Why Should Art be Displayed in a Sanctuary?

Part 3 of my Study Leave 2025 Project

Readily, I can offer five answers to this question, “Why should art be displayed in a sanctuary?” (After all, I’ve been mulling this topic in my mind for years and recently for 18 concentrated days in Chiapas surrounded both by natural beauty and sacred art in sanctuaries.) My five answers are in no particular order.

#1 = The decline of literacy and rise of image-rich communication. I’m guessing that the decline of literacy has much to do with the rise of the internet and all of our devices connecting us to it. North American students from K-12 learn off screens in the classroom, reading and writing less than a generation past. The volume of text read on screens is significantly smaller than past assigned reading of short stories, novels, textbooks and journals. Not too long ago (1980’s) college students visited library stacks, reading through large volumes of literature (research) to glean a few nuggets for a term paper. Today, search engines do all the work immediately offering snippets that match the search. On the same devices used to gather this information (now including AI generated data) a student is distracted by video clips and image-rich sites supporting “a picture paints a thousand words.”

Before the printing press ushered in the age of literacy (Gutenberg in 1454 beginning his printing press business), western civilization on the streets was image-rich. By the time all of us were born, we referred to those, who could not read as “illiterate.” In 2025 I can now welcome us all back to the Medieval Period - a reprise of growing masses relying upon image-rich communication as opposed to text on pages. The National Report Card agrees. (Haha! Do an online search of “decline of literacy in the west,” to read more reports.)

All to say, if we are gathering in a church sanctuary that is a black box or in a sparse space confined by white walls with no art, not even meaningful architectural features, then we are missing an opportunity to communicate truth, goodness and beauty.

The black box church, with no windows, jumbo screen, light trees and soundboards, has an opportunity to project digital art beyond pop culture clips and lyrics to songs written by performers for performers to sing. The technology does not have to be part of the problem. A growing number of artists are going digital and their work could be used toward image-rich communication.

#2 = The growing need to focus worship on God. We would think that “worship” means focusing upon God - hearing the divine voice and responding. Worship in the 21st century in much of the church has become quite distracted from this plain meaning and purpose of worship. In the small strands of Christian practice, which holds to historical Reformation principles (like the English Puritans), art in the sanctuary is considered to be a distraction at best, if not idolatry. Yet the gutting of the sanctuary has not rid us of distractions. Most of us could use some visual help in focusing upon God.

Those, who have made Christian worship their field of study, speak of the vertical axis and the horizontal axis of worship. The vertical axis describes elements of worship focusing upon the presence and voice of God. The horizontal axis describes the response of the congregation to God and to the interactions of the worshippers gathered. In evangelical churches, the horizontal axis dominates. Through the 21st century, certain liturgical components establishing the vertical axis have disappeared. The most significant is the disappearance of the Scriptures lessons. For centuries, Christian liturgies of any stripe included: The Old Testament Reading; The Gospels Reading and the Epistles Reading - or other titles similar. These are read without any comment but for the exchange, “The Word of the Lord! Thanks be to God!” or something like this. But now, the only Scriptural reading is what the preacher reads prior to his/her/their sermon (if it is read at all…some lace sermons with texts or merely make reference to them.)

The sermon gobbles up most of the worship time (more prominent than the sacraments) all for the expressed reason of the importance of God’s Word. But God’s Word is often lost amid long autobiographical stories about the preacher’s fishing expeditions or errant, dysfunctional individuals we have never met, or the minister’s evangelistic conversations on a flight to a church conference. Worshippers remember the stories and illustrations but can’t remember the text of the Holy Scriptures.

Even prayer is slipping from the worship services and so the vertical axis does not stand tall at all.

All to say, art in the sanctuary, depicting the nature and acts of God, especially the Incarnation, can go a long way to focus worship on God. If the preacher is off the game of proclaiming the gospel, at least the cross above him reminds the worshipper why we are gathered. At least the Nativity window declares that God the Son took on human flesh, dwelling among us so that we might catch a glimpse of the glory of God. (The sermon is on saving your marriage - a strong horizontal axis message, which is needed. But those hoping for marital bliss might desperately need to gaze at a painting of the crucified Christ, who died for the deadbeat spouse.)

#3 = The facilitation of prayer 24-7 in the sanctuary. When a congregation gathers in a sanctuary, certain forms of corporate prayer work well. A liturgist leads a responsive prayer engaging the worshippers. An elder or deacon offers a prayer for the world, the church and for those assembled. An usher passes a mic so that worshippers can express their praises, thanksgivings and petitions. In these settings art in the sanctuary need not be a distraction. The right art could reenforce the substance of the prayers being offered. Our praying in the name of Jesus could be supported by an empty cross or a banner depicting the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, our Mediator in prayer before the throne of God.

If a congregation desires to offer its sanctuary as a House of Prayer 24-7, then a daily trickle of worshippers would enter the sanctuary simply to pray. Art adorning the sanctuary would be an aid to their prayers. Of course, many congregations today are concerned with security of facilities and liability issues. Staffing an open sanctuary 24-7 is a challenge. These concerns loom larger than a desire to provide sacred space for prayer. (Too many of us know that we can pray anytime anywhere and so a sanctuary open for prayer is not a priority. Perhaps, we know that God is everywhere present and so we can pray anytime anywhere, but we don’t regularly do it. We may need some spacial help to do it.) An open sanctuary adorned with art allows prayer in it to be an occasion, a destination, a concerted effort to pray….

#4 = The inclusion of artistic gifts and voices in the church. In many communities of faith, the dominant voice belongs to the Minister. A congregation seeking to strengthen and balance both the vertical axis and horizontal axis provides opportunities for multiple voices. The prominence of God’s voice through the ministry of the Holy Scriptures is necessary. However, when the voice of God is only heard through a particular mode of communication (like the sermon) it might actually become diminished. Artists can provide perspective and expression through non-verbal displays of truth concerning God and nature, faith and practice. Art lends voices proclaiming truth to augment the clarion preaching of the gospel and the whole counsel of God’s Word. Many artists are gifted and skilled with keen insight and creative voice. Their art in the sanctuary has potential to present a fuller display of truth toward a richer worship of God.

Peruse the online Artway site. This is a good example of Christian artists, not only their work but their thoughts about art, not only Christian art but all art.

“The Sower (136)” by South African artist, Gideon Nel

At Artway you can read a full presentation of this artwork. What I like is its presentation of nature, inviting the viewer into a consideration of Jesus’ parable of the sower. And of course, its beauty.

The Amate art of pre-colonial Mexico is full of color, nature and common life. This folk art can be easily incorporated into Christian art and even displayed in sanctuaries. Amate artists can be encouraged to insert Christian themes subtly without disrupting its cultural integrity.

(I’m not suggesting that this particular painting be hung in a sanctuary with its cock fight at its center, but it is a beautiful sample of Amate…and it does include a church building.)

#5 = The display of the beauty of God. If for no other reason, art should be displayed in sanctuaries to showcase the beauty of God. The divine beauty is not only mysterious but also revealed in nature and in the divine acts in history.

Let me know what you think - more reasons for art displayed in sanctuaries or reasons for gutting sanctuaries of art. I’m open to whatever you are thinking. And of course, any of us can change our mind and perspectives at any time.