Have you ever wondered why people love music so much? Music instructor and author of the forthcoming book Living the Harmonious Life, Nick Sungenis explains that humans are intrinsically musical. In Part 1 of his interview with Know Why, Nick argues that if we pay attention to music fundamentals like harmony and balance, we can understand what makes us happy in life. Don’t miss this philosophically rich conversation, and be sure to check back next week for Part 2!
God is Musical and So Are We
If you’ve read either J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Silmarillion or C. S. Lewis’s The Magician’s Nephew, you’re familiar with the concept of fantasy worlds being created through music. Nick beliefs that concept is more than fiction. “Music is something so essential to God himself,” he told Know Why. This explains why humans are naturally musical, too.
Music, Virtue, and Happiness
Applying musical concepts like harmony and tone to other areas of our life results in virtue and happiness, Nick said. He explores this philosophy more in his forthcoming book Living the Harmonious Life.
In addition to teaching us more about ourselves, enjoying music can serve as a needed balm in the midst of stress.
“There’s so much chaos in the world,” Nick told Know Why. “Music can be such a great way to bring more order and beauty and goodness in our souls, in our hearts, and our minds.”
Bestselling author and illustrator John Hendrix joins the Know Why Podcast to talk about the intersection of art and faith. A critically acclaimed artist and lifelong Christian, John shares why beauty has inherent value, argues why Christians should support artists, and explains why pursuing art as a profession matters in today’s world. A professor of art at Washington University in St. Louis, John offers advice and encouragement to aspiring artists. We also discuss some of John’s published (and forthcoming) graphic novels, so don’t miss this episode!
Art and Faith
John told Know Why he has been a Christian and an artist for as long as he can remember. As a child, he was often artistically inspired by the beauty in his home church. He sees art and creation as intrinsic expressions of his belief system.
“You cannot decouple creativity from expression of Christian faith,” he said, noting that “everyone is a creator,” even if they don’t consider themselves artists.
“We are made in the image of a Maker, and that is why we love making stuff.”
John Hendrix
John also shared how throughout his life, he’s wrestled with seasons of doubt regarding Christianity. “I think if you do not have doubts in your faith, you’re probably not really wrestling with it,” he told Know Why. “The doubts are a sign that it means something to you.”
The Value of Beauty
Christians can sometimes have a complicated relationship with the arts, and Johns sees a few reasons for this. For instance, Christians are often focused on practical ways to advance the gospel, and focusing on art can feel like an “indulgence.”
John understands the concern, but thinks the focus on practicality is misguided. “The sunset is not doing a particular work in spreading the gospel, unless you believe that beauty is fundamentally connected to some of God’s intrinsic values, which—news flash—it is,” he said. “So supporting the arts, in some ways, means succumbing to a mystery.”
He believes that churches should welcome artists and even implement programs to support them.
Encouragement for Aspiring Artists
The decision to pursue art professionally can result in both judgment and concern regarding everything from finances to the legitimacy of the pursuit. John encourages young artists, insisting that devoting one’s life to art is not selfish, but sacrificial—and meaningful for the world.
“Artists do not have the same earning power in general as Wall Street brokers, and that’s ok,” he said. “The goal of life on this planet is not to maximize your earning potential.” He says following one’s calling and living rightly are what matter most.
“The calling into the arts is a very broad one and it is totally worthy of your life.”
John Hendrix
Regarding illustration specifically, John says that “there is no better time to be an illustrator than right now.” There are so many devices and books that need illustration today, he continues, and illustration brings “clarity.”
“What does God value in the world?” John asked. “He values clarity. Clarity is a value. And it’s a value that is very difficult to do and to bring to the world.”
Conversation With Meghan Kitchen and Stephen R. Miller
Meghan Kitchen and Stephen R. Miller continue the conversation on art, why we love it, why we do it, and how it impacts people. Part 2 kicks off with a discussion of how different kinds of art highlights truth, and whether Christian artists must be “explicit” in their message in order to point people to the gospel. Then Stephen, Meghan, and Liberty talk about why making art is important even when art doesn’t make money—and why we should all carve out time for creative endeavors. Listen to Part 1 here.
Stories
Last week, Stephen argued that even dark art can point people to Jesus. Continuing that conversation, Liberty talks about The Death of Ivan Ilyich by Leo Tolstoy, a novella that impacted her faith through its themes of death and futility. Stephen argues that stories impact us deeply by connecting us with God, truth, and humanity.
“We’re telling stories, and I think within us all is a desire to somehow replicate … the unnamable.”
Stephen R. Miller
“We’re telling stories, and I think within us all is a desire to somehow replicate … the unnamable,” he said. “To put down whether it’s oil on canvas or ink on paper or performance with a music instrument or a human being acting on stage, to give this form, but it starts with a story.”
With or Without Money?
Liberty asked Meghan and Stephen if they would make a living off their art if they could (everyone agreed they would), and why they still pursue their art even if it doesn’t make money. Everyone agreed that creating art is important even if it doesn’t earn a living.
“The further I get from the assumption that I ‘ought’ to be making money at this, the better,” Stephen told Know Why. Letting go of that assumption allows him to focus on what really matters about his passion, acting: “It connects me to my fellow human beings and it is the way God has given me to reflect him among his creation.”
