Photography As a Form of Worship?

Absolutely! In fact, any form of artistic skill, ability, talent or gift can be used to worship our Creator. Not only is it a good thing, but it is also a requirement. You see, according to the Apostle Paul in Colossians 1:16 and Ephesians 1:11-12 we were created for him (God) and for the praise of his glory. Our greatest purpose in life is to worship Jesus. As Christians, we are not motivated to worship out of fear or compulsion, rather, we worship as a result of the fact that he first loved us and gave himself for us. Christ went to the cross on our behalf to take the punishment for our sins—let that sink in for a moment. The all-powerful God of the universe and beyond, humbled himself and came to live among mankind in the form of a man—and allowed us to crucify him as a payment for the sins you and I commit. That's not fair! But it is the greatest demonstration of love ever recorded.

As we begin to understand his outpouring of love for us, we are moved in our spirit to offer something back to him. There is a beautiful story in Luke 7:36-50 that tells of a sinful woman who entered the house of a pharisee Jesus was dining with. She began washing Jesus's feet with perfume. I encourage you to read the passage and meditate on it for a moment. The message that comes out of this story loud and clear is this; from whom has been forgiven much, comes much love. This is where we come in. When we recognize God's mercy on us, we can't help but echo through the very lives we live what Paul wrote in Romans 1:1; "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." All that we are—our time, our resources, our spiritual gifts, our talents and even how we individually are "wired" should be used in the praise and worship of our Lord Jesus.

So, what does this lifestyle of worship look like. Well, again there is a passage of scripture that addresses the type of lives we should be striving for. It's Colossians chapter 3. Again, I would encourage you to read it in its entirety to get the most out of it. But, in a nutshell, Colossians 3:23 sums it up like this; "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." I interpret this passage to mean that in everything we do, including using our gifts and talents whatever they may be—we should give it our all–do it the best we can in light of who we are doing it for. God didn't spare his only son for us; he gave his best. We should strive for excellence in honoring him.

It's important for me to qualify this concept of striving for excellence. Do I fall short of my expectations? Of course. Just as I can fall short in my ability to refrain from sin, I will fall short of doing things perfectly. But what motivates us is important. Why we do what we do is more important than how well we do what we do in God's eyes. Your trajectory is meaningful, and sanctification is a life-long process. It is our honest attempts to give God our all that is important. Jesus was once asked what the greatest commandment was. This is how he answered in Mark 12:29-30. "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength". Our best attempt at worship involves obedience and giving God our best—our all.

So why photography? Well, it's what I know. It's how I'm individually designed (think created). For anyone else, it can be literally any other thing. What has he gifted you with? Where are your desires–your passions. Insert them in place of "photography". My passion happens to be photography. It's my "happy place", my "cheap therapy", it's the place I can lose all track of time. It's also something I am relatively good at (think humbly gifted with), and therefore an ideal place to strive for excellence while giving it my all.

Following are a few examples of the way I use my photography to worship my Lord.

1) The time I spend outdoors photographing nature is a great time for meditation and prayer. It's an opportunity to spend some quiet time with our Creator God. As I immerse myself in viewing his creation I am compelled to fall into a state of worship. Read many of the psalms and you will quickly see that all creation glorifies the Lord; “Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory in the heavens... When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” (Psalm 8:1,3-4). Whether I am sitting on a beach along Lake Superior photographing the evening calm or waiting patiently for just the right time to

photograph a duck, the face of a cliff or an eagle—His creation moves me and causes me to consider him. As the song writer aptly infers; if all creation is made to worship–so will I.

2) I use my photography at times as a Christian artistic expression, to convey a spiritual truth or as an attempt to be spiritually thought provoking.

3) Upon occasion I get an opportunity to use my "photography passion" to capture images of Christian events. Those photos may be used by others free of charge to aid in the promotion of their event or as a historical record. Some of the images used on the pages of this website are moments captured at the first Jesus Festival in Escanaba Michigan.

4) I have a few streams of revenue resulting from my photography. Some images are represented by a micro stock photo agency used by graphic designers across the world. Another stream comes from the sale of a coffee table book, Forest Graffiti. Additionally, I have prints for sale that make it into an art gallery every now and then. The profits from these sales are used to purchase Jesus Wells in impoverished parts of the world. These wells offer safe, clean drinking water to the residents of needy communities—in Jesus's name and for his glory. Jesus wells invite those that come for water to meet the one who offers living water—where they will never thirst again.

5) Lastly, I have created a personal website (MichaelOlsonPhotography.com) to display my nature photography. It primarily consists of nature related images. It's my attempt to show off God's amazing creation; but more than that—it is an attempt to encourage the viewer to fall in love with the Creator Himself.

Throughout history God has invited, encouraged and even demanded artisans and craftsmen to avail themselves in using their talents for his glory. Exodus 31 gives us a peek into a conversation God had with Moses regarding this element of service; Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills—to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood, and to engage in all kinds of crafts... God gifted individuals for the express purpose of making the Tabernacle and this process is recorded in Exodus chapters 26-40 which is very much worth reading. King Solomon building the Temple is another great example of the outpouring of talents used for God's glory by his people.

The design and craftsmanship used throughout the centuries to make stained-glass windows has always spoke to me when visiting various churches, revealing an attitude of excellence in honoring God artistically. To this very day, I am amazed at some of the skill and creativity shown by those designing the stage area backdrops in some larger churches. Even church lobbies have become showcases in honoring the Lord creatively. There is a woman in my own small church that makes an amazing impact through her decoration of a 3x5 ft. bulletin board that greets visitors as they enter the church.

The record of the making of the Tabernacle in Exodus 36:2 reads like this; Then Moses

summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work.

There are two areas here that need to be highlighted. The first is to notice that it is the Lord who gives skills and abilities. There should be a humility attached to the awareness of our skill, gift or talent. In the use of what God has given each of us—all glory goes back to him. Secondly, Moses was speaking to those who were willing to do the work. Our service-–our worship, should be done from a willing heart. The Apostle Paul reminds us of this in 2 Corinthians 9:7; Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. As we employ what God has gifted us with, let's do it with excellence—let's do it with all our heart—and let's do it cheerfully.

In closing-–the Lord has made each one of us uniquely different. We are many members of the same body (the Church); each with a special gift or talent that we can use in our worship of Him. I trust that these examples might encourage you to think creatively about how you might continue in your worship of the only one who is worthy—the Creator himself—our Lord Jesus!