Getting vary furstrated with Chritians.

[NoName12]

I am having troble getting along with christains in the art wrold, they have told me that I am promting evil becuse I like to draw monster and use the gothic art stiyl. I dont use things that are anti religon in them, I just like to make them look like somthing Tim Burton wold make but that enoghf for christains to tell me its wrong. I have bin doing reseach and reading and can not find anything that said what I am doing is wrong. In case your wondering since I can not show you my art there is no sexaul theams, rarely use violance and nothing that is anti religose in my art, all I am doing is drawling made up certures that are little scayer looking but I some times make storys about them that show that alot are harmless. I am just getting vary fustrated with christains who act like I am worshiping the devil when the bible so far from what I have bin reading dose not codem what I am doing and yet every time christains see it they eather back off from me or try to "save" me. Is there any one out there at all who knows what I am doing is not wrong?

 

[bloodrose18]

Hey! I am really sorry you feel this way! I am sorry that they are treating you this way! I like the gothic type of artwork! I like the moster type of drawings! I am actually really into it! My favorite would probable be vampires! I am sorry that they treat you that way! I am sure that they are great drawings!

 

[LilLamb219]

NoName12, I'm an artist and art isn't always realism as you know. I used to love drawing all kinds of creatures and no one ever told me it was unchristian to do so, but it could be because you're encountering a different denomination of Christian than I live near.

Tell the Christians who degrade you that you aren't worshiping what you draw but it is creative expression and even God created some pretty ugly creatures. Well, I think some are ugly

 

[Kahalachan]

I am a Christian who likes horror movies, gothic style stuff, etc.

As long as it doesn't harm you then I don't see it as wrong.

You can even see it as God-like, in that you are able to find beauty in what other people would consider ugly.

 

[Jim47]

and even God created some pretty ugly creatures. Well, I think some are ugly

Oh! You've seen my picture Huh?

Kidding of course. I happen to like science fiction shows although I don't watch a lot of them cause my darling wife doesn't like them. Simply painting dragons or whatever isn't wrong and you will find some pretty shallow Christians who either have no real understanding or simply like to judge you and look down on you so as to elevate themselves. Its just part of life, don't pay them any heed. Perhaps you could ask them for a scripture verse that shows what you are doing is wrong?

 

[dianalee4jc]

I agree that there can be some Christians who are too quick to judge you and your artwork. But please allow me to add a different element to this just for your consideration.

Before I accepted Christ I was a science fiction writer and artist. I was better known for my artwork, and for my work as an editor of an online magazine. I was moving up in professional status when my life was turned upside down... or should I say RIGHT SIDE UP!

So, I painted a whole lot of dragons and vampires and elves and stuff. I was really into it! For ME, however, all that stuff led me down a path into the occult, and it got me into a whole lot of trouble. I am not exaggerating when I say that my experiences in the occult nearly destroyed my health, my marriage, my sanity, even my life. The things of the occult are REAL and they do not have good intentions for us AT ALL. Satan masquerades as an angel of light so that he can get close to us... so we don't fear him.

It wasn't until I fell on my knees and begged Christ to save me that all the voices went away, that all the darkness turned to light, that my heart stopped wildly palpitating, that I was able to relate to my husband again, that I was able to see the numerous other things in my life that had taken too much control over me. After that, I finished up a few obligations that I had in the science fiction field, and I left it behind. I even destroyed a lot of my paintings (some of them worth $1000 or more), and I had no regrets for that whatsoever. I'm still painting, and I've started writing again, but I'm doing it now for the Lord, and He has been just blessing my socks off through it!

Does painting a dragon mean you're dabbling in the occult? No, I wouldn't say so. But I think it would be a good thing to sort of look inside yourself and ask WHY you are so fascinated with such things. It is the "why" that is revealing, not the "what."

Christians know that Satan is real, and they know to steer away from him. But sometimes they can be too judgmental and they end up just pushing away the person they're trying to reach. But then, Christians are still human and we make mistakes too.

Hope this helps you to see just a little bit where they are coming from! Maybe if you can understand it, it won't bother you quite so much, if nothing else.

Cheers,
Diana

 

[brotherChristian]

...I just like to make them look like somthing Tim Burton wold make...

Tim Burton rocks! I'm a Christian and I have every Burton Movie, including Disney's The Fox and the Hound which he did animation for and an original VHS of Frankenweenie. Lots of people are scared of things which are not a part of their everyday neat little lives, don't let it get to you.

Keep drawing and God bless.

 

[tuba_peter]

I agree totaly with you, fellow christians have no reason to be judging you for what you draw. Considering I design tatoos for people at my school, mostly my ganator, Brad Woods, who plays the drums in a nonchristian band, Sordine. not that that meens any thing, because I think that he is a christian, at least I hope that he is. Any ways, I take these designs to church with me and i know that there are some people that i shouldn't show them to because they will ritacule me for it. I feel that some christians should just open their eyes, just because someone isn't doing something that they like, doesn't mean that it's satanic.

 

[CrazyforYeshua]

As Christians, our job is to point people to Christ. Not only in our words, but in our day to day life. We have scripture that tells us how that life should be, and what we should think about:

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

The question is, does any of that stuff fall under that scripture? Yeshua also told us this:

Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

What is in our hearts makes itself known.If we are into vampires, gothic stuff, goolies, etc., does that point to Christ? is that what is in our heart? is it pleasing to Him?These are the things you need to pray about, if you are truly born again, He will show you what you need to do, as in Dianas' case.

 

[eoe]

An attraction to dark images could be a sign of a problem. It could also be nothing.

As Christians, our job is to point people to Christ. Not only in our words, but in our day to day life.

These people have not only failed at this but they have actually managed to turn someone away.

There are alot of people out there - Christian, atheist... whatever - that like to get all bent out of shape and tell somoene else how bad they are. Don't allow that to put you off of Christainity tho. These people that you are dealing with I assume are 14-19 years old? They are likely immature in their faith and have been all cranked up by some gung ho evangelical speaker to go out and save the world but they do not know enough about the faith to accurately represent it.
The truth is that the moment that a Christain opens their mouth to judge someone they have already condemned themselves. Continue your research and you might just find something worth keeping. Also.. you might just enjoy reading this.

 

[The Midge]

As Christians, our job is to point people to Christ. Not only in our words, but in our day to day life. We have scripture that tells us how that life should be, and what we should think about:...

Not our only job. Some of us are designed by God to be rcreative and imaginitive. It takes all sorts. Some say ourpromary reason for existence is to glorify/ worship God. We don't have to recruit for the church to do that.

 

[CrazyforYeshua]

I understand about being creative, but what is that creativity pointing to? The dark side or the light?

 

[LilLamb219]

Drawing dragons doesn't necessarily point to evil.

There are gargoyles on some church buildings, with the line of reasonings some Christians have, they wouldn't want to enter those churches because of the gargoyles.

I don't know exactly what goth type of art the OP is creating but not all the stuff I've seen points to evil or gives one the impression that the artist is non-Christian.

 

[The Midge]

I understand about being creative, but what is that creativity pointing to? The dark side or the light?

It is part of being made in the image of God.

 

[dianalee4jc]

For me, as an artist and a writer, my greatest desire is that my work would glorify God rather than glorify me. I think to argue that just being creative glorifies God is a lie we tell ourselves so we can feel good about doing whatever we want to do.

The question has been asked, and to my knowledge the OP has not responded... what is the work pointing to? Christ? Something dark? Or even oneself? Who gets the glory?

If God gets the glory, then the subject matter doesn't really matter. I try to find ways to glorify God in my work even when the subject matter is something completely ordinary. This is a challenge to me as an artist, and thus becomes a worshipful and deeply satisfying endeavor.

I left the world of vampires and dragons behind because THAT world led me down a path into the occult. Will it do that to everyone? Probably not. But the possibility is there! And so I do caution my daughter (who is a dancer) against allowing those kinds of things too deeply into her life. And while I wouldn't jump all over someone else who was drawing dark images and tell them they were going to hell -- simply because that method doesn't work! -- I would try to get that person to think about the "WHY" of what they are doing, rather than the "WHAT."

Cheers,
Diana

 

[dianalee4jc]

Just a thought...

The OP and others argued that the Christians in question here are shallow, immature, judgmental, etc. Maybe they are... BUT

Aren't we doing the same thing by judging THEM?

Just because dark images make a person uncomfortable, suddenly THAT person is wrong???

Seems a little lopsided, doesn't it?

 

[Fares]

Dude ! You are an artist !
Dont mind what they think and say, as they are just human beens !
Do what you feel inside ! God gave you a talent, use it and perfect it !
Christians have something called freedom, use it !
I hope you can show us some of your work !

Your brother Fares !
God bless you all !

 

[CrazyforYeshua]

For me, as an artist and a writer, my greatest desire is that my work would glorify God rather than glorify me. I think to argue that just being creative glorifies God is a lie we tell ourselves so we can feel good about doing whatever we want to do.

The question has been asked, and to my knowledge the OP has not responded... what is the work pointing to? Christ? Something dark? Or even oneself? Who gets the glory?

If God gets the glory, then the subject matter doesn't really matter. I try to find ways to glorify God in my work even when the subject matter is something completely ordinary. This is a challenge to me as an artist, and thus becomes a worshipful and deeply satisfying endeavor.

I left the world of vampires and dragons behind because THAT world led me down a path into the occult. Will it do that to everyone? Probably not. But the possibility is there! And so I do caution my daughter (who is a dancer) against allowing those kinds of things too deeply into her life. And while I wouldn't jump all over someone else who was drawing dark images and tell them they were going to hell -- simply because that method doesn't work! -- I would try to get that person to think about the "WHY" of what they are doing, rather than the "WHAT."

Cheers,
Diana