Today I want point to a July article on The Gospel Coalition site that I think is spot-on: “5 Reasons Christians Avoid Beauty in Theology,” by Matt Capps. For several sinuous reasons that Matt quickly names for us, the evangelical Church has avoided pursuing a theology of beauty and aesthetics. Such a pursuit would include how beauty correlates with the other two transcendentals, truth and goodness. Capps encourages Christians to lead in such studies. Capps says, “A distinctly Christian vision of beauty and aesthetics. . . could enable us to better discern and understand the God-intended purpose for sensory pleasures. For unless our affections are grounded and guided by biblical parameters, they’re spurious and ungenuine.” Capps short article is an excellent and important read. Since beauty is a wondrous gift from God referenced by Scripture in many and varied situations, certainly not the least of which relate to God-centered worship, it is incumbent upon Christians to understand its meaning and purpose.

Source:

Capps, Matt. “5 Reasons Christians Avoid Beauty in Theology.” The Gospel Coalition. Accessed December 25, 2016. Available from https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/5-reasons-christians-neglect-beauty-in-theology; Interntet.

Matt Capps is senior pastor at Fairview Baptist Church in Apex, North Carolina. He holds an MDiv from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and is a DMin candidate at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. Matt blogs at mattcapps.wordpress.com.