Episode #206
The Calling of the Artist with W. David O. Taylor
Justin welcomes back W. David O. Taylor , theologian, author, and professor at Fuller Theological Seminary, for a conversation about art, faith, and the vocation of the artist. They begin with David’s own creative process and his somewhat unexpected path toward becoming a writer. David talks about learning to write in public, studying writers whose craft he admired, and discovering that while he loves writing, the classroom remains one of the places where he feels most alive. From there, the conversation widens into the theological questions at the heart of David’s work: Why does art matter? What role does an artist play in the life of the church and the world? And why have Christian communities so often struggled to understand creative work that doesn’t fit neatly into categories like worship, ministry, or evangelism? Justin and David explore the ways art can invite rather than dictate, how beauty can reach beyond preference, and why the familiar distinction between “sacred” and “secular” may be far less useful than we think. David ultimately offers artists a larger vision of calling: creative work can participate in God’s love for the world without needing to become explicitly religious or justify itself through measurable outcomes. As David puts it near the end of the conversation: artists can get on with the thing they’ve been called to do, doing it well, humbly, and joyfully, trusting that over a lifetime, goodness will come from it. Links For Justin: Read Justin's Substack Order In The Low - NEW Book with Scott Erickson Coaching with Justin Order In Rest - New Book of Poems Order Sacred Strides JustinMcRoberts.com Support this podcast NEW Single - Let Go NEW Music - Sliver of Hope NEW Music - The Dood and The Bird The Book - It Is What You Make it Hearts and Minds Amazon Barnes and Noble
