it means to live like Christ in a world full of sin. That we copy the example set for us by the One who is the greatest artist, from His ministry on earth as well as the ways in which He is present in each one of us today.