The two phrases listed above sound virtually identical, but there is a world of difference between the two. It turns out the order of the words and the addition of the word “of” makes a boat load of difference. I am all in favor of a theology of creativity. I believe part of being created in the image of God includes the fact that we are creative beings, that God has instilled some level of creativity in all of us and He has from the first time He trotted an elephant in front of Adam and said “What shall we call it?” I’m not saying everyone is an artist, though I probably would if you asked me, but that is a different story for a different day. I’m saying everyone is creative and everyone has an imagination. Remember creativity it not just art, it’s problem solving. If you’ve ever used a tool for other than it’s intended purpose, you were creative. If you’ve ever made up a story or even an excuse, there was an element of creativity involved. Further I believe as children of the Creator, instilled with creativity, there is an implied calling to use that creativity to help people, solve problems and make the world a better place to the glory of God. That is a very limited discussion of my theology of creativity. 

The other side of the versus sign is creative theology. To my mind creative theology has been around since the first time the enemy of our souls took Eve aside and contradicted the Word of God. The “soul” of creative theology is that very thing, contradicting the Word of God and it is diabolical. It’s the attempt to make the word of God fit the culture. On the surface, that sounds so much easier than doing what we’re supposed to do, which is working with the Holy Spirit to help the culture to conform to the Word. I say is seems much easier, because it is usually easier, to make try to ourselves the authority than it is to come under anyone’s authority, even if that “anyone” is God. It may seem easier, but what you end up with if you go this direction is to try to change a standard that God has not changed. Creative theology is picking and choosing the parts of Scripture we want to emphasize, as well as the parts we want to omit, rather than taking the full counsel of Scripture into account. It’s a lie from the pit of hell and it will not stand. 

Hebrews 4:12 reminds us “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” We have too many people who have decided to follow their hearts and to try to make the Scripture line up with what seems right to our hearts. The problem is we are forgetting what Jeremiah told us. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?”  We are not supposed to change the Word, the Word is supposed to change us. We need to take the counsel of Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world…” but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” and if we will do that there is a promise that goes along with it, “that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” To know and follow the will of God is not to attempt to bend His will to ours, it is to seek His will even if everyone else is going a different direction. Creative theology will never get us to where God wants us to be. Rather it will leave us deluded and outside the will of God.

A theology of creativity understands what can change and what cannot. It can be a vital tool in take the unchanging message of the Gospel to an ever changing world. There is tremendous freedom in methods. If you don’t believe me ,watch true churches around the world as they worship the Lord in truth. What cannot be changed is the message of the Word of God and thank God for that. In a world that seems to change with virtually every whim of culture, the Word of God is an unchanging, solid rock on which to build a life. Stand on the Rock.