Creation 2 - Echos of Eden

Evolution, one of the big 3 when it comes to four letter words for Evangelicals (abortion and homosexuality being the other 2). The story of Creation and it's evil cousin I.D. are slowly losing their battle in the high-courts. Nevermind the fact that evolution is as much a theory as Creation is to the scientific world, only evolution should be taught in the public domain argues almost everyone. The biggest arguement behind this is a little clause found no where in the Constitution or the Bill of Rights or the Decleration of Independence or any other "document" our country was founded on called, "seperation of church and state." It came from various letters of correspondance between some of the founders of our country like James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. But, just as a speed limit sign does not say "For your safety, the speed limit is:" I understand the underlying tones of the seperation of church and state just as I understand a 35 mph speed limit is there for safety. Regardless, some believe evolution and others Creation, some believe something completely different.

But, your belief system can be a great determinant to how you view the world, live your life, and how you view your life in this world. Especially what you see as your "core origin." If you believe we started as a single cell organism and went through the animal kingdom as a fish and a bird and chimp, and a baboon, and an ape, and on and on and until here we stand as human, your not going to see anything wrong with living as an animal. As you believe your "core origin" to be, is how you'd go about making many of your decisions and living your life. I believe whole heartedly that this is seen in the mainstream right now. "Living for the moment" and "I do what I want to do" are 2 examples of this . Buy the next big thing, get bored with it and go to something else. Sleep with the next person, get bored with them, move on to the next person. All traits I see exhibited every night on CNN and on The Discovery Channel.

But, regardless of people who believe in evolution or not, I can read Time magzine and watch Fox News and read or hear about reports where people want to get back to normal. Want to get back to the old days and "back when". When things seemed better and more "innocent." Relationships mattered more and people seemed to care about everyone and everything around them. Things were genuine and a "hoe was just a hoe."

But what is normal? Everyone has their own definition and many say abnormal has become the new normal. But if no one knows normal why is everyone wanting to get back to normal?

Almost all of mankind has this yearning within them. A return to normalcy and innocence.

It's why I am a Creationist and God is the Creator. Man is man and has always been man from the beginning.

God is the great Creator that started all of this ball of dirt we stand on now with a simple utterance of "Let there be light." And it wasn't finished until man and woman stood naked before him and he declared it all good.

That decleration of "good" is normal. That is where normal resides. In Eden, where naked was the fashion statement and the cool of the day meant God was in town for dinner. Where talking with God wasn't transcendant or awe-inpsiring, it was, dare I say, "ho-hum". Where relationships mattered and a hoe was never an option.

That's how we know that normal existed. We come from a Creator who said "Let there be light" and laid the work for Eden. The Creator said "Let us make man..." and then took that man and made him desire a relationships and intimacy and also made him "godlike" in his dominion over the earth. This is God making man in his image. God shows his capacity as a relational being (..."let us"...) and as a just overseer of the earth. It was all right there in Eden. Innocence, normalcy, relationships, intimacy, purity, harmony.

We have a picture and story of normal and innocence. It existed in Eden. It was alive in Eden. And ever since the fall, it has been a cry in our hearts to return.

The Echos of Eden.

Creation 1 - Core Competencies

I've got a couple entries I'd like to do with Creation as the backdrop. A couple come as a result of contemplation and the experience of the birth and the creation of Seth and watching him the past month (yes it has been month already!). The other from a Life Group experience that took place this past Wednesday. (Life Group Update - Since the birth of Seth, Michele and I are no longer hosts and I no longer teach at a Life Group. A newborn kind of saps all the time and energy. But it has been refreshing and invigorating to leave the house on Wednesday evenings to attend a different Life Group.). These posts aren't going to be on Creation per se. But just keep it as a back drop.

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Seth is a newborn infant. One month old. He coos and and oohs and ahhs. He wimpers and moans and sometimes screams. When he is awake his head is always moving, his eyes darting here and there, his legs are always kicking and his arms are always flailing. His hands open and close and once and awhile his hand touches on his nose or his ear and it stops him and he explores it further as he squeezes his nose or runs his finger around his ear. He does not know much of anything. If he is warm, fed, and clean he is happy. He has an innocence that he carries with him. But he is not innocent.

On occasion he doesn't like going into his crib or getting "tummy time." He doesn't want his diaper changed or to sit in his car seat as we go to the grocery store. All he wants is for mom (and sometimes me) to hold him. To keep him in our arms. He has figured out already how loud he has to cry or whine to get our attention. How loud to cry to get mom to scoop him up in her arms and hold him. Usually, within minutes he is asleep. Half the time we put him down and he cries again, the other half he stays asleep until he gets hungry and wakes up. To an extent he's figured out how to get what he wants from mom and dad.

But he isn't competent enough to take care of himself and how to go about getting what he wants. He needs mom and dad to care for him and feed him and clean him up and scoop him up in his arms when he needs comforting and solace. Sometimes he is warm and clean and needs to be fed. Sometimes he is clean and fed but doesn't feel warm. Sometimes he is warm and fed but not clean. Sometimes he is all 3 but wants to be held close. The world is big and cold and scary sometimes. Seth, sometimes, just wants to be held close.

This brings me to the famous story in Luke's gospel about Jesus' teaching about the little children. I use to look at this story in a different light than I do now. I use to focus on the innocence of it all. As I hold my son in my arms or watch my wife feed him, this has changed. My mediatation has changed to competence and care

In Luke 18, a rich young man comes to Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. He wants to be in the spotlight. It is no coincidence that Luke juxtaposes the passage of Jesus and the chldren immediately preceeding the verses on the young aristocrat. Children contrast wth the rich man simply because there is no question of their having yet been able to merit anything. Jesus' point is: there is nothing that any of us can do to inherit the Kingdom. We must simply receive it like little children. And little children haven't done naything. The New Testament world was not sentimental about children and had no illusion about pretended innate goodness in them. Jesus is not suggesting that heaven is a huge playground for infants. Children are our model because they have no claim on heaven. If they are close to God, it is because they are incompetent, not because they are innocent.

Additionally, as I observe my son and realize the incompetence he has and watch him scream out for help from mom and dad and be happy as we provide care for him, I am reminded that my spirit cries out "Abba, Father"

The realization that I have an incompetence about myself that manifests itself many times and I scream out to my Abba, Father the fact that my Heavenly Father (and Mother...that's for you Corey) scoops me into his arms and holds me close. He cares for me. He is the competence my life lacks.

I am Seth laying in the arms or on the chest or sitting in the lap of God as he rubs my back and soothes my tears.

When I cry out to God, "Abba, Father"

He says

"I've already taken care of it all."

And I am reminded as he stretches his arms out and shows his love for me.