"Many modern artists, it seems to me, have forgotten the value that art has in itself. Much modern art is far too intellectual to be great art. I am thinking, for example, of such an artist as Jasper Johns. Many modern artists seem not to see the distinction between man and non-man, and it is a part of the lostness of modern man that they no longer see value in the work of art as a work of art.

I am afraid, however, that as evangelicals we have largely made the same mistake. Too often we think that a work of art has value only if we reduce it to a tract. This too is to view art solely as a message for the intellect."

Francis Schaeffer, Art and the Bible

"Jesus used this incident and this work of art [the brass serpent] as an illustration of his coming crucifixion: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up ..." (Jn. 3:14-15). What was Jesus using as his illustration? A work of art.

But then perhaps someone will say, "Yes, but they smashed it. Hezekiah broke it up in 2 Kings 18:4." That's true. ... But why did Hezekiah smash the brazen serpent? "And he [Hezekiah] brake in pieces the brazen serpent that Moses had made; for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it." Did he smash it because it was a work of art? Of course not, because God had commanded Moses to make it. He smashed the  work of art because men had made it an idol. What is wrong with representational art is not its existence but its wrong uses."

--Francis Schaeffer, Art and the Bible

"[The instructions God gave Solomon for the temple included] two freestanding columns [that] supported no architectural weight and had no utilitarian engineering significance. They were there only because God said they should be there as a thing of beauty. Upon the capitals of these columns were pomegranates fastened upon chains. Art work upon art work. If we understand what we are reading here, it simply takes our breath away. This is something overwhelmingly beautiful."

--Francis Schaeffer, Art and the Bible

"The temple was to be filled with art work. "And he [Solomon] garnished [covered] the house with precious stones for beauty" (2 Chron. 3:6). Notice this carefully: The temple was covered with precious stones for beauty. They had no utilitarian purpose. God simply wanted beauty in the temple. God is interested in beauty. ... There can be no question. Beauty has a place in the worship of God.

Young people often point out the ugliness of many evangelical church buildings. Unfortunately they are often right. Fixed down in our hearts is a failure to understand that beauty should be to the praise of God. But here in the temple which Solomon built under the leadership of God himself beauty was given an important place."

--Francis Schaeffer, Art and the Bible