paravanes:meditations

Is the Genesis creation account reasonable? Can any reasonable person trust this account of creation? How much of it is fable, fairy tale, or historical imagery? These are sensible questions, and ones I would expect of anyone who takes the time to consider the claims of Biblical Christianity. Despite the mockery and teasing sometimes attached to those who trust in and believe the Genesis account, there are some good reasons to trust the reliabilty of what's written there. Let's look at four reasons why embracing the Genesis creation account can bring believers peace of mind, confidence, insight on how to live well, and a deep understanding of our origin and our purpose. The Genesis account says God formed human persons, called "man" in some translations, from the soil of the earth.  It makes sense to me that, based on this account, people who lived in Africa--the place science says the earliest human persons lived--had brown skin, similar to the soil from whi...

What does it actually mean to be "made in God's image"? Across the world, we look, act, and think very differently about almost every imaginable thing. Do we have any commonalities that transcend our differences? We all share free will, we all share the ability to love, we all share the ability-- in fact, the need--to connect with others and be in relationship with other humans. Recent studies have also suggested we are healthier and happier if we enjoy regular exposure to nature and beautiful natural settings. We feel deep connection to those we have loved, even if they are no longer living on the earth. We were created for love, beauty, relationship, and eternity. What happened? The Fall happened at some point early in human history. Although I don't believe the Bible teaches what some have called the "total depravity of mankind", something tragically and deeply damaging happened to humanity and we have not escaped the consequences of that damag...

There is so much pain in the world. For those of us who enjoy relative peace, safety, and security, it may be easy to ignore or forget how many of Earth’s inhabitants are constantly hungry, constantly seeking clean water, constantly escaping wars and armed conflicts, or enduring extreme poverty. On a daily basis, we may not think of those without access to the written word, health care, or a safe place to sleep. The Christian tradition teaches humanity’s ills are a result of humanity’s “fall” from innocence. Innocence was the lack of knowledge of evil. This is not the same as knowing about evil. “Knowing” evil is experiencing it as a part of the self. In an undated, ancient time in the beginning of human history, a decision was made by those first inhabitants of Earth. They decided to live apart from the protection of God’s guidelines. We, their descendants, inherited that tendency, just as we inherited our other characteristics. Despite the best efforts of those who ...

I am browsing through one of my favorite magazines, one I've only recently discovered. The magazine, Yes! , has articles about healthy living, sustainability, social activism, etc. A recent issue, the Spring 2011 issue, features an article titled "Can Animals Save Us?" on the front cover. I already know the answer to this question. I also wonder why caring for the environment sometimes gets disconnected from a Christian belief in caring for creation. Maybe it's because so many who call themselves environmentalists don't accept that the God of the Bible created everything and that hugging a tree is not hugging a person, nor are we hugging God expressed as a tree. It's just a tree. Or a bird, a fish, or a deer. Still, since we have a command in Genesis 1:28 to subdue the earth and rule over things, some people have gotten it wrong. That command challenges us with the responsibility to love and care for creation. Anything created by God is worthy of love a...