Why Do We Make? | Ryan Lauterio

Lectures & Sermons

In his lecture "Why Do We Make?" (recorded in February 2025 Richmond Virginia) Ryan Lauterio of the Maker Institute of Studio Art and Theology explores the theological, philosophical, and practical foundations of human creativity through a deeply biblical lens. Drawing from Scripture and personal experience, he emphasizes that making is not merely a cultural or artistic option, but a fundamental aspect of being human—rooted in our created nature as finite beings made in the image of God. Lauterio distinguishes between God's act of creating ex nihilo and humanity’s role in making from what God has already provided. He warns against conflating personal identity with creative output, encouraging artists to work from gratitude rather than a desire for significance or self-justification. He addresses common pitfalls such as perfectionism, narcissism, and idolatry in the arts, and challenges listeners to examine their motivations and callings in the light of Christ's Lordship and mission. Lauterio urges artists to cultivate humility, faithfulness, and theological clarity, making art not to seek glory but to serve God and neighbor. Through Scripture, Pastoral wisdom and story, he calls for a reformation in how the church sees art—not as peripheral, but as a vital, culture-making activity empowered by the Spirit and grounded in the Gospel.

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