the scriptures note that " the Lord God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. " (Gen 2:7)
something very different went down that day
according to the story, God spoke creation into being
the powerful word of God did this (Heb 1:2,3) ..
when it came to the humans it seems God took a more personal approach
- forming the creature, as in using Godhands to pull the dirt into a shape
- breathing Godbreath into the formed dirt
when it came to the humans it seems God took a more personal approach
- forming the creature, as in using Godhands to pull the dirt into a shape
- breathing Godbreath into the formed dirt
it really is of no consequence whether you approach the creation story as a story or as a literal rendering of the event - regardless, the creation of the human is presented in particular, if from no other ground than this : " Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, according to our likeness; " (Gen 1:26) ..
no other created creature bore this remarkable resemblance
it's an astounding thought .. that we could be somehow formed in some semblance of God's likeness, God's image ..
that's something to meditate on ..
.. .
it follows then that, since the human is on somewhat of a different plane than the rest of God's good creation, that something of the exalted character and authority of God flow into the human phenomenon ..
and God told the humans to multiply, create others like themselves
and to have dominion over the earth, rule over it, reign
there's a lot packed into that thought, but it is seen by the people that should know as a delegation of divine authority by the Divine to those created to be divine-like ..
a certain responsibility attaches to the story whereby the humans are to attitude and act in a manner reminiscent of the Creator in relation to the rest of creation - they are to live in close relation to creation and to manage it, nurture it, order it
.. .
the upshot of this is a remarkable embracing of the creative activity of God by the humans
as Godrepresentatives they act for God
- the Creation looks to them for Godcare
- they themselves respect God's trust in them to do this, and in turn
no other created creature bore this remarkable resemblance
it's an astounding thought .. that we could be somehow formed in some semblance of God's likeness, God's image ..
that's something to meditate on ..
.. .
it follows then that, since the human is on somewhat of a different plane than the rest of God's good creation, that something of the exalted character and authority of God flow into the human phenomenon ..
and God told the humans to multiply, create others like themselves
and to have dominion over the earth, rule over it, reign
there's a lot packed into that thought, but it is seen by the people that should know as a delegation of divine authority by the Divine to those created to be divine-like ..
a certain responsibility attaches to the story whereby the humans are to attitude and act in a manner reminiscent of the Creator in relation to the rest of creation - they are to live in close relation to creation and to manage it, nurture it, order it
.. .
the upshot of this is a remarkable embracing of the creative activity of God by the humans
as Godrepresentatives they act for God
- the Creation looks to them for Godcare
- they themselves respect God's trust in them to do this, and in turn
trust this beneficient CreatorGod, their Source, to be the director
of their being and delegated activity in the good earth ..
and the very Creation desires to participate in the goodness of God
..
or that's what we should be doing anyway ..
.. that's what we should be doing
and yet we've snubbed creation, and in so doing thumbed-off the Creator
as if there was no creation, no Creator
as if we are the overlords and the creation exists for our use
like some disposable camera or coffee cup to be littered
unworthy of our care or consideration ..
.. .
of all the people on the earth christians, as in Christ-ians, little Christs
.. .
of all the people on the earth christians, as in Christ-ians, little Christs
should be the most concerned caretakers of the good creation of God ..
christians ..
we should be in the forefront of any move to protect and preserve and foster and care-for and nurture the creation of which we are a part, a prominent and privileged part
..
instead ..
we have joined the destruction
invested in the rape
encouraged the depletion and depreciation
we even deny it happens ..
how did that ever happen ? ?
it happened because we lost connectivity with Creator
it happened because we diss'ed our responsibility
it happened because we lost our trust in the Source
treated the Source as a common thing
as if we are the Source
as if everything exists for us and for our disposable use
christians ..
we should be in the forefront of any move to protect and preserve and foster and care-for and nurture the creation of which we are a part, a prominent and privileged part
..
instead ..
we have joined the destruction
invested in the rape
encouraged the depletion and depreciation
we even deny it happens ..
how did that ever happen ? ?
it happened because we lost connectivity with Creator
it happened because we diss'ed our responsibility
it happened because we lost our trust in the Source
treated the Source as a common thing
as if we are the Source
as if everything exists for us and for our disposable use
.. .
i was raised in a fundamentalist religious mindset, and somehow the disposable use of creation snuck into that philososphy
after all, this world would one day be destroyed by God, and we would be zapped into outer space to escape that destruction and to live in heaven happily ever after ..
except Isaiah and The Revelation present an entirely different picture
i was raised in a fundamentalist religious mindset, and somehow the disposable use of creation snuck into that philososphy
after all, this world would one day be destroyed by God, and we would be zapped into outer space to escape that destruction and to live in heaven happily ever after ..
except Isaiah and The Revelation present an entirely different picture
one where the earth is renewed
and God takes up dwelling among the people on the earth
on this Earth
somehow that translated into utility and non-care for the creation
somehow ..
.. .
somehow ..
.. .
i repent
i've come to see that all good things come from the hand of God
i've relinquished my attitude of disposability
i've radically about-turned and faced the truth of the responsibility that attaches to my association with the Creator, the Word of God, Jesus himself ( John 1 )
this Earth is not here at my disposal
it exists out of the hand of a gracious and loving creatorGod
who looks to me to do my part in its preservation, its protection
its propagation, its very valid glory
and to play my very important part in supporting those that do
so that when i see an entire segment of my community denying the very valid truth of climate change, when i observe that a major block of that segment are apparently the rightleaning evangelicals
i shudder ..
the very people that CreatorGod looks-to to uphold God's magnanimity in the earth are the ones that denigrate God's good creation
treat it as a common thing
treat God as a common thing
that sucks .. bigtime
even if we somehow believe that there is no climate change, that this is some natural anomaly, that things will all revert to 'normal' ..
how dare we allow the continual depletion of the atmosphere
(where millions have to wear masks to breathe),
of the water
(1 in 10 people lack access to safe water)
of the planet's species
(some scientists estimate 90% of living species will become extinct shortly ..
ok, so even if you half that estimate ..) ..
how dare we
us
God's people
..
how dare we
us
God's people
..
i repented
i stand for treating all of God's good creation as worthy of my attention and care
i'm moving in the direction of kingdom
where this Earth will be renewed, refurbished, and indwelt
by the person of Godself
where all the Earth will manifest the beauty and glory
where all the Earth will manifest the beauty and glory
of the Creator
i'm headed there
diss the denial
embrace God's good creation
it's not pagan
it's not Eastern religion
it's not worshipping Mother Earth
it's God's Earth
and God loves God's good creation
we say we love God
how can we love God and not love God's creation
how can we love God and not love our neighbour
the one that wears a breathing mask
the one that has no clean water
the one that can't grow food
the one that runs like hell from war
the one that watches while their coastal land is swallowed by water
the one that watches their animal foodsource migrate to greener pastures
how can we love God and nor love out children and grandchildren
i'm headed there
diss the denial
embrace God's good creation
it's not pagan
it's not Eastern religion
it's not worshipping Mother Earth
it's God's Earth
and God loves God's good creation
we say we love God
how can we love God and not love God's creation
how can we love God and not love our neighbour
the one that wears a breathing mask
the one that has no clean water
the one that can't grow food
the one that runs like hell from war
the one that watches while their coastal land is swallowed by water
the one that watches their animal foodsource migrate to greener pastures
how can we love God and nor love out children and grandchildren
who are left with the drastic effects of our dereliction
..
not possible
and any nod to it being possible is bare pretense
a denial of the good God who stands watching us
in dismay
in disbelief
despondent at our simple uncaring attitude
looking for us to lead the rebellion against the destruction of it all
lead, not deny or allow or pretend it isn't real
abuse of God's good creation is tantamount to abusing God
think about it ..
peace to you
..
not possible
and any nod to it being possible is bare pretense
a denial of the good God who stands watching us
in dismay
in disbelief
despondent at our simple uncaring attitude
looking for us to lead the rebellion against the destruction of it all
lead, not deny or allow or pretend it isn't real
abuse of God's good creation is tantamount to abusing God
think about it ..
peace to you
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