You Tube Theology

Many Protestant churches today are shaped by minimalism—simple rooms, functional design, and an emphasis on practicality. But what if Protestants have unintentionally lost something important along the way?

In this video, theologian Gavin Ortlund makes the case that Protestants should recover a deeper appreciation for beauty in worship. While Protestants may reject the veneration of icons, that does not mean art, architecture, and sacred beauty are unnecessary—or spiritually unhelpful. Throughout church history, Christians have understood that beauty can serve worship by drawing the heart upward toward the holiness, transcendence, and majesty of God.

Ortlund argues that the real question is not whether a church is ornate or minimalist, but whether the use of beauty helps make the gospel clearer, strengthens reverence, and supports meaningful worship—or whether it becomes showy and distracting. Just as excellence in music can deepen worship when it serves the congregation, beauty in architecture and visual design can also shape the church’s imagination and strengthen Christian formation.

This episode invites Protestants to rethink the role of beauty, recover what is good in their own tradition, and pursue worship that reflects the glory of God with both truth and depth.

This video is part of a broader series on Protestant apologetics, exploring Scripture, history, and worship with clarity, conviction, and charity. @TruthUnites