n e w c h u r c h l i f e : j u ly / au g u s t 2 0 1 5
spiritual, without a form. But in heaven the essential quality that gives life to a
work of art is not merely suggested by the object that expresses it, but is more
fully and perfectly united with it.
On earth, we sense the presence of a transcendent quality in the best art;
in heaven, the art is in that quality. That is, in heaven the spiritual reality that
even on earth makes a work of art art, entirely pervades and surrounds the art
objects by which it is made manifest. This is why the art there is so supremely
beautiful and uplifting. So here is something artists in this world should strive
for; in heaven they’ll succeed.
Works of art in heaven are inexpressibly beautiful for the same reason
the bodies of people in heaven are; they are composed of spiritual substance,
which perfectly represents the soul within. In this world, spiritual things are
clothed with material substances which are subject to the limitations of nature
and the ravages of time. Beauty which in this world is fleeting is permanent in
heaven.
This gives rise to the encouraging thought that even when prized works of
art become lost or destroyed in this world, the spiritual content that gave them
their worth survives in heaven, “where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and
where thieves do not break through nor steal.” And perhaps, in providence,
that eternal “something beyond” will one day inspire new works of art on earth
which rival or even surpass the beauty of great works from the past which were
lost. Then, I suppose, New Church art will come into its own, and will be an
aspect of the New Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God.
The Utopian Heresy
One of the reasons people doubt the existence of God is that the world seems
so imperfect. Van Gogh believed in God and saw Him as the supreme Artist,
but said the world was like “a study that didn’t quite come off.” The idea that the
imperfection of the world, and especially human beings, represents a failure
on God’s part is perennial. But there is no failure. This world is not meant to be
perfect, and its very imperfections cause us to look beyond the things of this
world to the perfection of heaven.
This world may be a “study,” populated by imperfect people, but it is a
study that succeeds in the only way a study can, by leading to the finished
work. That work is heaven, for the sake of which this world exists. Heaven itself
is never really finished, however, but is always growing, which is part of what
makes it perfect.
Utopian reformers dream of correcting the world’s imperfections and
creating a better world, but somehow the efforts of those who manage to seize
the power to enforce their vision on society always end up making things
worse. The flaw in all utopian schemes is the assumption that man can save
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