Today I had the wonderful privilege of going to see one of my best friends who is a youth pastor up in Knoxville and the editor of From the Library to the Lectern . After spending the day driving around and playing a few rounds of Call of Duty, I went with him and his wife to participate in one of their youth meetings. I was most pleased with the kindness and generosity of the Church members that I met and with the kindness of the youth, but what most amazed me was that the youth were so engaged during the lesson! They were asking questions (and darn good ones at that!) concerning the lesson on Genesis chapter 1. After listening to them discuss the chapter I felt like writing a little bit about the creation account of chapter 1 for my blog. So here we go!
In the Beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth
An excellent title if I've ever heard one! And that is exactly what many scholars believe that this line was used for. As a title to introduce the rest of chapter one. So for those who lean more toward a belief in the "gap theory" for Gen. 1:1 and 1:2, I would beg you to please give this some thought and consider the possibility that their might be another answer to you're question concerning the matter. Yes it leaves you with plenty of more questions, but that is ok. One could argue that it is sin to attempt to remove all mystery from a God who is beyond understandable.
God gives us a very interesting layout for creation. there seems to be a very direct parallel in days 1-3 and day 4-6. Let me demonstrate.
In the Beginning God created the Heavens and the Earth
An excellent title if I've ever heard one! And that is exactly what many scholars believe that this line was used for. As a title to introduce the rest of chapter one. So for those who lean more toward a belief in the "gap theory" for Gen. 1:1 and 1:2, I would beg you to please give this some thought and consider the possibility that their might be another answer to you're question concerning the matter. Yes it leaves you with plenty of more questions, but that is ok. One could argue that it is sin to attempt to remove all mystery from a God who is beyond understandable.
God gives us a very interesting layout for creation. there seems to be a very direct parallel in days 1-3 and day 4-6. Let me demonstrate.
Light-Day 1 Day 4-The Sun and Moon
Separation of sky and sea-Day2 Day 5-Birds and creatures of the deep
(Interesting note, God never declares this good)
Dry land-Day 3 Day 6-Land creatures
God first forms the earth. He creates Light, separates sky and sea, and the brings forth dry land. Then God begins to fill what He has formed in the same order! He set the Sun and Moon to govern light! He sets flying creatures and swimming creatures to rule the skies and seas! He places Creatures and crawling things to rule over dry land! It is a wonderfully beautiful demonstration of God's character and rich in theological implication!
BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!
God wasn't finished. He created the Earth and all that was in it. He formed a habitat that could be indwelt, and now for His final act of creation He would create men and women in His own image to and breathed His own life into them. He charged them with "being fruitful and multiplying" and "ruling over the earth and subduing it" and there we find in clear writing the purpose of life and humanity.
The primary topic I want to touch on here is the topic of "Imago Dei" or "Image of God". What does this mean? Surely it does not refer to physical appearance. Otherwise only one gender would be able to considered made fully in the image of God, but no! Genesis clearly tells us that BOTH men and women are created in His image. So what then?
There are several attributes of God that we must understand before we can fully answer this question. First, we need to know what this might have meant to the audience in which God is giving this narrative to. At the time, when ever a king or ruler conquered a city, he would often erect an "image" of himself in the city, as a representation of his rule over the people and as a sign of his authority. Pagan temples would contain stone and wood idols that were "images" or "representation" of pagan gods. not that the statue itself was a god, but that that it became the representation of said god (much like our Statue of Liberty today, being a statue of the pagan goddess of fertility named Ishtar. Also arguably and idol to gods called greed and pride).
So from the context we are able to derive that being made in the Image of God can be defined as placing humanity as God's representation upon the earth, which perfectly parallels with His command to rule and subdue the earth. Like policemen are to the law, so are we to God. Policemen are not the law, but they do represent the law! In the same way, we are not God but we do represent His rule over creation. But is there more?
We were created special from the rest of creation. We have souls and we are spiritual beings because we bear God's image; because He breathed life into us Himself. We therefore contain many of God's attributes because of this.
1 )Creative
2) Relational
3) Compassionate
4) Logical
5) Emotional, etc.
These are all attributes of God that we reflect because of the Imago Dei! It is a beautiful and exciting thing and is so helpful in our search for meaning and purpose in a world that seeks to eliminate all Light and all truth in the lives of men and women. Even though the image of God in us have been tainted by the Fall, we still can see the evidences of our Creator's hand in shaping each and every one of us...the collective image of God! There are so many implications to life because of this, but I think I leave it at this for now.
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