1. I'm familiar with a variety of inspired material that suggests that it's possible to replace God with a philosophical idol, and the arts are certainly part of this issue. For example, in another current thread, I posted a quote from GC 583 that mentions both poets and philosophers.
The point is not that poetry or other similar things are inherently bad, but that they can become an end in themselves, with human wisdom and achievement replacing God.
The first quote below is another example of this sort of issue.
2. Even if one doesn't go this far, it's still possible to be distracted by a preoccupation with the arts.
The Bible indicates clearly that Christ is the cornerstone and foundation of our lives, and we are to depend on Him moment by moment (1 Peter 2:4-7, John 6:51, John 6:57). Anything that gets in the way of this walk can be a problem, whether it's the arts, sports, business, various hobbies, or any other pursuit.
The second quote below touches on this.
3. I personally enjoy classical music, and take in a variety of Youtube performances.
(quote #1)
The city of Athens was the metropolis of heathendom. Here Paul did not meet with an ignorant, credulous populace, as at Lystra, but with a people famous for their intelligence and culture. Everywhere statues of their gods and of the deified heroes of history and poetry met the eye, while magnificent architecture and paintings represented the national glory and the popular worship of heathen deities. The senses of the people were entranced by the beauty and splendor of art. On every hand sanctuaries and temples, involving untold expense, reared their massive forms. Victories of arms and deeds of celebrated men were commemorated by sculpture, shrines, and tablets. All these made Athens a vast gallery of art. {AA 233.4}
(quote #2)
The Maker of all the beautiful things of nature is forgotten. I have seen many who would go into ecstasies over a picture of a sunset, while at the same time they could have the privilege of seeing an actual and glorious sunset almost every evening in the year. They can see the beautiful tints in which nature's invisible Master Artist has with divine skill painted glorious scenes on the shifting canvass of the heavens, and yet they carelessly turn from the Heaven-wrought picture to paintings of art, traced by imperfect fingers, and almost fall down and worship them. What is the reason of this? It is because the enemy is almost constantly seeking to divert the mind from God. When we present God and the religion of Christ, will they receive them? No, indeed. They cannot accept of Christ. What! they make the sacrifice they would have to make to receive Him? Not at all! But what is required? Simply the heart's best and holiest affections for Him who left the glory of the Father and came down to die for a race of rebels. He left His riches, His majesty, and His high command, and took upon Himself our nature, that He might make a way of escape--to do what? to humiliate you? to degrade you? No, indeed. To make a way of escape for you from hopeless misery, to elevate you at last to His own right hand in His kingdom. For this the great, the immense, sacrifice was made. And who can realize this great sacrifice? Who can appreciate it? None but those who understand the mystery of godliness, who have tasted the powers of the world to come, who have drunk from the cup of salvation that has been presented to us. This cup of salvation the Lord offers us, while with His own lips He drained, in our stead, the bitter cup which our sins had prepared, and which was apportioned for us to drink. Yet we talk as though Christ, who has made such a sacrifice, and manifested such love for us, would deprive us of everything that is worth having. {2T 589.3}
I've never been a fan of the arts, as I grew up in the countryside, and artsy stuff was done by city folk.
As I got older, of course I enjoyed looking at famous buildings, pics, statues etc., and listening to famous music, but the contrast between the dullness of what humans have created compared with the magnificent glory of the living works God has created in nature has led me more back to my simple, humble roots. For example, I still remember being bowled over by Van Goh's museum and the paintings of Rembrandt and Van de Meer, Monet etc. (spelling?) But now, to see the wonderful way a bamboo shoot has its leaves folded over, with little hairs all over, curved ever so slighty, with an earthy smell, and to think of the tremendous potential it has to grow and become shelter and to be made into useful things for humans in the future - those are attributes that nothing behind bullet-proof glass can ever hope to match.
While there is nothing wrong with the arts per se, the fact is, in this world, most "artists" are anti-God, and are trying to get honor and fame and recognition for themselves.
Heaven is the place where we can extend our love for the arts to the fullest, without any fear of going astray, but in this world, Satan will be on our track every moment to exalt us or depress us etc.
Those who have trained the mind to delight in spiritual exercises are the ones who can be translated and not be overwhelmed with the purity and transcendent glory of heaven. You may have a good knowledge of the arts, you may have an acquaintance with the sciences, you may excel in music and in penmanship, your manners may please your associates, but what have these things to do with a preparation for heaven? What have they to do to prepare you to stand before the tribunal of God? {2T 267.1}
Be not deceived. God is not mocked. Nothing but holiness will prepare you for heaven. It is sincere, experimental piety alone that can give you a pure, elevated character and enable you to enter into the presence of God, who dwelleth in light unapproachable. The heavenly character must be acquired on earth, or it can never be acquired at all. Then begin at once. Flatter not yourself that a time will come when you can make an earnest effort easier than now. Every day increases your distance from God. Prepare for eternity with such zeal as you have not yet manifested. Educate your mind to love the Bible, to love the prayer meeting, to love the hour of meditation, and, above all, the hour when the soul communes with God. Become heavenly-minded if you would unite with the heavenly choir in the mansions above. {2T 267.2}
