Art innovation center is a non-profit organization, which functions as a ministry. The whole concept of its existence and development is based on this. The founders of these center, respect it is as a work started by the Holy Spirit, Who found in their hearts willingness and desire to commit the best of their time and talents. The goals and vision of the center are developed in the light and understanding for Christian art and culture and the issues they face. The main effort is to avoid viewing Christianity as a closed system. For the founders of "Art innovation center", Christianity is meant to influence directly the everyday life of the people and the contemporary reality and culture. Christianity is a present day issue. The need for Christian culture is also determined by the fact that all Christians have specific needs that have social and cultural dimension. We need an environment that would help us not only resist "the spirit of the world", but would create favorable conditions for our growth in the Lord.
The Culture as a Way of Life
The culture is not viewed as a sum of various art forms anymore. It is much more than just another aspect of development or its tool. It is most of all a way of life. The way we live together. In this aspect the Christian culture must be viewed as a vital result of the relationship between man and God in the process of sanctifying of the individual and his advance in the knowledge of God. Christian culture is a process that provokes creative approach to the surrounding environment and serves for edification of the Body of Christ. It pertains to the Christian life in general, and its main significance is in the light of the eternity. It also has a material dimension since man is spirit, soul and body.
Spreading the Good News
Another important facet of the necessity to develop Christian culture is connected with spreading the Good News. "It is not easy to reach the sincere but confused people of the XX century. It is an exhausting task that could take you through temptations and difficulties. Because real love means to be wholly devoted to the person we communicate with. We do it because we know that everyone is created in God's image and likeness and is a unique individual. This is not a cheap expression." Francis A. Schaeffer.
The language of art is universal and has an unlimited potential of communication possibilities. It can cross emotional and rational barriers, inherent in the contemporary thinking. Here is how F. Schaeffer describes the situation of the believer: "The Christian must resist the spirit of the world. But when we say this we should be aware of the fact that the spirit of the world is manifested in various forms. That is why Christians should resist it in the form in which it is manifested in the present generation. If he does not do that, he is not resisting at all. This is most applicable for our generation, because the powers we face are so perfected."
Our Own Growth in God
First of all, though, Christian art affects our own growth in God. This is its main function. It can not be examined out of the context of one's general progress in God. The time has come for Christians to stretch their ideas for this progress and walk with God even in areas that used to be considered as "worldly." It is of essential importance to understand that the denied, old way of life and thinking has to be replaced by new. And this takes efforts. Only then we can count the old already dead. What more is that "our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual powers of wickedness in heavenly places."
A New View of Art
Christian art is a product and outcome of the relationship with God, and it is a living organism that is hard to classify. It is not a separate stream in art, but rather a new view of art, position and creed. In its essence it is worship and a foundation for the Holy Spirit to touch our minds and hearts. As a vector of art the material substance has the ability to "remember" and "accumulate" knowledge of God, although it is finite.
Man creates from the depths of his being, when he is rooted in God. The art becomes a manifestation of God and becomes part of the Holy Life. This is a state of prayer and seeking the Lord, in which the blessings of Haven are poured down. That way the beauty and the truth can touch everything in the world. This kind of creativity promotes life and is a source of ethical and spiritual values, which are in the base of every human revival.
If Jesus Christ showed practically the godly pattern of living, which can save our soul, than the art, as a way of life must follow that pattern. Creativity, born out of the desire and the inspiration of man to draw closer to God is transformed into a platform for God to speak, manifest Himself and abide in many different ways. The Holy Art brings up a new aesthetics of the relationship between man and his Creator.
A Battle for Culture
It occurs after all, that the battle for the world is a battle for culture - for the way a man lives his life, and the source of his inspiration. We constantly see big sums invested in cultural events whose purpose is influence. The spirit of "New Age" and the worldly humanism that attack us from every corner, slowly turn people into modern gentiles. That is why Christianity should not be behind in this topical fields, used so much by the enemy. People expect us to answer their questions and we have to do so. The Gospel must be taken to everyone, sophisticated or simple minded, in the form they can relate to.