You seem to underestimate the love of God. While you can indeed use the act of drawing to sin, it doesn't mean you are going to hell. Unless you believe that any sin (lying, stealing, etc.) will make you go to hell. If so, you need to backtrack a bit and review what Jesus actually died for.TheGasMaster438 wrote:Hello friends, I need to ask you something.
I feel that the one thing I love to do, that being drawing and creating manga artwork, is evil and going to send me to Hell. Some of the reasons I will not post here because it is not in the mature prayer thread.
Could you provide some biblical reference, perhaps? (probably in PM to avoid a huge discussion here) What made you come to the conclusion that it "seems" this way?It seems like everything about drawing characters and drawing in general is against Gods word, but I don't want to believe it.
This is a bit vague, though I think this can happen with anything, not just drawing. For example, I like food, often a bit too much. Therefore, instead of going to God when I'm troubled, I will sometimes go to food for relief. Thus, it makes food harmful to my relationship with God. Does that mean I should stop eating altogether? Or does it mean I should still eat, but put God first before food? It's the same with drawing.It feels like I am just gonna create something that will lead me or someone else away from Christ even though I do not want it to.
Don't love drawing more than God. It's seriously not worth it and drawing will sadly not love you back. IN FACT, drawing will hate you, but still be like a clingy ex-boyfriend who is constantly whining in your ear. Yes, I am being serious.This is devistating to me because I want to b an artist more than anyhing else. Is that a bad dream? Am I simply going to hell because I love drawing more than God? Is it wrong to want to draw people because you have to look really close at the model to get all the details right?
Ah, you must be an artist. We are pros at being overly dramatic. :3 (I mean that in a very lovable and kindred spirit way)I want to draw, but I don't want to lose God. It feels like I have to chose between what I love to do, or eternal separation from God.
Please help me.....
Crossfire wrote:
Unless you're drawing pornographic images or something.
bigsleepj wrote:Unless its pornographic or sick on some level with no value then there is no way that creating art is a sin. A lot of art have been created in glory of God. Arguably some bad, some better, or some that are theologically neutral, but unless you're drawing something extremely perverse with no moral merit then... no, I don't see how it can seperate you from God.
rocklobster wrote:Michelangelo's art glorified God, and even his David wasn't covered up. Something to consider.
K. Ayato wrote:I hope you're not trying to deny the hard fact that any form of art is a means of self-expression. Does that mean Michelangelo was a pervert because his portraits that encapsulated the beauty of the Sistine Chapel contained nudity? Probably not. Every period of artwork was marked by something unique to that time, whether it was use of color, extreme detailing on clothing, emotions, or simply the beauty of the human form.
Your art is an expression of what you feel and how you perceive the world. If your artwork has a lot of "dark" characters, then it could mean you're aware that we live in a fallen world and there's darkness pervading everything around us. It doesn't mean you're into cults or Satan worship (then again, if that is what you're involved in...different story).
Xeno wrote:So is it that you have to draw the human form that is making you feel uneasy? Because if it is, think of it this way: god supposedly created humanity in his own image. Thus, the human body is something to be appreciated as a piece of art by itself (though it can be art to those of us who are atheists too, but that's another discussion). There is nothing inherently sinful in learning to illustrate the human form, be it male or female, whether final product will be clothed or unclothed. Modern society has an issue with nudity being displayed publicly, but as long as it is tasteful and not profane then there is nothing wrong with it, it is part of nature. Anything you're feeling in regards to art as being "against god" or sinful is in your head.
rocklobster wrote:Everything you are is a gift. Including your sexuality.
goldenspines wrote: You seem to underestimate the love of God. While you can indeed use the act of drawing to sin, it doesn't mean you are going to hell. Unless you believe that any sin (lying, stealing, etc.) will make you go to hell. If so, you need to backtrack a bit and review what Jesus actually died for.
Otherwise, the case may be that you are using your God given skills for some type of sinful act? (I can't imagine what, though. Being an artist myself, though, I'm used to most things anyone can dish out. Art history classes will do that to you.)
goldenspines wrote: Could you provide some biblical reference, perhaps? (probably in PM to avoid a huge discussion here) What made you come to the conclusion that it "seems" this way?
goldenspines wrote: This is a bit vague, though I think this can happen with anything, not just drawing. For example, I like food, often a bit too much. Therefore, instead of going to God when I'm troubled, I will sometimes go to food for relief. Thus, it makes food harmful to my relationship with God. Does that mean I should stop eating altogether? Or does it mean I should still eat, but put God first before food? It's the same with drawing.
goldenspines wrote: Don't love drawing more than God. It's seriously not worth it and drawing will sadly not love you back. IN FACT, drawing will hate you, but still be like a clingy ex-boyfriend who is constantly whining in your ear. Yes, I am being serious.
Thankfully, unlike drawing, God is merciful and gracious. Thus, He's worth putting higher than drawing.
Since I answered the other previous questions, I'll answer the last one specifically, because I've definitely been there.
I remember when I had to take a figure drawing class. It's rough because you don't know what you expect, but thankfully because we're artists, we can see things in a different way than the "oheemgee, nekid ppls!" and get all uncomfortable or immature about it.
When I draw a figure, I draw it like a still life, I see shapes and values that create a bigger picture. That's not to downgrade the human body in any way, but that's just how I draw. I don't look as the person as I person, I look at the person and all their shapes and values as something I am drawing.
And if you're still not convinced, God created that human body. Why on earth would God send anyone to hell for drawing what He created? I mean, it's no different from drawing a tree or a rock that God created. (man, if you get sent to hell for drawing trees, I am so screwed. XD; )
Now, if drawing the nude figure is not your trouble, I'm not sure what you mean, then.
goldenspines wrote: Ah, you must be an artist. We are pros at being overly dramatic. :3 (I mean that in a very lovable and kindred spirit way)
Question time!
Who created you (with all your personality traits and skills of drawing)?
Using the answer to the previous question, why would a creator who gave you these skills be like, "lol, if you use those skills I gave you and you specifically, you will be sent to hell. My bad. kthxbai."?
goldenspines wrote: If you have the Spirit of God living inside of you, don't underestimate God's love for you. Nothing can separate you from His love (see Romans 8:31-39 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?se ... ersion=NIV ).
goldenspines wrote: tl;dr
No, you're not going to hell. But pray about it with God if you are still uneasy and I'm sure He will provide you with a sure answer for your issues.
Nate wrote:I'm going to assume you feel this way because as an artist, you'll have to take life drawing classes which involves drawing nude/barely clothed people.
I don't know how to help you, except to say I'm sorry that some people have made you feel like you're sinning for perfectly normal feelings of arousal. This is a major problem with certain sects of Christianity, and it's very dangerous and evil thinking for reasons exactly like this, harming people who are doing nothing wrong.
All I can say is you are doing nothing wrong, and I hope you can overcome the terrible things people have done to you so that you can do what you enjoy and are gifted with.
Ante Bellum wrote:^ That, that right there. All of it. THANK YOU. ^
Anyway, do you think an athlete's going to hell? A programmer? Maybe a cook? (Though, arguably, some of these might overlap with art, considering how wide of an area "art" really is.) How is drawing any different? The human body IS ART. It's a living canvas, a subject, even a tool, if you're so inclined.
If you're passionate about art, go for it. Part of being an artist is to extend outside your comfort zone, but it will stop bothering you. It's then that you start to realize your potential, so don't let anything hold you back!
TheGasMaster438 wrote:(Although drawing gothic art of people is fun )
I really respect you for taking the topic of life drawing with a mature attitude. I wish that more people could look at it that way than thinking "oh my gosh! you want to draw naked people! your gross!" It just degrading to be thought of as a pervert for wanting to draw people correctly -_- artists need to look at objects as being shapes to get better anyways.
No honestly I don't think athletes, programmers, or cooks will go to hell because their job doesn't make them a bad person. I simply don't want to wrong someone, or lead someone to wrong someone else with my artwork. I don't want to cause relationship issues or other problems that could arise from the potential of the pen, a weapon mightier than any sword. (yes cliche, but it seemed appropriate)
That is quite a poetic way to put it. and I'd have to say I agree the human body is a beautiful thing, but I do not want to abuse that beauty.
Thank you very much for your encouragement, I'll give it a shot
TheGasMaster438 wrote:No honestly I don't think athletes, programmers, or cooks will go to hell because their job doesn't make them a bad person. I simply don't want to wrong someone, or lead someone to wrong someone else with my artwork. I don't want to cause relationship issues or other problems that could arise from the potential of the pen, a weapon mightier than any sword. (yes cliche, but it seemed appropriate)
That is quite a poetic way to put it. and I'd have to say I agree the human body is a beautiful thing, but I do not want to abuse that beauty.
Thank you very much for your encouragement, I'll give it a shot
rocklobster wrote:Here's something else I think you need to consider, Gas Master.
In my Catechism, it says Sin has three parts: Knowledge, Intent, and Action. You know it's wrong, You intend to sin, and you do it. Without any one of these things, the action is not wrong. If you do not intend to cause others to sin, you are not sinning.
Ante Bellum wrote:You bet it is!
Ante Bellum wrote: Ah yes, I know what you mean. For some reason, many non-artists can't look at nudes (even those boring academic nudes!) without thinking "tee hee nekkids," not even understanding that there's art behind it. They just take it at face value and move on. Obviously, this doesn't count pornographic nudes that are meant to be taken at face value.
Ante Bellum wrote: But an athlete can physically hurt another person, a programmer can create a virus, and a cook can poison the food. Even if they didn't, they can't control how others respond to their work. It's the same way with art. It isn't inherently bad, it's what you do with it. I assume you don't go around drawing hate art. Again, you can't control how others see your art. And if "innocent" art causes relationship issues, it sounds like that relationship was doomed anyway.
Ante Bellum wrote: If you're studying figure drawing of what you believe is a divinely-created body, then that's learning just how that body works, not abusing it. The way I see it, being afraid of the body and covering it, refusing to acknowledge it, is abusing it.
Xeno wrote:I think you may be greatly overestimating your impact on the world. It was already said, if someone's relationship fell apart because of an illustration you made, then that relationship was doomed anyway. Art, in whatever form it is in, moves people in different ways. Go to an art museum, you will walk away from an exhibit with a different impression than the person beside you even though you saw the same images. Different images, music, colors, textures, and so forth impact us all in different ways; and if you just give up doing something you're good at because you're afraid someone that you don't know, and will never know, is going to come away from your work with an interpretation of their own, that you can't control, then that is quite sad.
Vilo159 wrote:Unless it was your intent to lead your audience to sin, the fault isn't yours. You can draw nude people or the like as artistic expression and without bad intent, but some people will still take that message from it. When that happens, the problem becomes theirs to deal with, not yours. Like Rock said, if it wasn't your intention then you aren't to blame.
TheMewster wrote:The Bible says to respect your conscience, and that sinning against your conscience is the same as sinning against Christ. So if drawing goes against your conscience, don't draw.
SierraLea wrote:However, if drawing is getting in the way of your relationship with God, like you draw instead of going to mass, then we have a problem.
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