A great fear has gripped our world in recent weeks. With frightening swiftness we have been swept into a historical moment that is both unprecedented and familiar, and will require the heroic resolve of medical professionals and policy makers to see us through this crisis. As this disease continues to reveal the fragility of our life together and confront us with our own mortality, the calling of Christian creators has also become a heightened one. Now we are entrusted with the sacred work of manifesting ordinary and divine beauty to a world reeling from disease, uncertainty and economic turmoil.

This is the ancient vocation of Christians within the arts, taking new shape in our particular historical moment. For our communities that feel a growing desperation for meaning in the looming uncertainty ahead, we can articulate—through our faithful creativity and the relentless cultivation of beautiful things—that which is true about our world. Truth remains the bulwark of our common life; Goodness yet guides our hearts and minds; Beauty has not fled the earth.    

These are not trite sayings, nor do they produce fleeting comforts. The rooted tradition of Christian artistry, brought to bear in our unfolding global crisis, can recall for us the foundations of true strength and hope. To take up this task is to engage in the prophetic act of shaping our own piece of the world more into its perfected form—from which it departed at the Fall, and to which it longs to return at the eventual arrival of God’s kingdom. It is here now, and is yet afar off.

The strangeness of our immediate circumstances calls for a wise and measured response. Noise has always been the order of the day, and plenty of it has been generated in recent weeks. The challenge facing us now is to craft work which will transcend these next few moments shut indoors, stretching forward in ways that continuously bring life and beauty into the world. We ought not underestimate our capacity to contribute historic literature and artwork that will capture the story of our time for future generations. Furthermore, away from the usual environment of our studios, galleries and venues, many of us are left without the typical means of engaging with our artistic mediums. The coming season demands of us creative ways of producing, refining and sharing our work with each other and our communities. If done with the requisite prudence, this will only serve to strengthen our artistic abilities, adding a richness to them we never knew existed.

This current moment also affords a reordering of our role within the arts and culture more broadly. Our pre-pandemic cultural regime possessed an ultimate aimlessness that often manifested itself in a confused relationship with the arts. It either demanded raw utility, wherein the arts are simply an engine of economic value, or expected a kind of flashy entertainment that satiates our ever expanding appetites. Suddenly, we all see with unmistakable clarity the foolishness of both. The procurement of cash and the production of content seem hollow in the face of our current and impending crisis. We yearn now more than ever for transcendent things, both immediate and eternal. By God’s sovereignty and grace Christian artists are uniquely positioned to offer this to an aching world.

In the coming months, our communities will rely heavily on the work of medical professionals, public health officials, scientists, economists and politicians. The fidelity of artists during this time will play another vital role in the restoration of our common life. We who have caught glimpses of true and lasting beauty share a special calling in the uncertainty awaiting us all. May we be faithful imitators of our God, who created this world and declared that it was good.

Forefront is committed to fostering a robust conversation on the intersection of Christian faith and the arts by publishing a wide range of voices and opinions. The views expressed here reflect those of the author.