This presentation examines the evidence from the “Imagination Fallout” which is one of several impact areas that Jesus and His followers have had over the last 2000 years. This fallout includes Architecture, Art and Music in every century and every genre that was founded or influenced by Jesus followers. Giving glory to God and telling the story of Jesus is the topic of more Art and Music than any other. This includes negative depictions as well. One has to ask the question: Why is Jesus, more than any other historical figure, the most popular topic of both positive and negative expressions?

Watch the class presentation on this topic:

Overview Notes from the Presentation

Person of Interest

The Imagination Fallout

Objection:

Christian art is inferior to secular art.

Quick answer to the objection:

Christian art is not inferior to secular art because some of the greatest art and music (of any genre) in history has been inspired by Jesus or created by Jesus followers, evidenced in the history of:

Architecture
Paintings, drawings and sculptures in every genre
Music of all kinds

Examples…

Architecture

Early Christian meeting places inspired a desire to worship and honor God in their houses of worship:
- Domes were not unknown to the Greek and Roman world, but they were mastered by Christian church builders who stretched the limit of the archetype.
- Arched ceilings provided opportunities to paint images of the angelic realm and they were designed to be illuminated in heavenly ways with hidden light wells and strategically placed window openings.

Art

Artists were immediately inspired by Jesus, and artwork appeared surprisingly soon in Christian history:
- The early Christians (even as a very small people group) were immediately inspired by Jesus and employed every art media at their disposal to draw, paint, sculpt, and craft images of their Savior.
- Even those who “opposed” Jesus and his followers were inspired to depict Jesus, if only mockingly (as we still see today).
- Once hostilities toward Christianity diminished Christian art flourished:
  - Early Middle and Middle Ages saw increase in artistic expression with images of Jesus, and his life story, inspiring many artists
  - The Renaissance, even though inspired in large part by the rediscovery of classical Greek philosophy, Jesus remained the chief inspiration in the arts
  - Jesus continued to dominate the modern era of art history, serving as subject matter for believers and unbelievers alike
  - Jesus not only inspired the ”Western World” but has also been a global inspiration as well
  - Jesus has inspired every art genre from ancient history to today including every master of these genres

Music

Music has always been incredibly important to Jesus followers with the earliest believers regularly singing worship songs that continued a long Jewish tradition from antiquity.
Many early hymns and worship songs today are based on a Psalm from the book of Psalms, other early praises that are recorded in the Old Testament and, or the life of Jesus.
Early church creeds and hymns are embedded with simple truths about Jesus.
Broad narratives of Jesus’ life, ministry, death and resurrection can be heard in early songs, along with many rich theological truths that early believers affirmed.
Jesus influence on music (both positive and negative) has been felt in every generation and genre of the Common Era – and it continues today.

If all the New Testament manuscripts were destroyed, we would still know the following truths from early to modern art and music:

Birth of Jesus
Ministry of Jesus
Mission of Jesus
Death of Jesus
Burial of Jesus
Resurrection of Jesus
Return of Jesus
Titles of Jesus

The Imagination Fallout – Conclusion

It is impossible to erase Jesus’ impact from history.
The artistic and musical presentation of Jesus’ characteristics and narrative has been preserved throughout the Common Era…
- in every language
- In every culture
- In every genre
No one else in all of history had this kind of impact on the arts and music

But, that’s not the only impact Jesus had on humanity in the fallout…

Next week we will look at the “Education Fallout”

Going Deeper:

personofinterestbook.com

Reflection: Memorization Practice

To practice your memorization skills, and to improve your Biblical knowledge, practice memorizing the following things…

Review the “Big Picture” of the Bible for both the Old and New Testaments (see notes from session two) Practice memorizing the main topic of each of the 12 points in order to tell the “story” in a couple of minutes.
What are the three main fuses we’ve looked at so far, pointing to our Person of Interest? Pick one or two examples you can recall to share from each fuse.
What are the fallout areas we have looked at so far (session six and seven)? Pick one or two examples for each.

Bible Study

(Review answers will be posted during the week so you can have a “leader’s guide” for your own studies)

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

NOTE: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for “Discussion” or “Going Deeper” questions.

Read Acts chapter 22 then, to the best of your ability, answer the following questions:

Paul’s Defense before the Jewish Leaders

1. Read Chapter 22:1-30 with your table group

In this chapter, Paul defends himself before the Jews in Jerusalem by first giving his background:

a. What was it about Paul’s background that would make him worthy of being listened to?

b. Going Deeper: Who was Gamaliel that Paul had studied under?

c. What was it Paul said that made them stop listening to him, and how did the crowd react?

d. What did Paul tell the Roman Centurion who was about to have him beaten, how did the Centurion and the Commander react, and what did they do?

2. Discuss and Review chapters 21 and 22 with your table group:

a. Discuss: What are the benefits, and/or risks, of sharing our own testimony with others like Paul does? If comfortable share an experience you’ve had doing that.

b. Write out your own testimony, then share it! Keep it somewhere you can review it for future sharing.

c. Review: Write down and share two or three things that you think are important to remember about chapters twenty-one and twenty-two:

Join us next week as we continue our “Case for Christianity, Person of Interest” and a study in the book of Acts!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15