"When God began to create the heavens and the earth..."
"I believe in God the Father Almighty..."
These two opening phrases from Genesis and The Apostles' Creed respectively connect us with the first identifier of God - God as Creator. From the grains of sand on the beach to the gaseous star-birthing nebula light years away, all of it has come to be through the creative will of God. There is nothing in creation which can supplant God in word, thought or deed. And out of all of God's purposed creation, we are the ones who have been designated and tasked to be co-laborers with God, to exercise our own creative energies in stewardship and love of creation.
As a part of this responsibility, there is consequence. In Genesis 2, Adam is charged with naming creation; whatever something is named, that is what it shall be named. For example, Adam could have named an elephant, "Flappy Ear Tusk Trunker," and rather than God, ever so gently, encouraging Adam to pick a less cartoonish name, the name would have been allowed to stay. The point isn't about Adam naming every species in every genus; rather, the results of our decisions stand. There is consequence - for good or for bad - in being co-laborers in the Kingdom of God.
In exercising and sharing in this creative endeavor, we share in the results. Yet, because we are not God, our decisions and actions don't always align with God's creative and purposed will. The consequences of these erroneous decisions and actions - sin - have divided us from God, and upset the order of creation. We are a people in need of redemption; to have our relationship with God restored. This is why our redemptive narrative cannot simply begin with "In a manager..." In order for us to understand more thoroughly who we are, whose we are, and our call as co-laborers, we must trace our narrative back to "In the beginning..."
There was much, much more that we could have discussed and shared in exploration of "God + Creation." I am excited for our future sessions, and for the continued thoughtful and earnest discovery that will come in sharing in God's Word together!
Yours,
Michael C. Andres
Director of Discipleship
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