From stained glass to sacred music, Christian heritage gave us the arts… and socialism took them away. A revival is coming, and it starts in the pews, says Rachael Tearney.
All my professional life, I’ve been confronted with the falsehood that ‘the Left is the party of the arts.’ Nothing could be further from the truth. Rather than acting as guardians of the creative forms of human expression, the Left robbed society of the arts by first stealing the Church.
Socialism in all its forms abhors Christianity. The Fabians and other left-wing societies often claim that socialism is based on the teachings of Christ. They typically cite a single verse from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 4), the wording of which varies depending on the translation, where possessions are sold and shared equally. But they fail to understand that the possessions in these verses were sold in order to carry out a mission of ministry for Jesus, not for the benefit of the state. Likewise, in Matthew 19:21, Jesus says “Follow me,” not Karl Marx.
The conclusion is simple: Marxism corrupts the message of pooling resources to serve Christ into pooling resources to serve the state. It then attempts to convince us the two are the same.
On the other hand, in 1 Timothy 5:8 it is written: “But if any provide not for his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.” As Margaret Thatcher once observed, you won’t find a stronger argument for personal responsibility than that.
The Church of England has a great deal of money, something else the Marxists believe they should have access to. But that wealth was accumulated over centuries through voluntary giving: collections, wills, almshouses and the creation of extraordinary works of art: paintings, statues, stained glass windows, organs, wood carvings and remarkably beautiful buildings. These are the arts. Add to that list hymns, music, bell-ringing, prayers, texts, nativity plays, and worship. This money and beauty were not given to the state; they were given for the glory of God and the mission of Jesus.
In the medieval period, the Passion of Christ was portrayed through the performance of plays, as many peasants could not understand the Latin Mass. They couldn’t read, but it was never forbidden to depict Jesus in art. Morality plays flourished, allegorical works based on Christian principles, and there was even a character called Everyman.
When the Left began its assault on the established Church in earnest in the West with the rise of Marxism, it targeted Everyman and stripped the poor of their free access to the arts.
A poor inner-city child could once go to church, learn to read at Sunday School for free, watch or perform in plays, sing, hear and play music, ring bells, play the organ and explore their creative gifts to their heart’s content. The Left took that away. They told you Christianity was nonsense, worse than that, an instrument of oppression and control. Then they took control of the arts and began distributing access only to those who passed their ideological tests.
This Easter, church attendance rose by as much as 50%. That’s no surprise to me, I predicted it over a year ago, but it is thrilling nonetheless. When you go to church, you gain access to the arts for free, thanks to the legacy of Christians who came before you and gave willingly.
A revival in faith will bring a revival in the arts. How many young boys and men are out there, not realising they possess the most beautiful singing voices — soprano, tenor, baritone, bass? How many scholars with extraordinary powers of reasoning are missing the chance to debate theology? Are there potential Michelangelos not sketching or painting because they’ve never had the chance to gaze at beautiful art during weekly worship?
The Church also offers something else the Left inadvertently stole: fellowship. They replaced it with wellness community groups, draining more money from the state unnecessarily. Young men in particular are returning to church. Again, I’m not surprised. The brotherhood of Christianity was a strong, powerful thing and has been sorely missed in society. It can help build confidence, ease pressure, and give courage to face life’s problems. Church attendance by men and boys will go a long way towards addressing the mental health crisis by providing purpose and belonging.
You may also find that, while you have something to gain from attending church, you have something to give. Your own talents could be employed through Christian worship to enrich the lives of others and continue the great Christian legacy of Britain.
Of course, as you enter a church today, you may be greeted by a vicar more interested in social activism than scripture. Don’t be disheartened. Pray for them. For, as Jesus said in Matthew 5:46–47: “If ye love them which love you, what reward have ye?” With God, all things are possible.
By Rachael Tearney
Follow Rachael at @WritesRachael
Main Image: For illustration purposes only. Image created with AI.
UK-US trade talks moving in a very positive direction- Sky news