The Beauty of Holiness
Within the pages of Ezra 3 is an unusual event. We zoom in on the rebuilding of the temple where, after many years of captivity in Babylon, the Jews came together to rebuild what was once lost. As soon as the last piece of the building was placed, the people lifted up their voices in praise and worship, giving thanks to the Lord. Yet not all was as it seemed. While the young shouted for joy, in their ignorance, the old men were weeping with loud voices; for they had seen the splendor of the former temple. The contrast between what the temple used to be and what it was now caused a deep sense of loss. Imagine a huge celebration where half of the people are rejoicing, and half are weeping!
It’s all a matter of perspective. Those who had seen the previous temple were heartbroken over what they felt was a watered-down version of the temple of God. But those who had never seen its original splendor readily accepted this lesser version.
The same can be said today. Compared to the great architecture of the past, contemporary society has settled for cheap, temporary, and unaesthetic architecture, not realizing what once was and what could be.
Art reflects the culture of the day. Today’s busy and transient world requires a need for simplification and minimalism as is reflected in modern architectural design. Many prefer this streamlined look with its clean lines and crisp edges. Compare today’s geometric cityscapes of glass and steel to the great stone cathedrals, arched bridges, and castles of years gone by, some of which took over 100 years to build and are still standing. Which do you feel is more appealing?
Gaining an appreciation for what is aesthetically pleasing must be cultivated through education and exposure. I will never forget what happened when my wife saw the painting of Raphael’s School of Athens when we visited Rome. This painting meant a lot to her. When she saw it, she was so overwhelmed that she began to cry. Yet hers were tears of joy. Such beauty gives us a taste of the glory that we will experience when we see God.
The same is true with countless expressions of creativity, including but not limited to writing, music, drama, poetry, culinary skills, masonry, carpentry, photography, cosmetology, landscaping—anything that brings a heightened sense of beauty and truth to our world. In Psalm 29:2 David writes, “Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”
This is why I have been collecting experiences of beauty and design my entire life, breathing it all in so others can experience similar encounters with God’s divine power, presence, glory, and excellence. This pursuit has been so compelling, it is why the Lamplighter Guild was created. A place where the beauty of holiness could blend together and create a space of inspiration, fellowship, and a taste of the divine. From the Cinque Terre in Italy, the Louvre in Paris, deep personal studies in Biblical Theology, to the humbling panorama of the Mohonk Castle, where the Guild was held for the first five years, it is my vision that generations for years to come will be able to, “taste and see that the Lord is good.”
To learn more about this unforgettable week, visit themastersguild.net/summerguild
