Art and Beauty

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  “But the voice of our age seems by no means favorable to art, at all events to that kind of art to which my inquiry is directed. The course of events has given a direction to the genius of the time that threatens to remove it continually further from the ideal of art. For art has to leave reality, it has to raise itself bodily above necessity and neediness; for art is the daughter of freedom, and it requires its prescriptions and rules to be furnished by the necessity of spirits and not by that of matter. But in our day it is necessity, neediness, that prevails, and bends a degraded humanity under its iron yoke.” —J. C. Friedrich von Schiller. “Letters upon the Æsthetic Education of Man.” (1795)

Ash Wednesday

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Ash Wednesday is the day many show an outward sign of repentance before God by wearing an imposing application of ash on the head or in the hair. This is derived from the biblical practice of mourning over sin “in dust and ashes.” What does it mean to mourn over sin?

Consider the question in light of A.W. Pink’s thoughts on the Apostle Paul’s inspired teaching, "The sorrow of the world works death." (2 Corinthians 7:10):

“Just as surely as happiness is the attendant of holiness--so misery is the certain result of sin. The sorrow of the world is not occasioned by mourning over sin as sin --but over the retribution which sin brings.

The sorrow of the world does not arise from just views of sin, nor does it proceed from any concern that God has been offended. It does not lead the soul to God in true penitence, nor to turn to Him for consolation.

When the worldling's dream of earthly happiness has been dispelled by misfortune--he feeds only on the sour bread of self-pity and unblessed woe. The sorrow of the world debilitates the body, disturbs peace, impairs the mind, and breaks the spirit. There is no contrite seeking unto God on the part of the suffering one--but only a fretting and murmuring against Him. ‘Men gnawed their tongues in agony and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores--but they refused to repent of what they had done.’ Revelation 16:10-11.”

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