The Altar of Artistry: Why Excellence Matters
Have you ever watched a performer so skilled that you forgot you were sitting in a theater? There is a specific kind of magic that happens when technique is so polished it becomes invisible, allowing the story to hit the audience with full force. As Christians, we sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that as long as our heart is in the right place, the quality of our performance is secondary. But if we serve a Creator who knit the human body together with great precision and tuned the stars to a perfect frequency, then our technical excellence is more than just a skill—it is a reflection of His image.
The Call to Skillful Praise
In the Bible, we see that talent isn't just a natural accident; it is a gift that requires stewardship. In Psalm 33:3, the Psalmist commands us to "Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise." Notice that "skillfully" is a direct command. God delights in the development of the craft He placed within us. When we spend hours in the practice room or drilling our lines, we are obeying the call to take our raw talent and refine it into something sharp and effective for His kingdom.
This technical discipline is actually a form of spiritual discipline. When we look at the construction of the Tabernacle in Exodus 35, God didn't just call for volunteers; He called those who were skillful and whose hearts were stirred. Bezalel and Oholiab were filled with the Spirit of God specifically for artistic designs and craftsmanship. Our technical performance matters because it honors the complexity and beauty of the God who designed the laws of music and motion.
Excellence as an Act of Worship
We often think of worship as something that happens during the three minutes we have our eyes closed in prayer, but the Bible suggests that our work itself is an offering. Colossians 3:23-24 tells us, "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men…for ye serve the Lord Christ." When we settle for a sloppy performance or skip the boring parts of training, we aren't doing everything as unto the Lord.
Our best will look different for everyone, but the standard remains the same: is this an offering worthy of a King? When we strive for excellence, we are saying that God is worth the effort. It’s a physical manifestation of Romans 12:1, presenting our bodies (and our voices, and our acting) as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. A performance done with excellence is a sign of a heart that treasures God above its own comfort or laziness.
The Marriage of Heart and Technique
While technical skill is vital, the Bible is equally clear that "man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). A technically perfect performance that is hollow and prideful is like a "sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal" (1 Corinthians 13:1). If we have the best technique in the world but use it to seek our own glory rather than God's, we’ve missed the point entirely. True excellence is the intersection of a highly trained skill and a humble, Spirit-led heart.
Think of it like a stained-glass window. The technique is the glass—the colors, the lead, the structure—but the heart is the light that shines through it. Without the glass, there is no shape to the beauty; without the light, the glass is dark and dull. Proverbs 22:29 says, "Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings…" We develop our skill so that the window is as clear and beautiful as possible, allowing the light of Christ to shine through us to the audience.
Excellence as a Witness to the World
Finally, we must realize that the world is watching. When Christian theater is synonymous with the words "low quality" or "cheesy," it sends a message that our God doesn't care about beauty or truth. However, when we perform with undeniable excellence, we gain a hearing for the Gospel. We are called to be the "light of the world" (Matthew 5:14), and a light that flickers or fails to shine brightly doesn't guide anyone home. Excellence is a bridge that allows us to connect with a culture that values beauty and professionalism.
When we do our work with all our might, people notice. They see a reflection of the excellent name of the Lord that is to be praised. This is why, at DGPA, we refuse to settle for subpar. We believe that because we serve the Great Architect and the Ultimate Storyteller, our productions should be a standard of quality in our city. We strive for excellence in our sets, our vocals, and our acting because we want our community to see that faith doesn't diminish the arts—it elevates them. We work hard in rehearsal so that when the curtain rises, the audience doesn't see us; they see the glory of a God who deserves our absolute best.
Serving Our Audience of One
Excellence isn't about the pursuit of a trophy or a standing ovation. It is the outward expression of an inward devotion. By joining technical precision with a heart on fire for Christ, we transform the stage into an altar. Whether you are hitting a high note or moving a set piece in the dark, do it with the excellence that our King deserves. Always bring your best to God, your audience of one.