Argument from Beauty

Sep 22, 2024    Pastor Don

Focal Point:

God is an artist and God makes beautiful things. If God is an artist, then God has to be the ultimate artist. God is the ultimate artist because he is the that which nothing greater cab be conceived. He is the artist because he is the ultimate creator, crafting the universe with a mastery and elegance beyond human comprehension. His brushstrokes can be seen in the grandeur of a sunrise, in the delicate balance of ecosystems, and in the intricate patterns of the galaxies. Every mountain peak, every ocean wave, every flower blooming in a hidden forest speaks of His creative genius. His palette stretches beyond the visible spectrum, painting not only with colors but with sounds, emotions, and the profound silence that fills the space between stars. In His art, there is harmony, rhythm, and meaning woven into the fabric of existence, drawing all things into a symphony of purpose and beauty.


Yet, like any great artist, God's work is not limited to the grand or the obvious. He finds artistry in the small, the fleeting, and the overlooked - the glistening dew on a leaf, the quiet resilience of a blade of grass, or the fleeting joy in a child's laugh. His art is alive, dynamic, ever-evolving, and always pointing beyond itself, inviting those who behold it to contemplate its origin. For God is not a distant craftsman, aloof from His creation, but intimately involved in every detail, infusing even the most ordinary moments with a divine spark. His masterpiece is not complete; it is ongoing, as He continues to create, sustain, and transform the world with a beauty that reflects His infinite nature.


Introduction:

The Argument from Beauty suggests that our perception of beauty in the world is not merely an accidental byproduct of evolutionary processes, but rather a window into something greater - a divine reality that transcends the material universe. When we stand before a brilliant sunset, hear a symphony that stirs the soul, or witness the delicate order of nature, we are not simply responding to physical stimuli. We are tapping into a deep and profound sense that there is more to life than what we can see or touch. These moments of awe and wonder are whispers of something beyond - reminders of a divine Artist who has etched His signature in the canvas of creation. Like a painting pointing to a painter, beauty points us toward its source, inviting us to seek the One from whom all beauty flows.


It is curious, then, that we humans are so deeply moved by beauty, even though it often serves no practical purpose for our survival. Evolutionary explanations may try to reduce our aesthetic sense to mere survival mechanisms, but they cannot account for the profound was in which beauty stirs our souls and awakens in us a longing for something we have never quite known. We are, as it were, homesick for a place we have never visited. This longing is not a delusion, but a clue to the reality of a higher world. The very fact that we can recognize and yearn for beauty suggests that we were made for more than this world - made, in fact, for a relationship with the Creator of all beauty.