Mission & Position Statements

Our Name

Poiema Visual Arts... Poi-what? Poiema is the Greek word translated “workmanship” in Ephesians 2:10. The verse says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (ESV).

The emphasis here is not on the creation but rather on the Creator. In choosing this word as part of our banner, we are emphasizing the role of our gifts in proclaiming the person, purpose, and plan of God.

Our Logo

Our logo contains several elements that reflect our purpose as an equipping arts ministry. Among them you will notice triangles, stained glass and perhaps a mosaic.

• Triangles – In the Christian tradition the triangle has long represented the Trinity. Due to this correlation, and because we believe that all beauty flows out of the communal relationship of the God-head, we have chosen a triangle-shape to frame our logo. Inside, the collection of smaller triangles reminds us that our creativity is inherited from our divine Creator, whose image and likeness we reflect.
  

• Stained Glass – Stained glass is one of the most beloved visual-art-forms associated with the church. Its ability to bathe corporate worship in jewel-tones while reminding us of our mission – to be light in a dark world – make it an ideal image for connecting the arts to both the past and the future.

• Mosaic – We live in a broken world. Many of us have intimately witnessed the effects of this brokenness and in response, have sought to find beauty among the shards. Pain can lead to isolation but we are not alone. Sharing our experiences, we become a mosaic of stories; united by the hope and compassion we have found in Christ.

Statement of Faith

The Holy Scriptures

We believe that the sixty-six books of the Bible constitute the inspired Word of God. Infallible in their original autographs, they remain as trustworthy today as when they were first written. The message of Scripture, while complex to the mature in faith, shares a simple story of salvation understandable at first hearing. We believe that the Bible is a sufficient and authoritative guide for believers in all areas of life and practice.

The Trinity

We believe in one God, the Creator and Preserver of all things. He exists eternally as three distinct persons: Father, Son, & Holy Spirit. Unified in deity, attribute, and essence, the three are of one substance and equal in power and glory. Together before the beginning of time, the earth was perfectly spoken into being from the beauty of their character.

Jesus

We believe that Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God who was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin. The perfect God-man, He is without sin. Divinely appointed as the only sufficient sacrifice, Jesus paid the ransom for humanity’s sins by dying on the cross, fulfilling the needed atonement for sin through His shed blood, and reconciling to God those who believe. We believe that He experienced a literal death, resurrection, and ascension to glory. At a time of His choosing, Jesus will return and reclaim His own.

Humanity, Sin & Salvation

We believe God created Adam and Eve in His own image and likeness. By disobedience, they fell from their sinless state; enticed by the temptations offered by Satan. This fall plunged the human race into a state of sin and spiritual separation, and brought upon all humanity a sentence of eternal death. However, because of His great love for His creation, God provided a solution for this sentence. Salvation is available only by the grace of God, through believing faith, on the merit of Christ’s sacrifice and not personal works.

The Church

We believe that the Church, at its heart, is not a building; it is a body. The universal church began on the Day of Pentecost and subsequently established itself into smaller groupings for local effectiveness. Each believer is a member of the universal Church and is encouraged to participate in a local body as a means of growth and encouragement. We believe that the Church is not perfect but remains the tool God has appointed for sharing His message of hope and salvation with a broken, hurting world. Poiema Visual Arts, as a para-church ministry, gladly stands beside local Pennsylvania-based congregations seeking to meet these aims while growing in and serving through the visual arts.

The Hope of Heaven

We believe in the hope of resurrection. Jesus promised his disciples when He ascended that He would come again, raise the dead, gather his followers to Himself, and dwell with them in eternity. We believe that this promise is trustworthy. In the meantime, because of His grace, the suffering of this world becomes bearable in light of that blessed hope.

Position Statements

The Second Commandment

We believe that the second commandment (Exodus 20:4-5) is not an indictment against representational art making. In keeping with His character, God does not contradict Himself. The narrative of Scripture gives evidence of His delight in the visual arts. Rather, we believe that the second commandment is an instructional, contextual admonition focused on the heart of worship. We affirm that there is only one God. No substitution made with human hands or contrived by human imagination can compare to His glory; nor is any substitute worthy of the worship that is His alone. The ability to create is one of God’s gifts to humanity; one that must be stewarded in submission to the Almighty.

Grace, Christian Liberty and Charitable Discourse

We believe that there is freedom found in the message and person of Jesus Christ. While the source of absolute truth, Jesus repeatedly taught about grace. As an organization, Poiema Visual Arts stands firmly upon the essentials laid out within our statement of faith but realizes that there is latitude between the additional convictions and expressions of those within our membership. We acknowledge the God-given prerogative of our members to wisely conduct their lives within Christian liberty. Rather than allowing individual differences to divide us, Poiema Visual Arts will encourage its members to participate in charitable discourse and seek to assist in creating spaces where grace-filled dialogue can take place.

The Celebration of Art and Artistic Endeavor

We believe that the creative process provides many opportunities for the artist to worshipfully celebrate the works of the Master’s hands. But while the ability to create is one of God’s great gifts to humanity, not all art exalts the Almighty nor encourages spiritual growth. Therefore, Poiema Visual Arts will seek to encourage artists and celebrate their creations and artistic endeavors by interpreting their work through a lens of edification, sanctification, and redemption.

• Edification – We celebrate the beautiful and its ability to encourage and inspire. Philippians 4:8 instructs, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things” (ESV).

• Sanctification – We celebrate the process and growth that occurs as choices are made and refined. Putting aside stigmas associated with failure, processes allow artists to redirect their steps, grow in their craft and find greater success in their work over time. These tactile decisions mirror another process in the Christian’s life referred to as sanctification. Sanctification is the act of growing more like Jesus one day at a time. We recognize the correlation between the artist’s process and their spiritual development and support therapeutic efforts to promote growth.

• Redemption – We celebrate the opportunity to interpret broken art and artists through the lens of redemption. Though marred by sin, all truth remains God's truth. Art history, replete with examples of artists and themes seemingly devoid of a Christian worldview, still speaks loudly of a narrative God himself has written. By taking the time to understand the context surrounding an artist's life and work, we see them as fellow image-bearers and view their stories with dignity; seeking echoes of God's redemptive tale within their creative endeavors.