Creativity with Excellence – A Biblical Mandate for Artists

By: Shahzad Raaz – Head of Biblical Research, OSBA

When God made humanity, He did not make us grey and lifeless. He made us in His image (Genesis 1:27) — the image of the Creator Himself. That means every brush stroke, every note played, every line spoken on stage is not just “art,” it is a reflection of His nature in us.

But Scripture doesn’t stop at calling us to create. It calls us to create with excellence.

Excellence is Worship

Colossians 3:23-24 tells us:

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

When an artist performs with their whole heart, when a musician practices until the sound rings true, when an actor inhabits a role with integrity — that effort becomes worship. Excellence is not about perfectionism. It is about honoring the One we serve with our very best.

The Tabernacle – God’s Standard for Beauty

In Exodus 25, God gave Moses precise blueprints for the Tabernacle. He didn’t say, “Just build something functional.” He said, “Make it exactly like the pattern I will show you.”

The curtains were woven with fine linen, the gold was hammered with care, the Ark was overlaid inside and out. God valued beauty, detail, and precision — because they reflected His glory.

At OSBA, we remind our students: if God’s dwelling deserved the highest craftsmanship, then so does His message today.

Bezalel and Oholiab – Anointed for Art

Exodus 31 tells of Bezalel and Oholiab, artists filled with the Spirit of God — not just with skill, but with wisdom, understanding, and knowledge for their craft.
It is a stunning reminder that creativity is not only a talent; it is a calling. And when God calls an artist, He equips them for the work.

Using Gifts as Kingdom Tools

1 Peter 4:10 commands us to “use whatever gift you have received to serve others.” This means art is not for self-glorification or mere self-expression — it is for service. Our gifts become tools in the hands of the Master, shaping lives, opening hearts, and revealing truth.

Skill and Spirit – Both Are Needed

Psalm 33:3 says:

“Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.”

Notice the balance — skillfully and with joy. One without the other is incomplete. Skill without joy is empty performance. Joy without skill is wasted potential. God desires both.

OSBA’s Creative Calling

At OSBA, creativity is never random. It is crafted with prayer, shaped by Scripture, and honed through discipline. Whether it’s a worship concert, a theatrical production, or a single voice lifted in song — we teach our students that their art must be both anointed and excellent.

Because in the Kingdom of God, “good enough” is not enough. Only our best will do — because He is worthy of nothing less.

“An artist’s work becomes eternal when it carries both the touch of skill and the breath of the Spirit.” – Shahzad Raaz