“One thing I ask from the Lord… to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple.” —Psalm 27:4 (NIV)

 

Introduction: Beauty as a Missional Witness

In a world awash with distortion, pain, and brokenness, beauty may seem like a secondary concern. Yet, Scripture and history reveal that beauty is not ornamental to the mission of God—it is foundational. The pursuit and expression of beauty are woven into the very fabric of creation and redemption. When rightly understood through a biblical theology of mission, beauty becomes a profound witness to the character and presence of God in the world.

Rooted in the missio Dei—the mission of God to reconcile and redeem all creation—this blog explores how beauty reflects the glory of God and serves as a missional tool in the hands of believers. Drawing on insights from the Department of Cultural & Contextual Theology and the Department of Biblical Studies at Missional University, we will explore four dimensions of this theology: theological aesthetics, missional application, cultural engagement, and biblical theology. Together, these demonstrate how beauty—embodied in art, creation, and life—becomes a bridge between divine truth and human experience, calling all people to behold the glory of the Lord.

 

Theological Aesthetics: Beauty Grounded in God

Beauty is not merely a subjective preference or cultural taste. Theologically, beauty finds its source and standard in God Himself. As Psalm 27:4 suggests, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord is a spiritual act—one that draws us into deeper communion with the divine.

The Nature of Divine Beauty

In classical theology, beauty is one of the transcendental attributes of God, along with goodness and truth. The Scriptures affirm that God is inherently beautiful, not in the superficial sense of appearance, but in the fullness of holiness, harmony, and glory. The prophet Isaiah sees the Lord “high and exalted” (Isaiah 6:1), surrounded by seraphim declaring His holiness—a vision of overwhelming majesty and beauty.

Creation reflects this divine beauty. “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands” (Psalm 19:1). The order, intricacy, and artistry of creation bear witness to the Creator’s nature. This is not accidental; it is missional. From the beginning, humanity was created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26–27), not only to bear His likeness but also to reflect His creative nature through work, stewardship, and aesthetic expression.

Beauty as Revelation

Beauty reveals truth. This principle is central to theological aesthetics. Beauty captures attention, evokes wonder, and draws people into deeper reflection. Theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar writes, “Beauty is the disinterested one, without which the ancient world refused to understand itself, a word which both imperceptibly and yet unmistakably led them to the Logos” (Balthasar, 1982). In other words, beauty leads us to Christ, the Logos—the Word made flesh.

As believers participate in the creative and redemptive work of God, their aesthetic expressions—whether through art, music, literature, or life itself—become echoes of divine beauty that stir the soul toward the gospel.

 

Missional Application: Art and Creativity as Evangelistic Expression

If beauty reflects God’s glory, then art becomes one of the most powerful tools of witness available to the believer. From the Old Testament tabernacle to contemporary mural art in urban missions, God’s people have always used creativity in service of mission.

Biblical Models of Creative Witness

Scripture provides numerous examples of God using beauty and artistry for His purposes:

• The Tabernacle and Temple: God gave precise artistic instructions to Bezalel and Oholiab (Exodus 31:1–6), gifting them with the Spirit for craftsmanship. The tabernacle’s intricate design and the temple’s grandeur were not mere religious decorations—they embodied sacred space where God met His people.
• The Psalms and Poetry: David’s psalms are not just theological texts but artistic expressions that unite beauty, emotion, and truth. They have inspired countless believers throughout the centuries to worship and witness.
• Jesus’ Parables: Jesus’ storytelling was an art form—simple yet profound. Through parables, He revealed Kingdom truths in ways that were both beautiful and accessible.

Contemporary Missional Art

In modern mission, creative expressions play a vital role in outreach and contextualization. Christian artists in urban centers, tribal regions, and digital platforms are using visual art, dance, film, and literature to tell the gospel story in ways that connect with local culture and context.

At Missional University, the undergraduate course in a Theology of Beauty and the graduate course in Intercultural Perspectives of Theological Aesthetics equips students to understand and employ art in redemptive ways. By reclaiming the arts for God’s glory, believers can enter creative spaces where traditional evangelism may not reach. In this way, beauty becomes not only a product of redemption but also a means of proclaiming it.

 

Cultural Engagement: Drawing the World to Christ Through Beauty

The modern world often separates beauty from truth, favoring self-expression over transcendence. Yet beauty—rightly ordered—has an innate power to invite, disarm, and open hearts to divine encounter. This is particularly critical in missional engagement with postmodern or pluralistic cultures.

Beauty as a Bridge in Postmodern Contexts

In many contexts today, reasoned arguments about faith fall flat, but stories, images, and beauty still resonate deeply. This is why the Department of Cultural & Contextual Theology includes courses like Theology of Storytelling and Theology of Worship. These disciplines recognize that beauty can cross cultural boundaries where doctrine alone might not.

Think of a gospel painting in a refugee camp, a drama performance in an Asian marketplace, or a gospel-infused song on a streaming platform. These aesthetic mediums carry truth embedded in form, making the gospel both visible and visceral.

As Isaiah 52:7 proclaims, “How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news…” The messenger is beautiful not simply because of their content, but because the message itself carries hope, peace, and salvation—a holistic gospel that touches the whole person, body and soul.

Incarnational Aesthetics

Just as Christ entered our world, incarnating truth in human form, so too must believers engage culture incarnationally—living, working, and creating beauty within their communities. This demands humility, listening, and a deep appreciation for the stories and symbols that shape a people’s worldview.

In this way, the theology of beauty calls believers not to escape the world, but to enter it as artists of redemption, restoring broken imaginations and revealing the beauty of God in every culture.

 

Biblical Theology: Redemption and the Restoration of Beauty

Beauty is not untouched by the fall. Scripture is clear that sin has marred the good, the true, and the beautiful. Yet the redemptive arc of the Bible is one of restoration, not just of souls, but of all creation, including beauty.

From Brokenness to Glory

Romans 8:22 reminds us that creation itself is groaning, waiting for liberation. Sin distorts beauty, turning it inward, making it a tool of idolatry or pride. But in Christ, beauty is redeemed and reoriented toward its original purpose—to glorify God and bless others.

The entire biblical narrative—from Genesis to Revelation—follows this trajectory:

• Creation: Beauty is foundational. God creates with intention, harmony, and joy.
• Fall: Beauty is corrupted. Humanity uses creative power for self-glory and violence.
• Redemption: Through Christ, all things are reconciled (Colossians 1:19–20). This includes the realm of aesthetics.
• Consummation: Revelation 21 describes a city adorned as a bride, glorious, radiant, beautiful. The culmination of God’s mission is not the obliteration of creation, but its beautification.

The Role of the Individual in Redemption

This theology invites every believer—artist or not—to participate in the restoration of beauty. Whether by painting murals in a broken neighborhood, writing poetry that uplifts, or simply living a life of gracious presence, every believer becomes a vessel of beauty that points to a beautiful Savior.

The Department of Biblical Studies at Missional University trains students not only in exegesis but also in applying Scripture to real-world mission. The overarching missional thrust of the Bible compels us to see beauty as part of God’s redemptive agenda, not merely a human aesthetic pursuit.

 

Every Believer is a Missional Artist

Too often, discussions of beauty and mission are relegated to trained artists or clergy. But Scripture affirms that every believer—filled with the Holy Spirit—is empowered to reflect God’s beauty in their sphere of influence.

Living as Icons of Grace

Paul exhorts believers, “Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely… think about such things” (Philippians 4:8). This is not just advice for inner peace—it’s a missional imperative. As we dwell on beauty, we become people of beauty, living testimonies to the transforming power of Christ.

Your hospitality, your parenting, your work ethic, your kindness in a marketplace—these are all aesthetic expressions of the gospel. They draw others in, spark curiosity, and prepare the soil for verbal proclamation.

Cultivating Beauty in Daily Life

Believers can cultivate beauty through:

• Worship: Singing, visual arts, liturgical movement, and architecture that reflect the glory of God.
• Creation Care: Stewarding the earth as an act of worship and witness.
• Service: Bringing dignity to the marginalized through justice that restores beauty to broken lives.
• Community: Building diverse, vibrant, and loving fellowships that embody God’s aesthetic of peace.

Missional students at Missional University are trained not only in theology but in practical theology—learning how to live the gospel beautifully in diverse settings. In this way, beauty is not a peripheral mission strategy; it is central to the life of the missional disciple.

 

Conclusion: Beholding and Becoming Beauty

The theology of beauty is not about superficial attraction or performance—it is about beholding the glory of God and becoming vessels through which that glory is revealed. As believers engage in the mission of God, they are called not only to proclaim truth but to embody beauty.

From Genesis to Revelation, beauty is central to God’s redemptive work. It is a tool of revelation, a bridge to culture, a witness to the gospel, and a foretaste of the world to come. Whether through art, worship, storytelling, or everyday kindness, the people of God are called to reflect the beauty of the Lord in a world desperately hungry for transcendence and hope.

As we reclaim beauty for the missio Dei, we join with creation in declaring His glory—and we invite others to do the same.

 

Sources

• Balthasar, Hans Urs von. The Glory of the Lord: A Theological Aesthetics. T&T Clark, 1982.
• Crouch, Andy. Culture Making: Recovering Our Creative Calling. IVP, 2008.
• de Gruchy, John W. Christianity, Art and Transformation: Theological Aesthetics in the Struggle for Justice. Cambridge University Press, 2001.
• Kreider, Alan; Kreider, Eleanor. Worship & Mission After Christendom. Herald Press, 2011
• Turner, Steve. Imagine: A Vision for Christians in the Arts. IVP, 2001.
• Bevans, Stephen B., and Schroeder, Roger P. Constants in Context: A Theology of Mission for Today. Orbis Books, 2004.
• Escobar, Samuel. The New Global Mission: The Gospel from Everywhere to Everyone. IVP, 2003
• Goheen, Michael W. A Light to the Nations: The Missional Church and the Biblical Story. Baker Academic, 2011.
• Newbigin, Lesslie. The Open Secret: An Introduction to the Theology of Mission. Eerdmans, 1995.
• Wright, Christopher J.H. The Mission of God: Unlocking the Bible’s Grand Narrative. IVP Academic, 2006.
• Keller, Timothy. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City. Zondervan, 2012.
• Missional University. “School of Theological Studies.” Internal Curriculum Documents.
• Missional University. “Department of Cultural & Contextual Theology.” Internal Curriculum Documents.
• Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV).