He begins by saying Christ lord over the whole man, not just his soul. This includes everything man sets his hand, including the arts and culture. He quotes Francis Bacon as saying, "Man by the Fall fell at the same from his state of innocence and from his state of dominion over nature. Both losses, however, can even in this life be some part repaired ; the former by religion and faith, the latter by the arts and the sciences."
Next he points out that Moses was given the Ten Commandments at the same time and by the same God who gave him instructions to construct the Tabernacle, a masterpiece of beauty and architecture. All sorts of art forms are present in the Tabernacle: representational art (the cherubim), natural art (the candlestick was decorated with flowers and blossoms), and art that got its inspiration from nature but did not copy it exactly (blue pomegranates, which don't exist in nature, were embroidered on the priestly garments). All of these were thought worthy to be brought into God's most Holy presence.
Then there's Solomon's temple. Much of it was constructed to look pretty, and that's it. "And he [Solomon] garnished the house with precious stones for beauty." II Chron. 3:6. No pragmatic function or practical utility, simply beauty to look beautiful. The two free-standing columns in the front of the Tabernacle supported no architectural weight, it simply supported decoration. And not all of this art were of specifically religious subjects like angels or cherubim; some of it was of nature. This means art does not necessarily have to be of religious objects but can be "secular" in that sense and still be worthy of bringing glory of God. Schaeffer then points to various specific verses in the Bible where God's people employ the use of drama, poetry, dance, and other art forms to God's glory. God doesn't sneer at it, He revels in it.
Schaeffer then goes on to develop standards by which to judge art. It's all very interesting but I don't want to bother going into it right now. Everyone who calls themselves a Christian should read this book and see what God really has to say on the subject of beauty and art. As my rhetoric teacher is fond of saying, concerning nature and beauty and art, "God wasted his time with it; why aren't you?"
