Pixar and Disney celebrated the 20th anniversary of Toy Story in 2020 with an hour-long television special that featured the animators and stars reflecting on the world's first computer animated feature film. Most of us are very familiar with the film and its iconic characters. In the program, we learned about the struggles and challenges in the four-year process of bringing Buzz and Woody to life in a story that resonates with many of us. During the process, film director John Lasseter introduced a saying that drives Pixar even today, “The art challenges the technology, and the technology inspires the art.”
The more I began to think about that that simple idea, the more I began to think about what it is that inspires and challenges us in the church production arena. Are we led by technology or art? Or are those simply tools and our inspiration coming from somewhere else?
As we look at it from a Biblical standpoint, the word inspiration ought to call to mind 2 Timothy 3:16: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”
I love the way inspiration is rendered in some translations. It is “God-breathed” in NIV or “breathed out by God” in the ESV. The original word is a picture of inspiration coming on a person like God is breathing it into them. In that sense, it is not something we can control or even manage. It's all from God. I'm sure that we've all felt that way at times: we have no idea where the inspiration came from and, when we need it, we can't force it out.
It's important to note a little subtlety about the Biblical language here. The word used for “God-breathed” comes from the same word as "spirit," as in Holy Spirit. For people of God, the Spirit should be our inspiration. It's here where a good role model might help.
Do you know who is the first person in the Bible to be called, "filled with God's Spirit"? It's not Abraham, Moses, or even King David. Oh sure, these guys were inspired but God himself says that about Bezalel son of Uri. It's found in Exodus 31:
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with ability and intelligence, with knowledge and all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze, in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, to work in every craft.'” Exodus 31:1-5 (ESV)
God told Moses that this man was skilled and inspired to create works for the Tabernacle. You could say that he was Moses' main techie. He was skilled in the latest technological advancement and highly artistic. Plus, God inspired him.
We may not think about it that way, but creating things out of metal was new in those B.C. days. It was the Egyptians who brought the technology and art together in big ways. Think of the magnificent statues made of gold or the outside of temples covered in precious metals. The inspiration for these artisans was primarily pharaohs with grandiose dreams. They were often forced to create technology and art or die trying.
It was the slaves of those Egyptians who came out in the desert. We could imagine that Bezalel (the chief artisan of the Tabernacle) served under one of these artisans and learned the technology and art. But his inspiration was from God. We can only imagine how difficult it would have been to create the works described without your familiar tools and surroundings. That's when inspiration pushes you forward. That's when the breath of God fuels us.
What are you facing this week that is going to require some inspiration? Make sure you seek the source. Start by praying and asking God to give you that breath. Stay in His word. It's amazing how a little story or phrase can spark an idea. Finally, don't let the limitations of your technology stop you. Remember that if a guy like Bezalel can create art from silver and gold in the wilderness, you can create your art with what you have.
