Contrast: Worship and Witness

Contrast is a significant part of how we see. 

I’m no professional sketch artist, but I do like to draw (doodle is probably a better word). I took a sketching class at an art college once. The teacher was a middle-aged, short, passionate artist with red hair, a permanent beanie hat, and a potty mouth. I don’t know what my preconceived idea was about what my art college professor would be like, but whatever it was, he wasn’t it. He broke the mold, and he was very talented; and I learned a lot.  

The one message that was pounded into me as beginner sketch artist was ‘more contrast’. We would review art history slides: “Note the contrast, here and here”. “What amazing contrast, here”. “Can you see what the artist has done through contrast?” Contrast, contrast, contrast. He’d provide feedback over our shoulder as we sketched: “That looks good, try adding some contrast here, here and there, niiiiiiiceeee deep darks and bright lights, man.”  

Adding Contrast Is Risky

Here’s the thing about adding contrast: it can be risky. When you add deep darks or bright light tones to a piece, it is hard to undo. Our professor was trying to get us accustomed to taking that kind of risk. This kind of risk isn’t limited to sketching — think of painting same risky business. Or music how do we know we are hearing unless we know what the absence of sound is; without variation (contrast) in music it would all sound the same. But it is risky for the artist to go too far in their variations. This can apply to feelings—how can you perceive love if you have never felt what it is like to NOT be loved? It is a risk to express love until trust is built.  

Theology + Contrast: Worship & Witness

From a theological perspective, contrast is significant, and it shows up in different ways throughout our faith. Two ways that come to mind are worship and witness.  

Let’s consider worship first: 

Contrast takes centre stage in the debate about the relevancy of the Old Testament (OT), given that we are under a New Covenant. There are even some who say we can do without the Old Testament. As far as I can tell; they are wrong.  

When we are not aware of the history of our faith presented in the OT it is challenging to see how amazing the grace is that we experience in Jesus. It is harder to recognize the magnitude of what Jesus did, and properly worship Him for it.  Without the OT, we wouldn’t know and understand prophecy, and it’s fulfilment, or know what we, as humanity, once enjoyed in the garden, then lost, and have gained in Jesus. In all these cases, we require the contrast between OT and the (NT) to see this clearly and having seen it our worship increases.    

By knowing what relationship with God was like then (OT), we can see how good we have it now (NT). For example, the contrast between the presence of God in the OT and the presence of God in the NT. In the OT, the Ark of the Presence was where God’s presence was. Wherever God’s presence was good things generally happened for His people. When the Israelites led by Joshua were heading into the Promised Land, the ark of the presence of God was held in the middle of the Jordan, and the waters were parted. This is similar to the miraculous deliverance out of Egypt (Ex. 14).  

Josh. 3:17

Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan. 

The parting of the waters here and the activity associated with the presence of God is noteworthy because the ark was closely associated with the covenant. Some believe it was almost indistinguishable with the covenant it represented.  David Howard says this of the ark: 

“These references suggest such a close relationship between the ark and the covenant it represents that it is almost as if the ark is the covenant. God, whose very presence is associated with the ark, is closely associated with the covenant as well…”

For a moment let’s compare and contrast a two mental pictures: First, the Israelites crossing the Jordan. The priests are the only one who could handle God’s presence, and they are standing in the water, and people rushing past them on dry ground.  

The second, a picture of the fabric veil which separated all people from God’s presence in the temple.  Picture it flapping in the air as it falls from being torn and divided.  

Hebrews 10:20 

“19Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21So we see can see that by contrast these two events, we see more clearly that God loves us and the new covenant is the conduit through which that love is conveyed.”  

His presence was behind a curtain (OT), now through Jesus’ sacrifice we can come boldly into God’s presence.   Contrast allows us to see how great that is, to glorify God because of it, and to avail ourselves of the fulness of what Christ has done.   

How can I help but worship Jesus? He has provided a new and better way for us! 

Theological Practice & Witness

Secondly, Witness: 

Perhaps the most important implication of the concept of contrast to our theological practice has to do with our greatest calling to be witnesses for God, fulfilling the Great Commission  (Matt. 28:16-20). 

Jesus said we are to be a light in the darkness.

Matt.5:14-16

14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

We are to be light in the darkness.  The disparity between the light and the surrounding darkness will determine its brightness.  It’s risky to add contrast.  Light isn’t always welcome; but it is always needed.   I haven’t lived in a time where I thought light was more needed.  Without contrast between our lives and those around us, how can a difference be seen?  If our actions, responses, and words are the same; how can those around us experience or see the light? 

“Light isn’t always welcome; but it is always needed.”

The more we become Christ-like, the more we contrast with the negative aspects of a broken world.    Let’s keep taking the risk and add more contrast.  

At one point during the sketching class, the art history slides brought me to tears, I was overwhelmed by God’s presence.  Art always was a side project growing up.  It was an extracurricular, not something to be pursued.  I fell into the trap of thinking it wasn’t a worthy calling.   But in that moment I was finding freedom to pursue the calling of God, not to sketch but to express.  Freedom felt good—so good I cried, I was feeling God’s good pleasure.  Would I have felt it without contrast?