Settling the Creativity Debate

Creating comes naturally for me. Even when I can't create, ideas fill my mind. When people tell me they are not creative I often reply, "We are made in God’s image, the ultimate creator, so we are creative" but what does that really mean?

God said, “Let us make man in our image…” (Genesis 1:26) Image refers to a shadow, an illusion or a phantom. This concept of phantom could be a model, given transparency to allow representation of things unseen. This is powerful! We represent an unseen God.

"Another way to say it might be to “re-present” someone. A representative is one who re-presents the will of another." -  Dutch Sheets, Intercessory Prayer

God goes on to say, “...after our likeness:” (Genesis 1:26) He said the same thing a different way, in the same sentence. Was that for our benefit? Did He know we would wrestle with the fact that we are created in His image? When we argue that we are too unworthy or sinful, He made provision for us to hear repeatedly, His heart when creating us. I don’t know for sure, but when I say something twice to my kids I want them to hear it, really hear it.

Likeness is to compare and means a “re-presentation”, to be like, or resemble. When we say, “You resemble your mother.” We are really saying, “You look like your mother.” Here God is saying, “I created you to look like Me.” Again, powerful!

In Psalm 8:5 we read that we have been crowned with glory and honor. If we are to re-present Him to the world around us, then what we do reveals His glory.

If God, our Father, is the creator, then we, created in His image are co-creators. Like Jesus said in John 5:9, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” As we are led by His Spirit we do what we see Him in doing in our lives and the lives of those around us, which is healing, leading, restoring and guiding in love. This can be done creatively. For some, it might be painting, singing or sewing, but others might make a meal, pray or send a card. Creativity is simply original thinking, expressing or imagining. We all do that.

When we co-create, we re-present Him to others.

After diving into these verses it is clear to me that creativity is a result of being created in His image and reflecting His nature, so that others may see Him through us. He created us in His image and likeness and crowned us with glory and honor, it was strategic and it has little to do with our ability to create, but more with His purpose in creating. Don’t get hung up on the word “creative” seek His heart to understand how He wants to reveal His glory through you.

Here is a powerful example:

"I was sitting in a gallery demonstrating my work at an art walk in Waynesville, North Carolina...Just minding my own business, when all of a sudden this guy walks up to one of my pieces and said with a gasp "It's like the hands of God are reaching out to me saying I've got everything under control.

I wondered to myself "What just happened?" and then all of a sudden it hit me. This guy just had an encounter with the living God through one of my baskets." - Matt Tommey, Author/Artist